ATP Sofia, Sinner wins against Duckworth, Finals closer

The race to Turin continues: Auger-Aliassime passed in tenth place in the race. The blue, who won a year ago, wins 7-6 6-4. Sonego ok in San Diego, Mager ko

A long, difficult, complex game. Jannik Sinner surpasses James Duckworth with a score of 7-6 6-4 and enters the semi-final in Sofia, a tournament to be defended after last year’s victory in the final against Pospisil (first ATP title in his career). The Australian proves to be a healthy player, but the South Tyrolean levels up in the important moments of the match.

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THE FIRST SET

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The tactical keys of the match are very clear, right from the first shots: Duckworth tries to be very aggressive already at the beginning of the exchange, in particular on the opponent’s second serve; when playing on rhythm, Sinner proves superior. The first set is very complicated for the number 1 seeded on the scoreboard: only 8 points out of 22 with the second in the whole set and an uphill start, with the first three games lost. After two breaks each and a set point saved by Sinner at 5-6, the set ends at the tie-break: Riccardo Piatti’s pupil closes 7-4.

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THE CLOSURE

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The second set also opens with the break by Duckworth, who at 4-2 goes a step away from virtually closing the partial: serious mistake at 30-40, with an easy volley on the net which turns out to be the turning point of the match. In the next round Sinner breaks his opponent’s serve by taking the 4-4, before closing at 6-4 with the second consecutive break. A victory that allows Sinner to reach the semifinal and continue the race towards the Finals of Turin: after passing Auger-Aliassime in tenth place in the race.

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MAGER AND SONEGO

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Out in the quarter-finals, however, Gianluca Mager: Monfils has the better with the score of 6-2 6-2. For the Frenchman there will be the challenge at Giron. Lorenzo Sonego advances in the San Diego tournament, winning 6-4 6-3 against the host Korda: in the quarter-finals there will be the interesting challenge to Casper Ruud, seeded number 2.

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