Sinner continues to make us dream, third Slam semifinal of 2024

In his most beautiful and difficult year, Jannik Sinner reaches the third Slam semifinal after the Australian Open – where he then triumphed – and the Roland Garros. The opportunity to even the score of the 2024 majors with Carlos Alcarazwho has already taken the titles at the French Open and the Championships. He will try without holding back.

Sinner-Medvedev, 3-1 nel 2024

In the season-long match against Daniil Medvedevthe partial score is now 3-1, three victories for the world number 1 (final in Melbourne, semifinal in Miami and today in New York), one for his arch-enemy from Moscow (quarterfinals at Wimbledon). There will probably be at least a fifth opportunity, at the Turin Finals in November.

Initial study phase

As expected on the eve, Jannik and Daniil keep the nearly twenty-four thousand spectators in the stands and the tens of millions in front of TVs and computers glued to their seats for two hours and 40 minutes. The match really begins in the third set, because the first two (6-2 1-6) initially serve the Alto Adige player to take advantage of the slow warm-up of the number 5 ATP, who then heavily asserts his acquired familiarity with the complex anthroposystem of the Arthur Ashe Stadium. In this phase, the length of the exchanges is key: if the exchanges go too far, Daniil prevails, otherwise Jannik has the upper hand thanks to the more effective winners.

Medvedev overwhelmed in third set

It was said about the third set, with Medvedev quickly finding himself 5-0 down due to the constant accelerations imposed by Sinner on his serve and return, as aggressive as in the first set. Under the worried eyes of the two Gilles, Simon and Cervarahis coaches, manages to snatch his last game on serve, but then has to give in.

Sinner travolge Medvedev

The balance is temporarily maintained in the fourth set, with no escapes from either player until the seventh game, when Jannik, buoyed by having just saved two break points, puts together a perfect game on the return, forcing the Russian to make three mistakes. Ahead 4-3, he focuses on his serve, gets a first match point on the return at 5-3, then closes his serve with a spectacular forehand swing out. It ends 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4.

For Sinner now there is his friend Draper

After five rounds, Sinner appears to be at the same level athletically and mentally as he was at the beginning of the season. Unless there are any surprises in the next few hours (the World Anti-Doping Agency, Wada, can appeal by September 6 against the full acquittal sentence for the Clostebol case), the boy from San Candido will psychologically face both upcoming matches as the favorite. In the semifinals, Jannik will meet his dear friend Jack Draperhis doubles partner in Montreal a few weeks ago. The Englishman from Sutton, the first credible aspiring heir to Andy Murray, has in fact literally annihilated Alex de Minaurwho only hoped to limit the damage in the second set (6-3 7-5 6-2). He even made a mess of things at the end of the third set, landing shots that were as effective as they were spectacular.

Who is Jack Draper?

Jack was born in 2001 like Jannik. A predestined one, one might say. Dad Roger was the general manager of the Lawn Tennis Association (the British tennis federation), mom Nicky was a national level player when she was an under 18. In 2018 he was a finalist in the Wimbledon junior tournament, as a professional he has slowly climbed the ATP rankings and has so far scored only one success, beating Matteo Berrettini in the final on the grass in Stuttgart on June 16 (3-6 7-6 6-4). He is coached by James Trotman, 45, an excellent junior who retired very young following a series of injuries, considered one of the best British coaches. 193 centimeters tall, Jack has an excellent serve and prefers to hit hard from the baseline, both with his forehand and backhand. However, he finishes equally well at the net. Very agile, he covers the court well. Up until now his biggest weakness was the difficulty in maintaining continuity of performance during tournaments. In New York, before de Minaur, he eliminated the Chinese Zhang Zhizhen, the Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta, the Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp (the “killer” of Carlos Alcaraz) and the Czech Tomas Machac: he did not give up a set to anyone, without ever resorting to a tie break. An impressive calling card. If he stops Draper on Friday, on Sunday Sinner will face Taylor Fritz o Frances Tiafoe.

Swiatek eliminated, Pegula advances

As an old reporter, I have the obligation to report that, in the last two quarter-finals of the women’s singles, the Czech Karolina Muchova – fresh from her victory over Jasmine Paolini – beat up (6-1 6-4) the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maiawhile surprisingly the American Jessica Pegula eliminated the world number 1 6-2 6-4 Iga Swiatek. The Polish player confirms her imperfect aptitude for the synthetic surface, which is her only weak point (so to speak, considering that she lifted the cup in Flushing Meadows two years ago). Theoretically, the final on Sunday could be all-americanPegula vs. Navarro: it would be the richest last act of slam in history, the assets of the fathers of the two girls accumulate approximately 8.5 billion dollars, equal to a quarter of the average value of an economic maneuver of the Meloni government. To get there, Jessica would have to beat Muchova and Emma would have to do the same with Sabalenka. Difficult, but never say neversang Justin Bieber fifteen years ago.