Sinner wins the Washington tournament: it is the first ATP 500 in his career

After a nearly 3 hour battle against Mackenzie McDonald, Jannik Sinner managed to win the Citi Open: he is now number 15 in the world

Jannik Sinner returns to win. And to smile, but what an effort! The South Tyrolean in Washington wins the third title of his career, the first of 500 points, overtaking 7-5 4-6 7-5 Mackenzie McDonald, 26-year-old American and number 107 in the world, who will rise to the top 70 from tomorrow. the difficulties of early summer, and the fasting of successes in singles from the third round of Roland Garros, Jannik arrived at the ATP 500 in Washington with another attitude, a physical, technical and mental condition much closer to the Sinner that we were used to know. And in fact the boy who comes from the Dolomites climbed up to the final, the fourth of his career on the major circuit. Jannik, who will turn 20 next week, has shown improvements to his recently modified serve, but has also had very dangerous misses that have jeopardized his final success.

–

the match

—

He starts immediately with Sinner personality who in the fourth game of the first set wins two break points. McDonald cancels the first with an ace, but Jannik with great personality manages the exchange and on the second occasion he sprints ahead 3-1. But in the following game the American puts Sinner in difficulty and at the fourth ball for the counterbreak he gets back on track: 3-2 and service after about 10 minutes of battle. Furious reaction from the Italian who immediately brings himself back to the front by removing the bar from the American to zero and extending up to 5-2. When it’s time to close the set, however, it still gives McDonald the opportunity to hang it up and the 26-year-old doesn’t waste it by shortening the gap 5-4. On his serve he cancels 6 set points in Jannik and finds the 5-5. Still 3 set points for the Italian at 6-5 but McDonald’s with the service leads to the advantages. An exhausting tug of war, in the end Sinner wins at the 11th set point, winning the first fraction 7-5. In the second set the blue cancels a break point at 1-1, then has two chances to break the opponent’s serve at 3-2, but Mackenzie is saved and in turn attacks Sinner on his turn to take a break for the 4-3 and service. A decisive advantage to secure the second set 6-3 and go to the third. The music changes and in the decisive set Jannik pushes on the accelerator, reduces errors and regains the ball speed that allows him to shoot 3-0. But the danger is always around the corner and at 3-1 the Italian cancels three balls of the counterbreak with great personality and takes a seat at the change of field at 4-1. At 5-2 and service for McDonald there are two match points for the title but the American, as often happened during the match, pulls himself out of the quicksand and saves himself. Another blackout for the South Tyrolean and Mackenzie takes back the lost service. All to be redone. On 6-5 and USA service Jannik still has a championship point and this time he closes after two hours and 53 minutes of battle.

–

Best ranking

—

With the updated ranking Jannik Sinner, who will also be involved next week at the Masters 1000 in Toronto in the approach to the US Open, will be number 15 in the world, best ranking, and always number 10 in the race for the Nitto Atp Finals in Turin.

–