What Sinner lacks to beat Djokovic – Corriere.it

Twenty-two free forehand errors. Four lethal: the two missed breaks (first and fifth game first set, fourth second set), the break immediately of the 2-0, the second set point thrown into the Thames. But it is not (only) from these details that a player is judged, Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon remains successful despite the defeat without appeal in the semifinals with Novak Djokovic, the colossus who tomorrow will defend the 24th Grand Slam (eighth in Church Road, like Federer) from the assault of the twenty years of Alcaraz and which ultimately promotes the blue: one of the leaders of the new generation.

Under the closed roof due to the rain, a very attentive Djoker, still of sublime efficiency despite his age (36 years) and a first service that appears and reappears like the ghost of Macbeth, sucks the breath of life to Jannik thanks to the superiority of an unmatched tactical intelligence: insisting on the diagonal backhand is not a problem, Sinner’s forehand is confirmed as a vulnus (the mechanical nature of the movement emerges above all on the placed shot), and the Serbian’s ATM. It’s not enough to pull hard with those who haven’t lost against Wimbledon in ten years (the streak rises to 45).

The first set was a castling (three aces and a winning serve for 6-3), the second a sleight of hand despite the two warnings in a game given to Djoker by the strong-willed referee Haigh (for disturbing the point, hyndrance in tennis slang, and waste of time), the public would like the match to lengthen and provoke it, Sinner does not take advantage of it (straight on the tape), 6-4 with an ace (11 against 8 by Jannik). The third is ready to take the valley that leads to South Tyrol, but Jannik is rowing against: Djokovic ironically applauds the murmur of the crowd following his mistake, then Sinner misses everything, backhand and forehand. Even the advantage at the start of the tie-break (2-0) is an illusion: 7-4 for the veteran over the teenager, goodbye coup.

It’s been a hard day, I’ll learn this lesson too says Jannik dejectedly. I had my chances, I didn’t use them, but I felt closer to Djokovic than in the quarterfinals last year, when I went two sets ahead. A matter of sensations, and those of the person concerned matter most of all. The usual merits, the same defects (to the repertoire the reverse in back is totally missing lifting a hand, precious on the grass), if in the previous five rounds Sinner’s arsenal had been enough to get rid of opponents who were never top 50, with the best of all (who, let’s remember, returns service like a dragon) Jannik found himself unarmed , devoid of alternative solutions, naked and far from the goal. Leap in quality postponed, in short. I will do everything to find myself more often in situations of such a high level – he explains -, I have to get used to it, Djokovic was in the 46th Grand Slam semifinal. Facing matches like this doesn’t scare me: I have to be able to believe I can win them. But I responded well, we finished with 10 points difference, I was always in the fight. I arrived in London with a different mentality and the idea of ​​approaching every match as if it were a final. I’m happy, all in all. There is some regret for the positive things are more. At 21 I can’t be a complete tennis player, if I were it would be a shame: I would have nothing left to work on.

And instead the Sinner construction site remains open, now the uncertainty whether to return to earth (mistake) or fly on American concrete. I’m fine, I want to play. Not the time to lower the bar. The Red Baron has just started flying.