Thus, as if nothing had happened, as if it were all so simple, Jannik Sinner continues clearing rivals with blows: This time it’s Andrey Rublev’s turn, who lasts on the court for an hour and a half, with the Russian defeated 6-2, 6-4. Little to do in the face of the devouring number one, increasingly imposing and distanced from the others, the rest incapable of even overshadowing him. In the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, the Italian continues to roam freely wherever he steps and differentiate himself; highlighting day after day a power that, if maintained, could turn this year into a tyrannical ride. This victory – and, consequently, the pass to the semi-finals in Rome – comes accompanied by a remarkable record. Another one. He walks that path.
With this there are now 32 in a row in the Masters 1000, then behind is the record registered by Novak Djokovic (31) in 2011, when no one could stop the Serbian between Indian Wells and the final in Cincinnati; Then the Scotsman Andy Murray appeared, but today it is difficult to imagine anyone who could compromise the triumphant march of the redhead. and, given what has been seen, it aims to continue even a little longer at the Foro Italico, where it maintains the tone and strengthens its candidacy for Roland Garros (starting on the 24th). Sinner, beginning and end, or so it seems, of this clay court tour in which his game continues to give off all its brilliance. More if possible.
Sometimes, with a simplifying and even disqualifying spirit, as if he were an automaton on and off the slopes. As if his tennis knew little. “And nothing of that, Jannik is not a robot,” his coach, Darren Cahill, stressed these days in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. The coach came to say that, in fact, a part of his player “loves danger” and “adrenaline”, and that in reality the mixture represents a perfect combination: risk and balance in harmony. A the fog. “When he plays he has an internal computer running constantly, and there is a certain security there,” he noted, “but those two souls come together and the result is a tremendously professional tennis player.”
Nonconformist by nature, Sinner interpreted after the defeat against Carlos Alcaraz that he had to leave his comfort zone; that he had run out of credit to counter the Murcian exclusively from the baseline. The risk was imposed: “I must be less predictable.” And he acted. He met with his team and in addition to building an increasingly incisive serve, he decisively incorporated the drop shot into his arsenal. The result is a multi-layered, more versatile and undetectable competitor, now capable of breaking up rallies and shortening the point by pulling wrist rotation. The evolution is perceptible and is also reflected in the data.
Naturalness
According to analyst Matthew Willis and The Racquetonly Alcaraz and Sinner win more than 60% of their dropshot attempts on clay, although in the case of the Italian, only he averages more than 60% efficiency on both hard and dirt. The Spaniard tries more – 3.3% of his shots on hard and 4.3% on sand – but during the last two campaigns, Sinner (1.8% and 3.4%) hits more, or selects better. Specifically, he reaches 60% (hard) and 66% (land), compared to the Spanish’s 59% and 60%. However, no one uses the resource more than the Kazakh Alexander Bublik, with 5.8% and 8.5%, and a success of 56% and 50% on each surface.
“I have seen Jannik throwing more drop shots than usual and he is doing it very well,” commented the Murcian in Monte Carlo, before the tournament; There, the circuit leader threw several fantastic wrist shots and took risks in several decisive moments. He did it before the great specialist. “I know he’s been working on it and it seems like it’s coming naturally to him, so it will become a good weapon for him from now on. I don’t know if Jannik has been watching my videos or not…”, the one from El Palmar joked; “But I’m not worried at all, but the other way around; I’m happy to see that he’s doing different things to be better. You have to do the right thing in moments of pressure.”
Sinner uses them more and more fluently, at the same time that his physical growth has allowed him to make the definitive leap on clay. “I think we should not focus only on the results. Last year [reaparecía precisamente en Roma, después de tres meses de suspensión por el caso del clostebol] I also played great tennis here. and “. In the Bois de Boulogne he wasted three match points in the outcome, although he seems to be on the right track again. Unbeatable, on this occasion. He is launched. “But I don’t play for records, but to write my own history,” he transmits now, located just two wins away from closing the circle of the Masters 1000; if he were proclaimed champion on Sunday, he would have already won them all. Every day, sharper and sharper.
NADAL: “ALCARAZ DOES THE RIGHT THING”
A. C.
Rafael Nadal officiated yesterday at the reopening of his academy’s museum and in the context of said event he spoke with Radio Nacional de España (RNE). Specifically, the Mallorcan referred to the wrist injury that Alcaraz has suffered, having been separated from the slopes for a month and, therefore, removed from the competition.
The Murcian will not compete at Roland Garros and his return date is unknown. “He has enough experience, he is no longer a rookie on the circuit. He knows that things happen. It is evident that it is a big task that has happened to him at this time,” said the man from Manacor, who telephoned number two.
Nadal, who will turn 40 on June 3, believes that Alcaraz (23) could have made a difference again on the clay tour, but considers that he was right with the break. “Things are seen as a very big drama, but when they are put into perspective it is very different,” he noted.
He himself suffered a couple of notable setbacks in his joints – cubital sheath, 2014 and 2016 – so he approves of the Murcian’s prudence. “It is an injury that is not going to be chronic. He has made the right decisions,” he continued.
And Nadal concluded: “He is doing the treatment he has to do. It is something I know well, because I broke twice what he has broken now.” Alcaraz, out since the premiere at the Godó, has not specified what exactly his injury is.
