First up is Jannik Sinner; then it’s Sinner writhing in his chair during the break, sick to his stomach and trying to survive against Daniil Medvedev, who wins the second set and continues to grow; then it is the Italian making up for it, remade and determined to make it to the final, in which the Norwegian Casper Ruud will surely be in this Sunday (6-1 double against Luciano Darderi in the first turn); and finally it is the rain, causing the postponement – for this Saturday, not before 3:00 p.m.; Movistar+—and that leaves in ellipses a full-throttle, stark pulse, with two rulers challenging each other again and again. Number one goes to bed with the current in his favor: 6-2, 5-7 and 4-2. The clock shows 2h 22m.
Without a single zigzag until now, Sinner finds himself in an unexpected situation this time, speeding up the line as much as possible in an episode with a lot of curves. That’s right, Medvedev counterattacks on the other side, the guy who with a bit more fortune could have had an even more extraordinary career. Achieve the distinction from a certain perspective: try the honey of a Grand Slampromotion to number one, various trophies – no more and no less than 23 – and the culmination of the Davis Cup… However, his way of fighting has a rather nineties aroma, but a bad year to be born in ’96, taking into account what he has had to face. A historical sandwich: from the three giants to the two phenomena.
He suffered Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, and then met Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. All of them overwhelmed him, but all of them have suffered from the Russian, one of those adversaries who, when he isolates himself, concentrates and does not deviate, produces rashes. Few frontons like him, transmitter of downloads. So it’s a very hard Friday for the Italian, who starts off in a fabulous way – mastery in giving and giving, on the back of dynamics – but who in the second round suffers from the indisposition: vomiting in the corner, trembling when holding the bottle and his face even whiter than usual. Profuse sweating. Crossfire, without respite, very physical points. He gets tired of running from one side to the other, from the line to the net and back again. If it is fine and does not twist, Medvedev is worse than a toothache, no matter how much he hates the earth and that the day before he had to.
The Centrale public tries to make him lose his good pace with the sounds between serves, but this time it doesn’t bite. He does his thing, once again paying attention to his wife, holy she, and number one barely holding on because the thing seems important. Sinner, touched but not sunk, is constantly encouraged, aware that sooner or later the setback could come – there are already 32 successive victories – and that for the truly chosen, he needs tests of such complexity: to overcome himself in the most adverse circumstances. This is it, just in strength and with Moscow pressing, confident, growing, threatening. To do? Bad business for him. He pulls the serve and manages to stay on his feet, but on the third attack, Medvedev manages to double him. There have been 68 minutes of set, which on many occasions is equivalent to a complete match.
The miracle jar
The Muscovite’s ability to accelerate or defend himself from unimaginable positions, angles and postures has long been highlighted, but there is also that physique (apparently weak) that rarely suffers. He is not reminded of resignations from that level. He is the same one who pushed Nadal to the limit in New York, until he captured the title, and now he is the Italian who has a hard time walking and completing the step well; That left leg fails, the support is not completely clean. So try to abbreviate, to expedite all the options so that the story does not drag on and to avoid by all means that it leads to a third partial that could be damning. There, in theory, Medvedev would have everything to win. Or not.
Apparently, that little bottle works miracles. Again, the now famous pickle juice that softens cramps and mixes well with mineral salts. It is to ingest the potion and then a couple of drinks of the mixture, and stand up; that and a cluster of high balls that destabilizes the hitherto firm offensive of the rival, who does not seem to be disturbed by anything: not being in tow, nor the massage that the opponent receives – theoretically, allowed only during regular breaks or during a medical time-out – nor the water. Rain? Let’s play, he says. Not so Sinner, who tells judge Aurélie Tourte that the lines are slippery and there could be an upset. You are right. Everyone gathers in the locker room and the number one leaves knowing that he has it there, that the break is not bad for him because he will regain his strength and the 4-2 puts him close to the goal.
However, there will be no return to the track. After more than an hour of suspension and analyzing the report, at around eleven at night the organization confirmed that the duel was postponed to the next day. Tennis of the 21st century, year 2026, and still late nights everywhere, cancellations or funnels, if not more surreal chapters. Something is definitely not working. Tennis players to the hotel. To be continued…
Jannik Sinner
vs
Daniil Medvedev
Sets:
within/totals
66/104
63%
within/totals
45/104
43%
