There was no match. Never. Jannik Sinner began his first tournament as the number 1 seed, and the hunt for the number 1 ranking, pulverizing Lorenzo Sonego 6-0, 6-3.
obvious difference
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In his debut here in Madrid, Nadal beat Blanch in 64 minutes, Alcaraz Shevchenko in 68, Sinner took 69 to take out his doubles partner, number 52 in the world, who hasn’t reached the second round in a tournament since November last in Metz, when he lost in the quarterfinals to Fognini. Jannik reaches 5-0 in head-to-head matches with Lorenzo, and 13-0 with his compatriots. The difference is evident at the moment.
all for sonego
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Sonego needed 8 minutes to score the first point, a nice short ball after Jannik’s initial 10-0. The blow came after the first heartfelt encouragement from Manolo Santana. Stadium with the roof closed due to the unpredictable weather in Madrid, and initially half empty with the red seats that gradually filled up also given the approach of Rafa Nadal’s match, and all for Sonego. Not out of any particular dislike towards Sinner, no, just out of an opportunistic desire to prolong a match that seemed immediately marked. “Vamos Lolo, at least play a game,” a Mexican aficionado shouted somewhat cruelly.
first time at zero
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The public did everything to support Sonego, but was bombarded by a ruthless, implacable Sinner. Who won the first set 6-0 in 25 minutes, with the set point arriving on a bloody double fault by Sonego. Jannik had never inflicted a 6-0 on an Italian. Sonego recovered the first game after 38 minutes to bring the score to 1-1 in the second set, but the public’s hopes for a recovery were submerged by Sinner’s shots.
public surrendered
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Demolisher with forehand and backhand, perfect defensively, determined not to leave anything to his opponent, Sinner slowed down only in view of the finish line, however finishing without problems with the audience applauding with conviction, surrendered in the face of what they consider the main threat for Carlos Alcaraz.
party by party
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Sinmer returns to action on Monday to face the winner between Kotov and Thompson, with the Australian playing with Sinner in Thursday’s training session. And after the victory he pulled the brakes: “With Lorenzo we are great friends, we play doubles together, but I only thought about my game, concentrating on my shots. I don’t feel like the best, I’m just happy to be here and I don’t think about the number 1 seed, I like the atmosphere, let’s see how it goes. Favorite? I don’t know – added Jannik smiling, almost hiding – I’m just trying to adapt, today I felt good but things here in Madrid can change quickly. I repeat, let’s see how next week goes.”
