First semi-final at Roland Garros and first victory as world no.1. It’s history day for Jannik SinnerThis June 4, 2024. The news of his withdrawal due to problems with his right knee Novak Djokovic has in fact given the record to the 22 year old from South Tyrol, who will be at the top from next Monday. Sinner, however, was focused on what was happening on the pitch Philippe Chatrier of Paris against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (No. 10 in the world).
Well, Jannik beat his opponent with the score of 6-2 6-4 7-6 (3) in 2 hours and 32 minutes of play. For our standard bearer it is the 32nd win in 34 games in 2024thus bringing pride in one’s journey the penultimate act in three different Slams (Australian Open, Wimbledon and Roland Garros). Let’s talk about the success n.50 at Major level in single matches. In the semi-final, therefore, the Italian player will face the winner of tonight’s match between Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
FIRST WEEK – After a study phase, Sinner exploits the depth of his shots to win the break in the third game in exchanges in which the wind has a hand. Jannik reads the Bulgarian’s serve well and in the fifth game he gets the second break, taking advantage of the fourth opportunity and the opponent’s many errors. The backhand doesn’t help the 10th seed and the management of the Pusterian’s service shifts is flawless. The result was 6-2 in 37 minutes with 91% of the points won with the first serve and 67% with the second serve for the blue. Dimitrov scores 12 free errors on the scoresheet.
SECOND WEEK – With some devastating forehand accelerations Sinner snatches the serve from his rival at the start. In the fourth game, at 40-40, the Italian finds two consecutive aces to get out of trouble. Dimitrov saves a double break chance for the South Tyrolean in the seventh game, with a splendid backhand down the line. The Bulgarian tries to raise the engine revs with some winners, but Jannik manages the serve with authority and wins the second half with relative calm at 6-4.
THIRD WEEK – Dimitrov is called upon at the start to save a break point, but with the support of the serve he eliminates the opportunity for the South Tyrolean. The 10th seed, also with the help of the tape, creates the conditions to break Jannik’s serve, but our standard bearer does not tremble and is ready. In the final stages, anything happens. Dimitrov makes a lot of mistakes in the ninth game and Sinner with great consistency snatches the serve from him, going to serve for the match, but the Pusterese native is not as lucid as usual and does not manage the advantage. We go to the tie-break and the 2001 class from the Bel Paese is perfect and on the Bulgarian’s long backhand slice this match that smacks of history ends (7-3).
STATISTICS – Reading the statistics, it is worth highlighting Sinner’s 8 aces, with 60% of first serves on the court, from which he collected 81% of the points, while with the second serve he collected 64%. This last figure made the difference compared to the opponent’s 44%. Free winners/free errors ratio of 29/20, compared to Dimitrov’s 33/49.
