«On 8 February 1993, thanks to reaching position number 55 in the ATP ranking, he became the Italian number one for the first time, overtaking Omar Camporese». Looking back, to refresh your memory on Renzo Furlan, we come across this phrase in the Wikipedia entry dedicated to him. The extraordinary coach of the extraordinary Jasmine Paolini he was an excellent player, who three years later reached number 19 in the world. But dozens of examples could be given, even more recent ones, to remind us that there was a time not too far away in which we were like this. Come on, what are those long faces. After triumphing in Australia and becoming the first tennis player on the planet, returning from a serious injury, Jannik Sinner he was defeated in the fifth set in the semifinals at Roland Garros.
Sinner’s nervousness, Alcaraz’s growth
Furthermore, he thus confirmed the curse that in the Open era sees the winner of his first Slam unable to repeat himself in the following one. A tax paid even by people like Sampras, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, just to say. It was a bizarre match, played badly by both, without a precise tactical plan, perhaps also conditioned by mutual ailments, frustration and cramps for both. Halfway through the fifth set, Jannik also mentioned first slamming his racket on the ground, and then against the substitution bench, an event that would be recorded in the annals if it had occurred. In the end, Carlos Alcaraz raised his level when it mattered most, serving in the final games as he had never done in the previous three hours.
Those fifth set stats need improvement
It could have been, it wasn’t. This in no way justifies that vague sense of disappointment that is felt not only on social media. Luckily for us, Sinner’s journey does not promise to be short. But he needs to improve over the long haul. When it goes to the fifth set, therefore in the Slams, the best player in the world has the second worst record among the top ten of the ranking. The only two to be negative are him (6-7) and Daniil Medvedev (7-10), the opponent defeated in a comeback in Melbourne. Considering yet another planet Novak Djokovic and his 38-11, the first on the list is Carlitos himself, who with yesterday’s victory reaches a remarkable 10-1.
Jannik had a justification almost as long as the month of inactivity he was forced to due to hip problems. During a fourth set that could have closed the match, it became clear that he lacked the drive of his legs, especially when serving. This does not take anything away from his great tournament on the most difficult surface for him. It’s a marathon, not just in a figurative sense. We must always remember this. Perhaps Jannik needs to start keeping this in mind too.
