In the usual daily event of Tennismania, the program hosted by Dario Puppo in collaboration with OA Sport and Sport 2U, Guido Monaco intervened, which analyzed the semi-final reached in Halle by Jannik Sinner and also the excellent moment of Italian tennis, with the good results also obtained by Lorenzo Musetti and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
On Sinner’s match against Stuff and on the difficulties of the meeting: “The eighteen break points are an impressive number and then he found himself at 0-40 several times, but there really isn’t much to complain about, given that he almost always hit a winning serve or ace. Struff then obviously got excited and ended up playing evenly. Luckily he won to avoid the torment of wasted opportunities and lost fourth tie-breaks.”
Monaco also analyzes Sinner’s progress in the Halle tournament: “If I look at the draw in Halle, taking away Zverev and Hurkacz, in these three rounds Sinner played with the three most dangerous opponents of the entire tournament. This says a lot about her path and furthermore she could have won even in two sets. They are three very convincing victories, he hits the ball really well, he is very well physically. The first serve has become a very important weapon and has performed as well as Struff’s. There couldn’t have been a better approach to Wimbledon.”
The Eurosport journalist also comments Jannik’s performance is always at the top: “Sinner is really made to stay at the top. He truly has all the characteristics to remain number one in the world for a long time. I’m not afraid that he might have ups and downs, he has always been super constant. Sinner really has a profile to remain either number one or fight for that position for many, many years.”
On the week on grass in Halle ahead of Wimbledon and on the decision to also play the doubles tournament with Hurkacz: “In this tournament Sinner demonstrated once again that he has a head above everyone else. He went to Halle to grind out sensations, answers, services. Him going to the third just sees it as playing another set. This is the different mind that certain players, certain champions have. Sinner, playing only one tournament on grass in preparation for Wimbledon, had to find the ability to immediately adapt to a totally different condition. He plays doubles for that very reason too, because he wants to play matches on grass, to have more and more confidence with the pitch and with the movements. A tournament is very little to get used to and so he also needed the double.”
Monaco also tries to hypothesize a possible return of Djokovic already at Wimbledon: “Djokovic could also arrive on the grass at Wimbledon and, seeing the field of participants, think he has a margin and find his condition along the way.”
The Eurosport journalist has no doubts about who the favorite for Wimbledon isbut also analyzes the possible differences that exist in the game between Sinner and Alcaraz: “For Wimbledon Sinner is absolutely the number one favourite. Alcaraz can count on the unpredictability aspect of his game, as you can suddenly find him at the net, while Jannik goes to the net with the construction of the point. Behind Sinner and Alcaraz the field is very, very open. Many can aim to reach a quarter-final at Wimbledon and the road is wide open for everyone behind them.”
Monaco also talks about the South Tyrolean’s goal game: “In the first match it was prohibitive to score, because with Griekspoor the tempo was prohibitive. Yesterday Maroszan called him to the net a few times. In any case, I expect some runs to the net, some counter-tempo attacks. Adding that bit of unpredictability can really widen the gap with your opponents. Developing his forward game is good for him, not just on grass, but in general. He stopped a little, but I’m sure he’ll get back to it again.”
On Lorenzo Musetti and his performance in recent weeks: “Musetti has changed his attitude in Paris. He has abandoned the negativity and has certainly been much more positive on the pitch for a month. He is a player who, if he can always have this attitude, can achieve great results on clay, excellent on grass and fair or good on hard court. I don’t trust myself to talk about the Top-10 yet, because he still has to find consistency week after week. The fact always remains that when he doesn’t have time he is still vulnerable in a significant way and he still has to find countermeasures. Against Thompson, if he believes in it, he has a great chance of winning.”
Finally a commentor on the semi-final reached by Elisabetta Cocciaretto in Birmingham: “Cocciaretto started playing close to the baseline, shooting very hard. Jokingly, she almost seems to have taken Camila Giorgi’s place. He is really playing difficult tennis and grass can be an ally for her. Clearly the serve remains a problem, but when the exchange starts there aren’t many who can counter it.”
