Number one is in our house. After Carlos Alcaraz’s success at Roland Garros, many or too many indulged in ruminations on who the true king of tennis was, despite the clear response of the last 8 months. Jannik Sinner, from Sesto Pusteria, wanted to clarify the concept yesterday. And so came the first victory as world no.1 in Halle (Germany), becoming the eighth tennis player in history to win his first tournament played with this qualification. After Connors in 1974, Borg in 1979, Wilander in 1988, Edberg in 1990, Sampras in 1993, Djokovic in 2011 and Murray in 2016, it was up to him to sign the club’s attendance record. Jannik won the first career title on grass, fourteenth victory out of 18 finals played on the highest international circuit and 4th seal of the season. The 22-year-old from Pusteria is also the fourth Italian to win a tournament on this surface after Matteo Berrettini and the third to have achieved the goal on all three surfaces (hard, grass and clay). The obstacle in the final was not the simplest, namely the Polish Hubert Hurkacz, top-10 expert on the lawns and friend/doubles partner this week: 7-6 (8) 7-6 (2) the score in a dominated match by the services and decided by a few points. Details that make the difference, such as the fifteen forfeited with the second serve by Sinner (68%) compared to his opponent (39%). The closing was with a smile, the dominant feature of this 2024, hugging dad Hanspeter present in his corner: «I thank my team, who encourages me every day, the missing part is on holiday (laughs). We are working hard to achieve these results and never take anything for granted. I also want to thank my family, my father came here for the final, but I also want to thank all the other people close to me, my girlfriend Anna who unfortunately lost in the final in Berlin today, also having 5 match points available” . Already that Anna Kalinskaya – defeated 6-7 (0) 6-4 7-6 (3) by the American Pegula – who came close to success and is trying to be a little bit as good as him. Bolelli and Vavassori are also good, having also won the doubles match in Halle against the Germans Puetz/Krawietz 7-6 (3) 7-6 (5) and from today no. 1 in the Race, like Sinner after all.
Excellent conditions for Wimbledon, where this herbivorous Italy will also be able to count on Lorenzo Musetti, beaten in the final act at Queen’s by the American Paul 6-1 7-6 (8), but improving on this surface. There are valid reasons to be optimistic.
