The No. 1 is on the court for three hours against the German before closing in four sets. Now he meets Matteo in the 2nd round
It takes a closed roof, losing a set, being put to the test, staying on the court for almost 3 hours, but in the end Jannik Sinner shows all his talent and earns the Italian derby in the second round with Matteo Berrettini. The world number 1 was far from irresistible on his first day at Wimbledon, leaving a set to the German Yannick Hanfmann, number 110 in the ranking, defeated in the end 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 in two hours and 58′. Sinner probably had another debut in mind, a less demanding, more dominant one, but the German, who he had already beaten in the first round of the US Open 2023, had nothing to lose and tried to make him sweat, deservedly winning the third set amid the applause of the crowd on Court 1, and the sporting applause of Jannik when he left the court at the end of the match. Despite his serve being a reliable weapon, constantly around 200 km/h when he needed it most, Sinner needed to be challenged to get going, to bring out all his talent, his best shots. The real Jannik was seen in the fourth set, aggressive and confident when he needed to make the difference, finally at ease on Court 1 that continued to cheer his name, to applaud his shots. The 39th victory out of 42 of his dream season, the first as number 1 at Wimbledon, puts him on a collision course with Matteo Berrettini, reinvigorated by the three-set victory over Fucsovics and with whom he has an excellent relationship. Sinner knows that Wimbledon is a journey, one in which those who want to win must constantly raise their level: after this imperfect start, the derby will be the next opportunity to show why Jannik started as the number 1 favorite on the London grass.
the match
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Sinner risks a little in the first two service games, but in the 6th game he breaks Hanfmann’s serve, a necessary step to close the first set 6-3 in 37′. Jannik takes the break in the 3rd game, in the next one he goes down 0-40 but with the power of his serve he cancels the 3 break points and extends to 3-1, closing the set at 6-4 with his own service game, keeping the German at love. Instead of closing, Sinner loses himself in the third set: he concedes the break to Hanfmann in the second game and then again in the fourth. Down 4-0, Jannik breaks the German’s service game, who closes the set at 6-3 with his own service game after a splendid exchange. The 4th set starts again with the roof of Court 1 closed and with Sinner who is raising his level. In the fourth game he breaks Hanfmann’s serve, he brings out the strong pieces of his repertoire with the German who tries to resist but slowly drifts, unable to respond. Jannik closes the game on his service game, finding the point that makes it 6-3 and the victory with a splendid forehand that leaves Hanfmann motionless.
lifted up
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“I am very happy to be in the second round,” Jannik said at the end of the match, to the applause of the crowd on Court 1. “Hanfmann played well, he served well and confirmed that first-round matches are never easy. In the third set he pushed hard, I conceded the break right away and it was difficult. In the fourth set things improved and I hope it is a point from which to start again for the next round.” The crowd makes Sinner feel all the anticipation for his next match when the speaker reminds him that he will face Matteo Berrettini: “It will be tough against him,” Jannik says. “He played the final here, he knows how to play on this surface. But I can’t wait. And I hope to rise to the level that everyone wants to see.” ________________________________________
