And the second one went too: Jannik Sinner advance to quarter finals of the ATP 500 tournament Hallein Germany, his first season on grass to better prepare for Wimbledon, defeating the Hungarian in three sets Fabian Marozsan (number 45 in the world ranking) with a score of 6-4 6-7 6-3 after two hours and 17 minutes. In the semi-final, the world number one will find the winner of the match between the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, number six on the scoreboard, and the German Jan-Lennard Struff who eliminated our Luciano Darderi. The blue suffers but improves race after race: it is not easy to immediately adapt to a surface so different from all the others but, this time too, he showed the solidity (physical and mental) of a champion.
How the victory came
In the first set there was a break by Sinner in the third game which was immediately recovered by the opponent in the following one. Both tennis players serve very well, there are numerous aces and first serves. The turning point comes in the ninth game when Jannik snatches the point from his opponent by rising to 5-4 and serving to close the set, thus arriving at 6-4. In the second set the race becomes even more intense and balanced: neither of the two “escapes”, the score is always in balance and the tie-break to decide who will win. Contrary to usual, the South Tyrolean made a lot of mistakes, winning only two points on his serve and losing to his opponent 7-4: a drop in service but also in baseline returns.
Everything is decided at third set: a point in the second game was wonderful and drew open applause when Sinner won the break after making two incredible recoveries concluded by a splendid passer. Marozsan feels the pinch, Jannik goes up 3-0 and then easily reaches 5-1 with another break conquered. A shot from the Hungarian’s back extends the match with the break won and another point on his own serve but Sinner is no longer in the mood for gifts and closes 6-3 after more than two hours of the match.
Sinner’s words
Interviewed at the end of the match, the Italian praised his opponent’s game. “Marozsan? Fabian is an incredible player. It’s the first time we’ve faced each other, he’s already beaten incredible players, I knew I had to play very, very well. The first set was balanced, then he took me back and in the second I had a chance. In the third set I tried to be a little more aggressive“, he has declared.
Sinner later explained that “the first two matches on grass are never easy, a slightly different surface and even if you win two sets it doesn’t mean it’s easy but I’m happy to be in the quarterfinals”.
To the reporter’s observation about what didn’t work properly today, Jannik said that “on grass you have to vary more: the first ball works, on the second I have to change a little, be more aggressive but he responded well.”
