Published: 06/23/2024 08:32
A gesture of great sportsmanship made Jannik Sinner a true champion, beyond its technical capabilities. It happened during the first point of the tie-break of the second set of the semifinal of the ATP 500 in Halle, where Sinner won against Zhizhen Zhang with a score of 6-4, 7-6(3). Before concluding the match, which guaranteed him the first final in his career on grass, the South Tyrolean stood out for a notable act of fair play towards his opponent.
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During the match in Halle
After Zhang missed his first service ball due to a technical problem, Sinner decided to grant him the first again, as the Chinese had not had the opportunity to check whether his serve was actually out. In Halle, field calls are automatic and there are no line judges.
While players can ask the chair umpire to double-check the decision, Zhang could not have done so in this case. Sinner, therefore, resolved the situation, obtaining applause from the public in the stands. This episode demonstrates that Sinner is not only a great athlete for his skills on the field, but also for his sporting spirit and respect towards his opponents.
