Jannik Sinner will compete in the final on Monday. © APA / MINAS PANAGIOTAKIS

Sinner and his final opponent: There was something…

After a spectacular victory against Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner has reached the final of the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. There he will face a man who once inflicted one of the most bitter defeats on the Sextner.

August 19, 2024

From: det

For Jannik Sinner, the Semi-final triumph over Alexander Zverev not a victory like any other. On the one hand, because the more than three-hour-long match against the world number four was one of the most spectacular things Sinner has done this year. On the other hand, because the Sextner has not had an easy time recently (quarter-final exit at Wimbledon, Olympic cancellation, bumpy comeback). This is also why the number 1 in tennis said after the match: "I am proud of myself."

On Monday at midnight (CEST), Sinner will play in the final in Cincinnati. He will face Frances Tiafoe. The American is "only" ranked 20th in the world rankings and is 1:3 behind in direct duels with the South Tyrolean - but Jannik has already felt in the past that Tiafoe is an extremely unpleasant opponent. Specifically, it is about the semi-final in Vienna in 2021, in which the US boy inflicted the most painful defeat of the then 20-year-old Sinner's career to date.

Games annoy Sinner

Sinner - who was shooting up the world rankings at a rapid pace at the time - looked like the sure winner, leading 6:3, 5:3. But then Tiafoe staged a fabulous comeback - not least because he won the crowd over to his side with his games and made the South Tyrolean visibly nervous. Tiafoe commented on Sinner's serves, dropped to the ground theatrically and high-fived some fans in the middle of the match. "He exaggerated," said the visibly annoyed Pusterer after the match.

Frances Tiafoe is Sinner's final opponent © APA / DYLAN BUELL

The Sextner managed to get his revenge two years later – also in Vienna. Now Sinner wants to triumph against Tiafoe in the final in Cincinnati. It won't be easy, after all, the American will have the fans behind him as a local hero. And the 26-year-old is known to draw a lot of strength from that.

The self-confidence is right

However, Sinner gained a lot of self-confidence over the course of the tournament. Even though he is not yet at 100 percent physically (his hip is causing minor problems again), even though his form is not yet at its best, Sinner has shown with his victories against Andrey Rublev (ATP 6) and Alexander Zverev (ATP 4) why he is the number 1 in the tennis world. Against Tiafoe, the Sexten superstar wants to win his fifth title of the season in the fifth final.