Final in Toronto: All good things come in threes?

Jannik Sinner and Alex De Minaur will contest the final of the Masters 22 tournament in Toronto this Sunday at 1000 p.m. (CEST). Will the South Tyrolean win his first major title after failing twice in such finals?

August 13, 2023

From: do

The South Tyrolean is only one game away from his first major title in the tennis world after the 21-year-old won the night from Saturday to Sunday American Tommy Paul brought to his knees in a convincing manner after 1.56 hours (6:4, 6:4). Sinner demonstrated strong nerves and a never-ending fighting spirit. “I tried to accept all challenges. Because when you serve for the match and get the break, you have to do something. I managed to respond to all difficulties.”

Sinner was visibly satisfied with his performance in the semi-finals, now comes the last hurdle before climbing into the tennis stratosphere: Alex De Minaur. The Australian is in 18th position in the ATP rankings and will contest his first Masters 1000 final on Sunday. It is his fourth final for a title this season after he slammed the door in the face of Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ATP 37) in the semifinals in Toronto (6:1, 6:3). Sinner pays respect to this performance and his opponent: “De Minaur is an incredible player and he is very good, it will be a great match. We have faced each other many times and we know that a big fight awaits us.”

Someone who never gives up: Alex De Minaur. © ANSA / EDUARDO LIMA

By “often” Sinner is talking about four encounters in the last four years. And the balance sheet clearly speaks for itself. So far, the South Tyrolean has won every duel against the Australian and has only had to concede one set to him (in November 2020 in Sofia). Nevertheless, special conditions always apply in the final, and the 21-year-old from Sesto knows that.

“The pressure is a privilege”

Because Sinner is no longer an unknown quantity at Masters 1000 finals. He has appeared in the final of such a tournament twice so far - both times on hard courts in Miami. In April 2021 he lost to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 6:7(4) and 4:6. In the same month this year he lost to Daniil Medvedev 5:7 and 3:6. Today at 22 p.m. the tennis shooting star wants to do better against De Minaur in the Canadian metropolis. Sinner sees this opportunity as a welcome challenge: “The pressure is positive, it is a privilege.”