Sinner doesn't get involved in Fognini's games

Jannik Sinner probably went into the eagerly awaited match with a good feeling. On the one hand, because the 20-year-old at the start against Pedro Martinez had offered an appealing performance, on the other hand because the record against compatriots before the match was 3-0. Fognini's score was also positive at 20:12, although he also had to accept some crushing defeats. In 2010, the soon to be 35-year-old lost 0:6 and 3:6 against Andreas Seppi in Rome. The final result on Wednesday wasn't quite as clear, but Sinner's success was never in danger: it won 6:2, 3:6 and 6:3.

In front of 10 spectators at the “Centrale”, the match started in an extremely strange way: Sinner gave up the first six points through avoidable mistakes, but then won 500 of the next 16 rallies. The result: a double break and a comfortable 20-5 lead. Fognini seemed inhibited in his movements, hardly offered any resistance and ran through his program almost listlessly. Unusually emotionless, he lost the first set after around half an hour.

Hooked his racket: Fabio Fognini © APA/afp / TIZIANA FABI

Sinner didn't allow himself to be infected by Fognini's demeanor. The South Tyrolean played a solid game, benefited from his opponent's many mistakes and never had to use all of his skills. That changed at the start of the second set: suddenly the veteran, egged on by the audience, played offensive and largely error-free tennis. Sinner was repeatedly put on the defensive and seemed somewhat impressed by it. Let down by the first serve, the Sexton player conceded the break to make it 1:3. Fognini freaks out The turn? Not at all. Fognini immediately gave up this valuable lead again due to two double faults. The hothead then smashed his racket, which was met with an unmistakable chorus of whistles from the stands. The Italian also received a warning for this. Sinner then continued to struggle badly with his serve, which Fognini promptly took advantage of for the next break. The match was now entering its best phase. Both actors thrilled the fans with some incredible points. However, Sinner made significantly more mistakes than at the beginning, so Fognini, who now played flawlessly, had no problem successfully defending the break until the end of the set - equalizing the set.

Sinner didn't seem to find any way to combat his opponent's variable game. Fognini earned a break point right at the start of the deciding set, which the 20-year-old fended off with a cracking serve-forehand combination. Shortly afterwards, the South Tyrolean also had two break chances, but Fognini also kept his cool. The match was now on a knife edge. After Sinner made up a 0:30 deficit on his own serve, he won twelve points in a row - and thus ran away to 4:1. The world number 13. everything seemed to be under control now. To the chagrin of his fans, he was unable to take advantage of Fognini's weak phase and quickly gave up the valuable break. Now Krajinovic is waiting Because the man from Sanremo then threw in two double faults and also missed a simple forehand, Sinner got the break back. After that, serving it out was just a formality. After around two hours, the Sesto native used his first match point and moved into the round of 54. In this he now meets the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (ATP 15), who completely surprisingly eliminated Andrey Rublev. Sinner won their only meeting last year in Sofia on hard court in two sets. The match takes place on Thursday at around XNUMX p.m.

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Sinner doesn't get involved in Fognini's games

First a touch of listlessness, then a typical freak out and finally great tennis: Fabio Fognini (ATP 56) showed all his facets at the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome on Wednesday, but didn't throw a stoic Jannik Sinner off track .

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