Jannik Sinner takes the lead, winning the final shot of a season as fascinating as it is repetitive: it’s worth binging. It’s all about seeing a tennis that escapes the boring current dynamics. All roads lead to the two of them, and this time the Italian, author of a perfect work, like the rectilinear walls of Piazza San Carlo, celebrates it. Carlos Alcaraz doesn’t find the key (7-6(4) and 7-5, after 2h 15′) and the sixth final of the year is resolved between the two as the hosts like, in the form of a shock. With two master scepters, the champion joins Borg, Becker and Zverev, and takes a weight off his shoulders. Reinvent yourself or die, and the new formula will work for you.
It was an impeccable week, without giving up a single set, sealed by a plenary session and lots of aces (41). He deserved it, without a doubt. This is their den, this is their habitat, this is their place. Wrapped in the color of wine, Sinner (24 years old) revalidates the title – he is the youngest to win it since Roger Federer between 2003 and 2004, at 23 years old – and concludes an exceptional year, with six trophies up for grabs and, perhaps, an even more pleasant and comforting feeling in seeing that his plan has worked. Surrendered two months ago in New York, very pale that day, he recovers and returns home satisfied. Laugh, be grateful, always sober. Alcaraz will not join Orantes (1976) and Corretja (1998). It’s a tough day at the office.
The duel wants to begin, but it’s difficult, at first you don’t fully grasp the immediate ebullience that is presupposed. First the indisposition of a fan stops him for more than 11 minutes and the two tennis players calm down, arguing with each other. Apparently, Alcaraz isn’t interested in the story picking up pace – logical, no one wants him faced with a locomotive like Sinner – and tries to bite. He takes a risk, he misses a couple of balls. Wow, but there, they say. It will come out. On this occasion perhaps the idea of abbreviating is not so risky, taking into account how the Italian floats in the middle ground of a surface which for him is a cloud: he enjoys it, squeezes it, savors it. But be careful: opposite is Alcaraz.
Everything happens according to a logical and natural order, that of two giants who usually define luck in terms of millimetres, finger in or finger out; However, having reached the delicate point of the first set, the Murcian’s right knee tendon stiffens when he goes to support the stretching. With 5-4 in his favor. Alarm? “Yesterday I noticed it, I managed to resist,” he tells the physiotherapist; “But now I notice him tense again.” Defeat your rival and deal with the annoyance. “Git your teeth,” they shout from the bench. And he obeys. It’s about putting the thought aside, not letting that tight muscle play tricks on you and resisting. Simple to say, extremely complicated to execute.
Sinner, a fox, already with a lot of school, serves very openly to ask the Spaniard to carry on the painful area, but far from taking advantage of the situation, he ends up getting himself into trouble because despite that appearance, despite appearing to make everything easy and not suffering or feeling or getting angry, the nerves are there. For everyone. Without exception. Maybe Björn, but probably not for that reason. Iceborg He also suffered, he admits in his biography. Today it’s the Italian’s turn and the stands cheer him on. Reacting to the wild. The scary version of New York was gone, I had to “change,” he said. And here it is. On the edge of the precipice he connects a second one who flies like a first one and saves his neck.
Having masterfully canceled the set ball, Sinner ends up prevailing in a tie-break which both start badly, there is tension, even the players’ stomachs contract. Carrot boys who cheer for their player dressed in orange. The stands rush to celebrate the point a couple of times early, a big mistake, but despite this, they take away the promised cylinder. Indeed, there are new topics: where did that doll come from? He’s got it, he’s got it. Gently. He throws a perfect balloon and then another with his right hand. New second at one thousand per hour. The path of risk, beyond the rally. And Alcaraz, the king of the parable, is forced to backtrack. It’s the world turned upside down.
From there to the chair, compression bandage on the thigh and, now, in search of the greatest feat. There’s nothing else: the stands have warmed up, Sinner is playing at home and the distance puts the wind in his favor. Difficult, more than difficult. “I can do it.” He believes it, but his gesture doesn’t fully convey it. At no point does he really feel comfortable in the game. Until then they had not broken the transalpine’s serve in the entire tournament, 45 games intact break In the beginning (against all odds) there is a threat; However, even though he has that open ball in the middle of the court to convert the second, with 3-3 and everything in his favor, he hits a long backhand. Turin burns.
Faced with circumstances and denial: you can’t do it like this. “Talk positively to yourself!” Ferrero asks him. “Let off steam!”, according to Samuel López. We move forward, we try, but there’s no going back. More will than possibility. It’s not the day. Fog already in the streets and on the track. It’s the sinner’s hour. When the story gets really tough, resolving everything in a couple of fiery and interminable exchanges, one of which involves 24 shots, the local tennis player becomes enormous and, new too, puts his finger on his ear and the pavilion explodes: come to me. The hordes respond. And they celebrate it. The photo at the end of the route is that of the Italian on the ground. He had promised it and he did it again: him, once again a master.
Carlos Alcaraz
against
Jannik Sinner
Tax:
