Photo: Ansa
Semi-final to replicate success in Turin in 2024
Francesca Schito
The calm before the storm. Intermediate day for Azzurri fans at the ATP Finals in Turin. Yes, Jannik Sinner won his third match in the group by beating the now eliminated Ben Shelton in two sets (score 6-3, 7-6), but the wait is everything for today’s match where the South Tyrolean (not before 14.30, live on Sky Sport) will challenge Alex De Minaur in the first semi-final of the Final. Precedents speak volumes about expectations: so far in the previous twelve matches, the South Tyrolean has never lost. A fact that the Australian can’t wait to get on the road and the Turin stage will give him a measure of revenge. But what we’ve seen of late is the perfect Sinner, backed by an excellent first serve percentage, heading into the final round of the Masters tournament without, for now, dropping a set. «I can’t wait for the game to start – thinking about the 24-year-old from Sesto after the win against Shelton – Obviously, it’s going to be very tough, difficult, physical.
What happened in the past happened. He almost beat me several times. Especially this season, we always play on different surfaces.
He suffered a very tough defeat here in Turin which dampened his spirits a bit (against Lorenzo Musetti, ed.), but the situation changed very quickly in just one day and this shows how difficult tennis is: every day is different. I hope I can give my best.”
The Italian coach then commented on Alcaraz’s achievement of ending the year as world number one: «I’m happy for him, but to be honest, if I said I was very happy, I would be lying. He deserved it, he played a great season.
He’s a great guy with a great team around him and he’s working hard to achieve those goals. For me, there is a lot of motivation for next year. During the winter preparations we will do a lot of work to improve and then we will see what happens.” Today the Spaniard will face Auger-Aliassime who beat Zverev yesterday. Today is also the day of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. The Italian pair dream of leaving their mark in the history of Italian tennis by reaching the final in a Final that has never been reached before by an Italian pair. To do so, they must defeat the pair formed by Finland’s Heliovaara and England’s Patten (live at 12 noon on Sky Sport). Meanwhile, Captain Volandri has announced his replacement in the Davis Cup squad in light of the withdrawal of Lorenzo Musetti. In place of the Tuscan there will be Lorenzo Sonego, who has been training in his native Turin at the Circolo della Stampa in recent days to be ready if needed for the world: «I am sorry, there are regrets, partly for the date and partly for the rest – Musetti’s words.
Sonego returns to the national team after victory in 2023. «Our team remains strong and important, with great awareness – Volandri told Sky Sport – It will consist of Cobolli, Berrettini, Sonego, Bolelli and Vavassori. We are ready to fight, to stay at the top and continue to perform well. We are very excited and can’t wait to get started.”
