ATP MADRID
Jannik beats the Russian 6-2, 7-5 despite a physical problem at the end of the match. In the women’s draw Paolini was knocked out 7-6, 6-4 against Andreeva
29 apr 2024
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Jannik Sinner passes the round of 32 of the ATP 1000 in Madrid and reaches the round of 16 of competition on clay. The world number 2, after overcoming some initial difficulties in the innings and a right hip problem at the end, Russian Kotov (72) rules with a score of 6-2, 7-5 in one hour and thirty-eight minutes. In the women’s draw it goes instead I’m Paolinibeaten 7-6, 6-4 by the Russian class of 2007 Andreeva.
MEN’S BOARD
Sinner he immediately started off strong: he held serve at zero and snatched the turn of serve from his opponent, leaving him at fifteen also thanks to two backhands of the highest level. However, the Italian is unable to keep his level high and suffers a counter-break in the next game, with four gratuitous errors. Jannik’s response doesn’t take long to arrive and it’s another break for 3-1, but this time too the Russian reacts, thanks to some unusual inaccuracies from his opponent. The Australian Open champion takes Kotov’s serve for the third time in a row and finally manages to hold his serve (at zero), effectively mortgaging the first set, which ended with yet another break at 6-2 . The number 72 of the ATP circuit holds serve for the first time at the beginning of the second set and threatens Sinner in the following game, taking the lead of the set after canceling the 2-1 advantage. Jannik struggled to regain control of the match, thanks to the Russian’s newfound solidity and a hip problem suffered at 4-3, but he was stoic to find the break at 5-5 with a great forehand down the line at the end of a long rally. Kotov serves to go to the tie-break, but is forced to come back from 0-40 to the Italian, then giving in the advantages for the final 7-5 which closes the match after one hour and thirty-eight minutes.
His opponent in the round of 16 will be
Khachanovwhich he surpassed
Cobolli in two sets with a score of 7-5, 6-4. The challenge begins on the threads of great balance, with the Roman forced to defend himself from the Russian’s responses but capable of great shots, especially in the seventh game, when he saves a break point with three high-level points. The world number 17 finds the break at 6-5 at the end of a game by Cobolli characterized by two double faults and closes the first set at 7-5. Khachanov immediately takes over the Italian’s turn at the start of the second set and definitively directs the match, despite the strenuous resistance of the class of 2002, forced to give in at the final 6-4 at the end of an encouraging match.
SINNER “DIFFICULT MATCH, LET’S SEE HOW IT GOES TOMORROW”
“It was a difficult match. In the first set I was in control while in the second I had a little more difficulty. I struggled a little and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow, what’s best for my body.” Jannik Sinner said this after the victory in the third round of the Madrid tournament against the Russian Kotov, achieved despite a pain felt in the second set. “I’ve had some problems with my right hip in recent times – explained the South Tyrolean -. It’s nothing serious. Sometimes I feel it stronger, like today, sometimes less but I have a good team that takes care of me and I hope to be back to my best tomorrow.”
WOMEN’S BOARD
The journey ends in the round of 16
Jasmine Paolini (12) on Spanish red clay: Russian
Andreeva wins 7-6, 6-4 in one hour and forty minutes. The match opens with an immediate back-and-forth, with the Italian losing the first serve and immediately after obtaining a fundamental counter-break, coming back from 40-0. The script repeats itself in the next two games, which bring the match to 2-2. Paolini scores four consecutive games and serves to close the first set, but Andreeva finds the strength to bring the match back to a draw. This brings us to the tie break, dominated by the Russian with a clear 7-2. The start of the second set of the number 43 in the world is completely one-sided, since she manages to take her opponent’s service turn twice in a row, easily taking the lead to 4-0. The number 12 on the WTA circuit recovers immediately after a break and neutralizes her opponent in the decisive game, putting herself in a position to serve for the 5-5. However, the seventeen-year-old responds with the counterbreak that sends the final credits to the match after an hour and forty minutes.
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