During the fifth game of the third set, before the injury to his right thigh, Sinner was “deprived” of a legitimate break. At 30-40, a ball well outside by Tsitsipas was instead called in by referee Aurelie Tourte: it would have been a double fault and, indeed, a break.
We therefore went from a possible 4-1 for Sinner to 3-2. Two games later, at 4-3, the physiotherapist’s first intervention came to the aid of Jannik, who, as mentioned, was limping on the right side. And, from there, 3 consecutive games that send Tsitsipas, already winner in Monte Carlo in 2021 and 2022, back to the final of the Principality’s Masters 1000.
In any case, at the end of the match Sinner did not place the blame for a decision on the chair umpire. With serenity and a lot of fair play he commented: «I know I could have stopped the game, but that’s not my job, that of the referee. His position was very favorable, because it was the easiest row. But we have to accept it.” Then adding: «Each of us makes mistakes. You have to take it with a smile, even if it’s not easy.”