A semifinal, with a view on the top 10 in the world. Jannik Sinner in Barcelona also beaten the number 7 of the ATP ranking (6-2 7-6), the Russian Andrey Rublev, a finalist a few days ago in Monte Carlo, and tomorrow he will face the winner of the other quarter-final, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, 20 ATP and tenth seeded with a double 6-3.
The usual performance at Sinner, who in eighths had freed himself for the third consecutive time of Roberto Bautista Agust: impressive for determination, full of great shots (and some naivete, like the four bad mistakes that could cost him the tie-break, when in advantage 4-1 was made to recover by granting a set point to Rublev at 5-6) and above all testifies to the great continuity of Jan performance, really rare for a 19 year old. After the stumbling block with Bedene in Montpellier, the quarters arrived in Marseille (-Medvedev) and Dubai (-Karatsev), the final in the Masters 1000 in Miami (-Hurkacz), the second round in Monte Carlo – defeated only by Djokovic – and now his first semifinals in an ATP 500. Only heavy rounds, and only defeats against high-ranking opponents. “I was a bit tired,” admitted Jannik, with his usual laconicity. But after having entered the top 20 – today virtually the number 18 is worth – if a place in the top 10 will continue like this, and perhaps among the top 8 of the Finals in Turin, it is certainly not a pipe dream.
The success of Matteo Berrettini in the Serbia Open in Belgrade is also encouraging. A little short of confidence and condition in Monte Carlo, Matteo overtook the Serbian Krajinovic 6-4 6-4, and is now in the semifinals too (against the winner between Taro Daniel or Federico Delbonis). «I played a solid match, I’m happy, also because the conditions weren’t very easy due to the wind. Both the service and the response worked well. It’s never easy to come back from injury, but physically I feel fine and that’s the most important thing. The goal now is to reach the best athletic condition ». The Italy of tennis continues to strike.