Sinner launches the challenge to the King In the quarterfinals he faces Djokovic today

Tennis, the Italian wants to continue his run at Wimbledon

the character

Stefano Semeraro /london

Question: Can you train with the man you are hoping to snatch the throne from?

«Well», Simone Vagnozzi, Jannik Sinner’s head coach, replies amused, sitting on one of the wooden benches of the All England Club. secret. For example, Nole’s way of staying very low on these fields. Or how he manages to defend himself by attacking ».

The grass may not be what it used to be, and Wimbledon without the Russians, deprived of ATP points, with a 7 percent drop in spectators in the first week and besieged by Covid, is struggling a bit. The charm of a quarter-final against the landlord, on Center Court, however, remains priceless. Last year against Djokovic, reigning champion for three years, Matteo Berrettini in the final arrived two sets from the miracle, Jannik Sinner has to try to avenge him. An apparently cruel crossing: the Djoker’s 20 Slams – six of which at Wimbledon where he hasn’t lost in 25 matches – against the 20 years of Jan, who in the majors never went beyond the quarters and on the grass before this year. he had never blasted it. “In reality, Jannik has had few opportunities to play on the green,” Vagnozzi points out. ‘We had come here to learn, but already in Eastbourne the sensations were good. After all, the response counts on the grass, and it is a shot that Jan knows how to play, because he has excellent timing, in the service he has improved above all on the second: before it was a shot that the opponents attacked easily, now he travels faster and is less predictable. as a direction “.

Also thanks to Darren Cahill, the former Agassi coach who for a few weeks has sat in Sinner’s box with the role of adviser. «He is a technician and a person of great depth, he is giving us important information. There have been difficult months since I arrived in March. Taking over is not easy, we weren’t able to do the preparation. But important glimpses have already been seen in Rome. Too bad for the injury in Paris, there before retiring a match Jannik won it with one leg ». Against Djokovic, one of his technical models, Sinner lost sharply last year at the Monte Carlo tournaments.

“I’ve seen him in several tournaments, he’s matured a lot,” admits the former # 1. «He He is now a top player. He doesn’t suffer from big stages, mentally he’s solid, he puts pressure on you and has all the hits. His play reminds me a little of mine, as he throws the flat backhand just behind the backline. It will be a very tough match for both of us ». Casa Sinner thinks about the future, but he doesn’t lose sight of the present. «Lately we have added some variations – continues Vagnozzi – and the result was seen in the match against Alcaraz. He and Carlos are two phenomena, with the due proportions it seemed to me to see Federer against Nadal. Jannik’s victory did not surprise me: he will be one of the strongest players of the next ten years. It can also be understood from the fact that the debut on the Center Court (unlike Alcaraz, ed) was lived in complete tranquility ». The challenge between the emeritus sovereign and the wonderful boy, in the end, could not have had a better theater. “Weed will be important for Jannik’s career. We are working to win here in the future. Of course – smiles the «Vagno» – we wouldn’t mind succeeding this year already … ». –

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