Sinner’s great illusion ahead two sets, then it’s Nole-show

Tennis. At Wimbledon Djokovic comes back, wins 3-2 and goes to the semifinals

history

/london

If the Grand Slams are still being played, and we hope forever, at the best of five sets, there is a reason. Longform tennis is a different sport from express tennis, best of three sets. It is a sieve of champions, a metal detector of champions. A middle distance race where playing the hare is rarely worthwhile.

Being on the wrong side this time – the «Great Illusion» side instead of the «Legendary Coming Back» – burns, burns a lot; because at 7-5 6-2 for Jannik Sinner against Novak Djokovic in the first quarter-final of Wimbledon, overlooking the Center Court, we felt on the verge of tennis history. But it does not change the terms of the question. Novak Djokovic managed to hang on to that edge and pull himself up as the Baron of Münchausen did, using only himself as a foothold. His infinite class, his alien mental and physical substance, which he shares with Rafa Nadal and with which legends are built. The oneiric backhand passer, placed yesterday by Nole after three and a half hours of play, was the magnificent, but almost superfluous confirmation.

For Sinner, a great Sinner, able to recover from 1-4 (and the ball from 1-5) of the first and dominate the second set, it was enough to soften his thoughts for a moment, and get badly breached at the beginning of the third set (3- 1) to lose your grip on the game. Until then he had served as a hammer, answered on the feet of the Djoker; closed the exchanges with that impressive right that pops in the air. The statistics show how the first two sets and the second three, as Djokovic says, “were two different games”.

Jan won 100% of the points with the first serve in the second set, and 55% in the fifth; Djokovic with the second won 36% in the first; but at the service, in the last two sets, he left just a “15”. Talent, experience, determination? certainly twenty Grand Slams, of which you won at Wimbledon, against none.

«For two sets Jannik was the strongest – says the Djoker a bit mockingly – The turning point was the break after the second set. In the bathroom I freshened up, looked in the mirror and had a little speech. It has happened to me many times to find myself in difficult situations, but I always believe I can shoot the game. And then this is a special field, the one that made me realize when I was 5, watching it on TV, that I would become a tennis player ». History repeats itself: Jack Crawford missed the Grand Slam in New York in 1933 because, leading two sets to one in the final, he stayed on the pitch taking a shot of brandy while Fred Perry showered; with the result of remedying a game in the last two sets. Unfortunately, Djokovic’s remuntade on the blues are also repeated: two sets at Seppi at Roland Garros in 2012, last year two at Musetti in Paris and one at Berrettini here in the final. He is our kryptonite.

“The great champions know how to raise the level very quickly,” admits Jannik, who risked hurting his ankle at the end of the fourth set. «I don’t like losing, so the anger remains, but I’m happy with my tournament. I came to learn, I proved to be at the level of the best even on grass. Maybe today I could have done better in the third and fourth sets, but I will have other chances ». The future is certainly on his side. However, it is curious to reflect that when the 22-year-old Connors demolished the 39-year-old Rosewall here in 1974, Ken’s senility was invoked, while today inexperience and registry office (35 years Djokovic, 20 Sinner) often serve to explain the defeats of young people. –

© breaking latest news