His nickname is King, and this year Lloyd Harris – Sinner’s opponent in the semi-final in Antwerp – is having a noble season at least. The best of his career. Third round in Australia, eighth in Doha, final in Dubai where he beat Thiem, Nishikori and Shapovalov before bowing to Karatsev; fourth first in Halle, on the grass, then in Washington (beating Nadal and Sandgren), Toronto and Us Open – where he annoyed Khachanov, again Shapovalov and Opelka – in a long, hot and rewarding American summer. In the standings he is number 32, a place just below his best ranking which he reached on 13 September. His first coach was Norman McCarthy, at the age of 15 he switched to Anthony Harris. Today follows him – part time – Xavier Malisse, the rebel Belgian, with whom he also plays doubles in Antwerp (they are in the semifinals after beating the number 1 seeded Dodig-Melo).
He’s an attacker, Lloyd. Who beats and descends from the top of his 1.93, which flirts with the net and beats into 73 percent of prime, 9 aces and comma per match, and hurts with the forehand. It bothers anyone. First you underestimate it, then you frown at it. He started playing in Cape Town when he was three, and at 15 he decided that tennis would make it a job. There was the problem of the money needed to fund the project, which was not indifferent; the parents thought about it as long as they could. The treasury was practically finished when Lloyd George Muirhead – oh well, that’s his name – managed to get into two Futures, fourth in one and semifinal in the other, and the federation decided that yes, maybe they could help him. From there a long march, other Futures, then the Challengers, in the tortuous limbo that tennis players not greased by the lord must cross. In 2018, while he was playing a Challenger in Portugal from home, he was phoned that his father had died. He remained in Portugal, and the memory of his father honored him by winning two tournaments in a row. A tough guy. It is no coincidence that his favorite superhero is Iron Man, the Breaking Bad TV series, the Fast and Furious movie. As a child like all South Africans he played rugby, he also likes football and cheers – who knows why – for Tottenham. He once explained that his dream would actually be lying on his stomach on the beach, but Sinner had better not trust him. With the Italians in 2021 he is in a draw, defeat against Cecchinato in Estoril, victory over Sonego at Roland Garros. «He is playing very well – admits Jannik – but this is my favorite surface». True: indoor career Harris has played little at Atp level: 13 matches, losing 6, Jannik who is 4 years younger (20 against 24) has already won 25 out of 36, 8 out of 10 in 2021. However, concrete is very popular. to both, even if for Harris this is the first indoor semi-final at an indoor ATP level (he has played, and lost, three more in the Challengers). According to the bookmakers it is the Italian: they give it at 1.51, Harris at 2.71, between the two there is no precedent. Jannik for now in Antwerp in the main draw did not give up a set, so did Harris, who however passed from qualifying, then overcoming wild card Zizou Bergs, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Marton Fucsovics.
Sinner needs two victories to climb to number 9 of the Race, which means (temporary) qualification for Turin; in the final Schwartzman probably awaits him (who is dealing with the unusual Brooksby) but today’s step is not necessarily the least complicated step. The match is broadcast at 3pm by Supertennis