Sinner in the semi-final in Madrid, Jodar hits but doesn’t sting

Jannik Sinner reaches the semi-final of the Masters 1000 in Madrid beating the 19-year-old in straight sets 6-2 7-6(0) after an hour and 57 minutes of play Rafael Jodarhome idol and rising star of Spanish tennis. There was great anticipation for the ‘generational’ challenge (even if the expression is perhaps a little excessive given that the age difference is just 5 years) between the Spanish baby, protagonist of a rise incredible and unique in the history of tennis – he went from world number 687 a year ago to top 40 (currently 42nd) – and the world number 1 very fast towards his fifth Masters 1000 consecutive.

For Sinner it is the 26th consecutive victory in the Masters 1000, where he won 52 sets and lost only 2. Furthermore, he is the sixth player in history to have reached the semifinals in all nine Masters 1000 tournaments. And now he sees the chance to become the only one to win 5 in a row.

First set tied for 4 games

In the first set the Spaniard, who entered with wild cardhe brought out all the characteristics demonstrated in the first matches in which he eliminated De Jong, the no.5 Alex de Minaur (record as youngest to defeat top 10 in Masters 1000 with WC after Sinner) and thetennis child prodigythe 18 year old Brazilian Joao Fonsecabefore folding Vit Nettle 7-5 6-0 in the round of 16. Great punch, very powerful accelerations and great continuity. No shots that “steal the eyes”, but a lot of concreteness. A very high quality that allows it to play on par with Sinner for four games, where he also has a break point. Then comes the break by Jannik and the following one which closes the first set 6-2.

Balance in the second set

In the second the balance returns and this time it lasts longer. Also because Sinner he can no longer serve many first balls and is very foul. And so screw up he has two balls to break Sinner’s serve at 3-2 and three more at 4-3, canceled out big time by the world no.1. At 4-4 it is Jodar who has to cancel three break points. We go to the tie-break, the ‘reign’ of Jannik Sinner who has a record of104 tie-breaks won and 59 lostin his career, equal to a percentage of63,8%, quartoby percentage behindFederer (65,4%), Djokovic (65,2%) e Arthur Ashe (65,0%). And in Madrid the Italian updated his record by winning the match, clearly winning (7-0) the 105th tie-break in his career.

Jodar sarà l’anti Sinner&Alcaraz?

Today’s long-awaited match did not disappoint the fans and confirmed that Rafael Jodar he is one of the most interesting talents to appear on the circuit ATP. Together with the Brazilian Joao Fonseca represents an important reality of world tennis and could enter the very small group of players capable of worrying (and perhaps beating, in certain conditions) Sinner e Alcaraz.

Sinner’s next opponent

For a place in the final Sinner will challenge the blue on Friday the winner of the match between the French Arthur Fils, n.25 ATP and 21 of the tournament, and the Czech Jiri Lehecka, 14th in the ranking and 11th in the seeding, who eliminated Lorenzo Musetti in the round of 16.