Semi-final hit in Melbourne: ‘Sinner is now ready to beat Djokovic’

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There is a rustling of leaves in the Italian forest – out of pure anticipation. “Jannikovic” is the headline of “Tuttosport” after Jannik Sinner (22) cleared the next match against Novak Djokovic (36) with his quarter-final victory over Andrey Rublew (26). The ‘Corriere dello Sport’ writes about a ‘fairytale Sinner’, while the ‘Gazzetta’ looks forward to a ‘super semi-final’ – and lists five reasons why Sinner could win the first Grand Slam title in 2024.

Physics, tactics, brains, self-confidence and his team would clearly speak for the redhead from South Tyrol. But can Sinner actually stop the ten-time Australian Open winner? “Absolutely,” says Blick tennis expert Heinz Günthardt (64). He also believes that Sinner has made significant progress in recent months. He not only climbed the ATP rankings (to number 4), but also his position on the tour.

Since the autumn, Sinner has won the titles in Beijing and Vienna and triumphed with Italy in the Davis Cup. At the ATP Finals, he lost to Djokovic in the final, but defeated him earlier in the group stage. And: soon also in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup.

Now the two meet again at the Australian Open. In Italy, hopes are high that Sinner could be the one to give the country its first men’s Grand Slam title since Adriano Panatta in Paris in 1976. Günthardt says: “I expect a duel at eye level. Sinner is now mature enough to beat Djokovic.” The 22-year-old seems more relaxed: “Unlike Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz, he used to take fewer points that he did not dominate. That was his big shortcoming. He now finds ways to win sets win, even if he is not always in control.”

Will this also work in Djokovic’s living room on Friday evening? The Italian newspapers would certainly unpack the superlatives.

Source : Blick