Jannik Sinner opened in Bologna for the first time on Friday. © Federtennis/Sposito
Janic Sinner has never lost a Davis Cup match for Italy. And it stays like that. On Friday, the 21-year-old Azurri advanced to the quarter-finals with a hard-fought three-set win in Bologna.
16. September 2022
From: fop
Italy’s select players bought their tickets for the Davis Cup final in Málaga in late November ahead of schedule. Janic Sinar’s 7:5, 1:6, 6:3 against Francisco Cerundolo was the deciding factor, securing Italy’s second victory in the day’s duel with Argentina. After an early breakthrough against Croatia, in which Sinar, who was slightly injured at the time, was rested, Azzurri could plan the next round even before Sunday’s final group game against Sweden.
After a clear 6:2, 6:3 of Matteo Berrettini (ATP 15) at the start against Sebastian Baez (ATP 37), Sinar (ATP 11) took a decisive victory in a duel with Cerundolo (ATP 27). However, a lot of hard work had been done before that. The 24-year-old Argentine, who had benefited from a task from Sinner in the only duel this year in Miami, made life difficult for Pasterer from the start. When the score was 5:5 with the break, Sinner led the way to win the first set. In the second set, the South Tyroleans quickly missed a breakball, resulting in their first service game and, after a while, the entire set was snatched from them. In the decisive third round, both opponents offered their best tennis, with the sinner’s class clearly prevailing in the end.
“Today wasn’t my best day, but I brought the point home,” Sinner said after the match. He was clearly impressed by the atmosphere at the hall in Bologna: “It was simply spectacular. I am glad that I was able to please the fans with my victory.”
In the doubles final, which had only statistical value, Bolelli/Fognini lost to South American pair González/Zeballos 5:7, 6:2, 3:6.
Davis Cup Preliminary Round in Bologna:
Italy 2-1 Argentina
Matteo Berrettini – Sebastian Baez 6:2, 6:3
Genetic Sinners – Francisco Cerundolo 7:5, 1:6, 6:3
Bolelli / Fognini – Gonzalez / Zeballos 5: 7, 6: 2, 3: 6
