ATP Sofia: Jannik Sinner is aiming for first title defense
Last autumn, Jannik Sinner won his first title on the big tour at the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Sofia. Sinner would like to confirm this success this week.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 27, 2021, 07:12 pm
As the 2020 ATP season, mutilated by the corona pandemic, was drawing to a close, Jannik Sinner quickly seized the opportunity. And achieved something that a man like Félix Auger-Aliassime is still waiting for: the first tournament victory at the highest professional level. Sofia had slipped back in the calendar, Sinner was allowed to lift the trophy after successes against Marton Fucsovics, Marc-Andrea Huesler, Alex de Minaur, Adrian Mannarino and Vasek Pospisil.
Ten months ago, Sinner traveled to the Bulgarian capital as number 44, now the 20-year-old is already number 14. This not only gives him the position of defending champion, but also that of the tournament favorite in the 2021 edition. After losing at the US Open against Alexander Zverev, Sinner took a short break from the tournament and did not start in Metz last week. The South Tyrolean now holds three championships, this season the titles were added to one of the preparatory tournaments for the Australian Open in Melbourne and that of the 500 in Washington.
Monfils behind Sinner as number two
These successes also put Jannik Sinner in a promising position in the Race to Turin, but he lacks 420 points for a safe starting position. Casper Ruud enjoys that much advantage at the moment as ninth place (Rafael Nadal will not play in Turin) on the eleventh Sinner. In Sofia, at best, 250 can be added, at least.
The draw revealed a possible re-run of the final against Pospisil in round two, it would be Sinner's opening match after a bye. Gael Monfils greets you from the bottom of the tableau, who recently seemed to be in better shape again (and Sinner delivered a big match at the US Open). To bet on a place in the final would be a bit too early for the French. The prospects for Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, are not bad: In the quarter-finals, it would go against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina according to paper, in the semifinals Alexander Bublik would wait. It seems prepared for a successful title defense.