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Erste Bank Open: Jannik Sinner with the prospect of a Deja-Vu

With Jannik Sinner at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, a player has moved into the second round, which is predicted a great future. The 18-year-old Italian could meet Gael Monfils on Thursday. Like last week in Antwerp.

by Jens Huiber
last edit: Oct 23, 2019, 12:42 pm

In the future, this man could be at the forefront - Jannik Sinner
© GEPA Pictures
In the future, this man could be at the forefront - Jannik Sinner

By Jens Huiber from the Wiener Stadthalle

The tension had diminished slightly before the last match of the day at the tennis classic in Vienna, Dominic Thiem had just calmed the nerves. And also his own. Home games are a tricky thing, as Jannik Sinner now knows. Although the Italian is only 18 years old recently.

A few months ago in Rome, the organizers of the ATP Masters 1000 event have given their compatriot a wildcard. Sinner not only thanked him, he also moved into the second round with a win against Steve Johnson. The Americans may be ashamed of a grateful opponent - especially in the 2019 version - bring home such a match yet. The Italian journalists could barely restrain their joy, applauded the teenager at the press conference. Can you do that? You do not have to.

Published in Rome on the scene

In the tournament in Rome Jannik Sinner was still number 263 in the world, with the first-round win against Philipp Kohlschreiber in Vienna, the ranking of the South Tyrolean will be double-digit for the first time. Further forecasts are premature, but one thing is certain: no player in the ATP charts is younger than Jannik Sinner.

Last week, the teenager in Antwerp had moved into his first semifinals at 250 level, with Stan Wawrinka was then over. As was the case with the US Open, where Sinner had played for qualifying in his first main draw with a Major. Incidentally, the Italian junior hope started the year at an ITF 15,000 tournament in Monastir. It was no problem for him after the experience against Wawrinka in New York to go back to the smaller tournaments. "I try to always enter the square with the same attitude", Sinner explained after the 6: 3 and 6: 4 against Kohlschreiber. "Challengers want everyone to win as well, and players around 200 will not give you anything." The difference to the Top 30 is: At important points, this category would not only make more pressure, but also fewer mistakes. That's what the team is working on under head coach Ricardo Piatti.

Sinner with geographic proximity to Austria

Native is Jannik Sinner from Innichen, "completely beside Austria", as he puts it himself. Only seven kilometers to the border, the tanker to Austria because of the cheaper there prices and give. He himself does not have a driver's license, it is worked on. Italian Tennis is experiencing an upswing at the moment, as Matteo Berrettini, for example, could qualify for the ATP Finals in London. There would be no special contact with the same or Fabio Fognini. "Now Paolo Lorenzi has come to us", Sinner continues, at the age of 38 he is a bit older than him. The contact among the Italians is not so pronounced. Sinner is happy, but also with players like Dominic Thiem, Roger Federer, etc ..

In Vienna, Jannik Sinner could now blossom a Deja-Vu. However, one of the more pleasant sort: In round two he meets the winner of the match between Dennis Novak and Gael Monfils. He played against the French only a few days ago in Antwerp. And won straight in straight sets.

by Jens Huiber

Wednesday
Oct 23, 2019, 09:53 am
last edit: Oct 23, 2019, 12:42 pm