US Open 2021: Jannik Sinner throws Gael Monfils out, Berrettini also continues
Jannik Sinner made it into the round of 16 of the US Open 2021 with a five-set win against Gael Monfils. There the South Tyrolean could meet Alexander Zverev .
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Sep 04, 2021, 11:59 pm
By Jens Huiber from New York City
The Louis Armstrong Stadium was very crowded on Saturday afternoon, the name Gael Monfils still draws fans to the arenas. Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, has just such memories of this special stadium, two years ago he delivered his first talent test at Grand Slam level against Stan Wawrinka. In the meantime, Sinner has established himself in the row of the seeded in a major, and was most recently able to win the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Washington.
Now Jannik Sinner is in the round of 16 of the US Open. The 20-year-old showed an extremely fluctuating performance against Gael Monfils, and was repeatedly thrown out of the rhythm by highlights from the French. Monfils, on the other hand, initially missed taking the first set home with his own serve in a 6-5 lead. That might have given the match a different direction. Because towards the end of the third set, Monfils showed what was still in his 35-year-old body for a few days: He caught up a break deficit, won the round to thunderous cheers from the fans.
Sinner now against Zverev?
Sinner took a short toilet break, stayed calm, got a break at the beginning of the fourth, then a second. The decision? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that. Gael Monfils won six games in a row, Sinner had completely lost the thread.
The same story in the decision: Sinner with the early break, Monfils with the need to make a comeback. Which almost led to an equalization in the sixth game. But Monfils didn't get any more chances. After a playing time of 3:43 hours, Sinner won 7: 6 (1), 6: 2, 5: 7, 4: 6 and 6: 4. And with this success he also secured important points in the battle for a place at the season finale in Turin. In the second round, Sinner could meet Alexander Zverev, who first has to beat Jack Sock.
A second Italian had to fight much harder: Matteo Berrettini had to go the full distance against Ilya Ivashka, finally winning 6: 7 (5), 6: 2, 6: 4, 2: 6 and 6: 3. Berrettini will play against Oscar Otte on Monday, who won against the third Italian who was still in the tableau, Andreas Seppi, in four sets.
Here the single tableau in New York
nycmap