Categories: ATPDavis CupTop Story

Sinner shines as Italy reach semi-finals

ATP Finals runner-up Jannik Sinner stepped straight into winning form four days after his test in Turin, leading Italy into the Davis Cup semi-finals on Thursday with a pair of key victories.

The world No. 4 who lost the Turin final at the weekend to Novak Djokovic .showed is devastating form as he rescued the tie for a 2-1 defeat of the Netherlands in Malaga.

Sinner claimed a must-win victory in the second singles rubber, defeating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2), 6-1 in 72 minutes after teammate Matteo Arnaldi lost the day’s first contest to Botic Van de Zandschulp 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-6 (7).

Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego then finished off the job against the Dutch, defeating Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof 6-4, 6-4 to wrap up the tie.

Rising power Italy will now be playing  back-to-back semi-finals for the first time since reaching three straight semis in 1996-1998.

“Davis Cup pressure is different, because you have a big responsibility to show up, because you don’t have many chances,” Sinner said.

“Obviously I was coming here with confidence, but the first day was not easy. Today I started so-so the first set, but still I tried to keep going. But it’s nice that the last event of the season is a team event.

“Everyone is giving 100 per cent.”

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

2 days ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

2 weeks ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

2 weeks ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

2 weeks ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

1 month ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

1 month ago