Dream debut for Jannik Sinner
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Catapulted into the ATP Finals for the forfeit of Matteo Berrettini,
the South Tyrolean beats the Polish Hubert Hurcakz 2-0 and proves to be much more than a simple reserve.
A 1h25 'of great tennis
, those of the twenty-year-old, who took the field with the coldness and courage of a veteran, also thanks to the go-ahead from his injured team-mate.
"He wrote to me, he said 'warm up, good luck, and have fun'", reveals the young man, who returned the courtesy, dedicating the victory to him at the end of the game. The partials of the match 6-2, 6-2, leave no doubts to the interpretation: Sinner won and convinced against the same opponent who had beaten him in Miami. A test of maturity, which confirms the growth of this player. "It was a very long day, I tried to give my best and I played a good match, managing the inevitable emotions", he says at the end of the match. Then the special dedication, "Matteo you are an idol", with a lot of heart on the cameras, a custom in the world of tennis when you triumph in a challenge.
In front of the microphones, he barely managed to hold back the emotion. "We are playing this tournament for Matteo, I want to say only this - says the twenty year old from the field of Pala Alpitour in Turin - because he is not only a great player, but above all he is an incredible person. I'm sorry that he was unable to play, I want to do I do my best and we all hope he will recover soon because he is a champion. " Now, a little rest, even if the training will continue tomorrow, then on Thursday we will return to play: from Hurkcaz we will move on to Daniil Medvedev, n.2 in the world and reigning champion of the Atp Finals, with the timetable start of the challenge yet to be defined.
But Sinner impressed with personality, cynicism and conviction, expressing great tennis.
"I played really well, I gained experience in recent months and I'm happy with my performance," he adds.
That's why the South Tyrolean will also try against the Russian giant without fear, aware that he has the audience of the Pala Alpitour on his side.
And, in the heart, the push and support of Berrettini.