ATP Sofia: Jannik Sinner overcomes slow start to beat Alex de Minaur

The 19-year-old Jannik Sinner is through to the second ATP semi-final in the last three tournaments, beating the 3rd seed Alex de Minaur 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and 11 minutes. Jannik had scored a dominant victory over Alex in the ATP Next Gen Finals title match last year, playing better and better as the encounter progressed to earn the second triumph over the Aussie from as many clashes. After the Roland Garros quarter-final run, Sinner competed in the semi-final in Cologne 2 before retiring with a foot injury in Vienna, taking some time off the court and playing on a high level in Sofia to remain on the title course. The Italian fended off six out of seven break chances to mount the pressure on the other side of the net, four of those when it mattered the most in the closing stages of the second set. After that, de Minaur lost ground in the decider and sent a teenager into the last four. Sinner secured five breaks, three of those in the final set to reach the semis in style.

They kicked off the action with comfortable holds before Sinner sprayed a forehand error to suffer a break in game three and send the rival in front. Jannik pulled it back straight away after forcing Alex's mistake and held at 15 with an ace to open a 3-2 gap. The Italian squandered a break chance in the next game following a loose backhand, with both players serving well in the remaining six games to set a tie break. Sinner landed a forehand long in the fourth point to fall 3-1 down, taking the next two points to level the score and stay in contention. De Minaur placed a perfect backhand down the line winner in the eighth point to build an advantage, securing another mini-break and clinching the opener when Sinner sprayed a forehand mistake in the tenth point.

Jannik Sinner is through to the second semi-final of the season in Sofia.

With no room for errors, Jannik grabbed a break in the second set's seventh game after a wild forehand from the opponent, fending off two break chances in the next one and closing the game with a backhand down the line winner that cemented the break for him. Serving for the set at 5-4, the Italian repelled two break points with winners and wrapped up the set following a backhand error from de Minaur to force a decider. The Aussie lost ground in those moments, netting an easy forehand at the beginning of the final set to find himself down. Sinner held in game two and placed a backhand down the line winner to secure the second straight break and open a 3-0 gap. Returning at 5-1, the Italian grabbed a break at love to seal the deal and advance into the semi-final in style.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/35wa117