Djoko-Sinner to Meet Again Tomorrow? Davis Cup?

[stroke]

Just incredible. Sinner comes back from serving at 4-5, love 40, to hold and extend the match. Novak was really squeezing, and Sinner just would not give in.

[stroke]

Sinner breaks and is serving for match at 6-5. Just incredible.

[stroke]

Talk about stand and deliver. Sinner wins 7-5 in 3rd. Incredible resolve and play by Sinner, and Novak also for that matter.

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FF1hU11qUwYzwMJs7

Great portfolio by both players.

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PnJUC9uzZpUe1W2p6

Sinner post match interview.

[stroke]

Very interesting rubber match doubles coming up Italy and Serbia. I would think Sinner and Novak will both be back on court.

[stroke]

When Sinner was down 4-5, love 40 when serving, he won the next point to go to 15-40. He then did a fist pump to his team. That was something, he certainly was not faking his self belief. He believed. Too good. I just saw a stat that Sinner is the first player ever to come back and win vs Novak after facing 3 consecutive match points.

[stroke]

It's Sinner and Sonego vs Novak and Kecmonovic. I would think the Italians are the favorites as Sinner and Sonego really looked good winning their match vs Netherlands.

[stroke]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0E7nfas_6y/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

These are the 3 matchpoints saves by Sinner.

[jimlosaltos]

For the third time in a fortnight, world number one Novak Djokovic and the currently top pretender to his throne, 22 yo Jannik Sinner, met on a hard court. Make that 2-1 for the young Italian, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in 2 hr 32 min this morning in this unofficial series for year-end bragging rights.
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ITF semifinal "Full Highlights" of 17:57 minutes at this link.
Third-party "extended" highlights as backup, video of 8:49 min at this link.

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Both of Sinner's wins over Djokovic this month went to the end. In Jannik's victory over Djokovic in the Turin round robin, the third set was dead even until Sinner ran off the first 5 points of the tiebreak. Today, Jannik came back from down 0-40, facing triple match-point against him on his own serve to hold, then broke Djokovic in his last service game, and held again to close it out. The young guy just doesn't know that Novak's supposed to win all the big points.

I have not yet seen this, given the ah, interesting issues with the sarcastically nicknamed Piquet Cup's website, but wanted to get the news to you. From the stats, this match on slower courts than those in Turin was quite different from the ATP Tour Final that Djokovic won. In the Turin final, Djokovic went hyper-aggressive, hammering huge forehands and racing to the net.

Today was a role reversal. The stats show that it was Jannik that was on the offensive. While, Djokovic won more total points by 93-89, and had more breakpoint opportunities ( Djoko 2/9 vs Sinner 3/4)

Note: Some stats here are different than the table stroke posted which showed, for example. 41 winners for Sinner. I don't know why.

Sinner had:

* Twice as many winners, 29-12
* Nearly twice as many forehand winners, 21-11
* Twice as many aces 12-6
* Meanwhile, both players avoided volleying as if it was fatal, with zero (0) net points won -- combined !

As for the supposedly-real contest, which is a team semifinal between Serbia and Italy, Serbia won the first match so now it goes to a deciding doubles tie. Sinner has been playing doubles here, while Djokovic had NOT played in the earlier rounds. We'll see what the teams are shortly.

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[jimlosaltos]

Let's see if I can up load this very long screen cap with the more detailed stats for those interested.

Have to cut it in half ...

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[stroke]

Yes no idea on why stats a little different. I got it off Tennis Temple. Yours are probably more accurate. Italy wins 1st set 6-3, looking very comfortable in doing so. Sinner was the best player on the court.

[jimlosaltos]

For those following the Piquet, er Davis Cup itself, the presumably decisive doubles match between Italy and Serbia is under way.

Djokovic did suit up, teaming with Kecmanovic, who won the first singles.

Sinner/ Sonego is up 6-3 over Djokovic/ Kecmanovic as I type.

[jimlosaltos]

Australia beat upstart Finland 2-0 previously.

So, the winner of the Italy-Serbia doubles will meet Australia for the Davis Cup title.

[stroke]

What a day at the office for Sinner. Italy on to the Davis Cup Finals.