Jannik Sinner confirmed he had a great feeling with the ATP 500 in Beijing, having reached the semi-finals for the second year in a row. The Italian ace had shown an exceptional level last year, defeating Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Russian Daniil Medvedev in a sequence to start a powerful rise.
Jannik Sinner© YouTube screenshot
The world number 1 has not yet expressed his best tennis to this moment, but his mental strength and ability to make a difference in decisive moments have allowed him to overcome all difficulties. The two-time Grand Slam champion lost the first set to both Nicolas Jarry and Roman Safiullin, before raising his level and prevailing in the third set in both cases without too much trouble. Jannik started much better today against Jiri Lehecka, but the Czech became more aggressive in the second half of the match and had two set points in the tiebreak of the second set.
At the time of greatest difficulty, the 23-year-old from San Candido remained solid and concentrated without losing any more energy. Sinner will be clearly favored in the semi-final tomorrow, while his last opponent in a possible final will come out of the big match between Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. Fans are hoping to see a new chapter in the amazing rivalry between Jannik and Carlitos.
Panatta opens up on Sinner
Regardless of what result he will achieve in Beijing, it has not been an easy week for the world number 1. WADA has taken the decision to appeal against the acquittal of ITIA and Sinner will face a new long trial to prove his innocence. It was a thunderbolt of sunshine for Jannik Sinner the appeal filed by WADA to the TAS (Arbitration Court of Sport) on the doping case that concerns him. The blue, as he himself admitted, did not imagine a further chapter of this sad story, after having been declared innocent in three cases.
Jannik Sinner, Beijing 2024© Stream screenshot
This news clearly circulated quickly and was commented by many exponents of the sport. From Filippo Volandri to Nicola Pietrangeli, through Paolo Bertolucci, all have sided against the Wada and in favor of the blue tennis player. During the broadcast “La Domenica Sportiva”, on RAI 2, also spoke about it Adriano Panatta, who presented his thesis on: “WADA has every right to appeal, but in its reasons immediately said that Sinner will not lose points or money in tournaments already played. This means that even according to WADA, Jannik did not dope and this was also clear enough from the quantities of that Clostebol found in his system,” he said.
When asked why this further appeal, Panatta responds without hesitation: “For me, WADA has done so only for a political issue, as to claim its existence. But then the TAS will be the final judge in the case,’ he added. “The absurd thing is to have to play at the highest level with this sword of Damocles for a political issue. Scientists have said that he is innocent. If he were convicted, it would be revolution because it was against all logic. This boy is an example for everyone and he is clean, I hope that those who have to judge him are also clean”, he said.
Other stressful months
The US Open champion has already shown that he can resist an unusual pressure and will have to be mentally strong in the coming months to stay at the top of the ATP ranking. The 2024 of the Italian ace could become one of the best seasons of the modern era. If he achieves great results in the last part of the season, the 23-year-old from San Candido could write new pages in tennis history. It is not clear how long it will take before the final verdict, but it may take several months. According to some experts, the sentence will not be issued for 3-5 months. A further stress that the Italian player will be subjected.
Jannik Sinner© @DipakAgrahari3 X account
In a recent interview with RMC, former WTA star Marion Bartoli spoke about Jannik’s case: “What is very complicated about this controversy, I interviewed Jannik Sinner several times during the US Open, it’s that what was declared by the ITIA, these are so small quantities that we find the file quite ridiculous. If the World Anti-Doping Agency decides to appeal, it means they do not agree on the test result. I do not have enough information to give you more details but as they are two different agencies, it means that most certainly the WADA will ask itself to remake the tests on the samples. So we will have to wait for his own results.”