The Davis Cup has a unique ability to signify important moments in a player’s career, revealing strengths that may only be revealed under the weight of representing an entire team rather than just oneself. Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd at Málaga’s Palacio de Deportes, Jannik Sinner appeared to make great progress as he guided Italy to a 2-1 victory over Serbia and secured a spot in the Davis Cup final for the first time since 1998.
In his third match against the top-ranked player in just 11 days, Sinner was losing to Novak Djokovic 4-5, facing triple match point on his own serve in the final set. However, he made an unbelievable comeback to defeat Djokovic with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. He then joined forces with Lorenzo Sonego for the deciding doubles match and they were able to defeat Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-4, securing the win for their team.
Italy will face Australia in the final on Sunday, as Australia, who were the runners-up last year, beat Finland 2-0 on Friday.
“I am extremely joyful for everyone involved, including the team. Tomorrow presents a wonderful chance for us,” stated Sinner. “We are aware of this, but at the same time, we will strive to remain calm and maintain a positive attitude, which is crucial. It is also important to appreciate being here. It is not often that we have the opportunity to compete in a Davis Cup final, which holds great significance for us.”
The tie started on Saturday afternoon and ended in chaos. Kecmanovic’s outstanding performance earned Serbia the first point with a 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-1 victory over Lorenzo Musetti.
The top-ranked player in the world and the second-ranked player have been competing against each other for the past few months. During the group stage of the ATP Finals, Sinner and Djokovic battled for three hours and Sinner achieved his first win over the 24-time grand slam champion. However, Djokovic ultimately emerged victorious in the final match, defeating Sinner.
In this instance, Sinner initiated the game by hitting powerful shots from both sides, aiming to move closer to the net and dominate the baseline as quickly as he could. The 22-year-old relentlessly pressured Djokovic with his speed and strong shots, forcing him to defend from behind the baseline as he easily won the set.
Djokovic started off sluggish, but he picked up his energy in the second set by serving well and forcing mistakes from his opponent with his defensive skills. The 36-year-old ended the set strongly by attacking with his forehand, leading to a third set.
In the last round, the intensity had greatly increased as both athletes played strong and aggressive. However, it was clear that the outcome was leaning towards one player. Djokovic consistently applied pressure during Sinner’s service games and easily won his own. His 0-40 advantage while Sinner served was a result of his impressive performance.
After being down three match points, Sinner demonstrated his resilience and determination. He delivered extraordinary serves and aggressively pushed forward. He managed to win five consecutive points and maintain his lead, while the crowd cheered for the Italian player. Meanwhile, Djokovic struggled under the pressure and made a crucial mistake during his service game at 5-5. Sinner took advantage of this opportunity and secured a remarkable comeback by confidently holding his serve, resulting in the biggest victory of his career.
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After thirty minutes, Sinner and Djokovic were once again preparing for the crucial doubles match. Djokovic is not as skilled in doubles as he is in singles. Sinner and Sonego, with their stronger serves and aggressive net play, maintained their composure throughout two close sets and secured an impressive victory.
Later on, Djokovic spoke highly of Sinner’s impressive performance and expressed his congratulations. However, he did not conceal his disappointment, stating, “Personally, it is a huge disappointment for me. I take responsibility for being so close to victory with three match points. It’s truly unfortunate. This is the nature of sports. Losing for your country only intensifies the bitter feeling,” he explained.
With his two victories, Sinner finishes a fruitful afternoon as the first player to ever defeat Djokovic twice in a day, and he is the first to recover from triple match point down against Djokovic. He also broke the Serb’s 21-match Davis Cup winning streak, which dates back to 2011.
Sinner’s exceptional ability to make powerful shots and his continuously improving overall game have always been unquestionable. However, at the start of the year, there were concerns about his mental fortitude against top players in crucial moments. As the year comes to a close, he is proving that he has the potential to contend for major titles in the future.
