Still undefeated in 2024, the Italian succumbed last night to his greatest rival (6/1 3/6 2/6) in the semi-finals of Indian Wells.
Since the revelation of the BNP Paribas Open draw, the promise of another encounter between the two prodigies has not left the minds of tennis fans. Each of their previous matches has been an opportunity for extraordinary points, unbearable suspense, and a friendly atmosphere. Yesterday, we got everything. Except for the uncertainty of the outcome.
Jannik Sinner took advantage of the first set to demonstrate the extent of his talent and the effect of accumulated confidence over the weeks. Each one of his touches of the ball was synonymous with perfection: the service placements, the changes in direction down the line, the jumped backhands, and the depth of his shots. Despite the power deployed by Carlos Alcaraz and his outgoing ball trajectories, he was unable to disturb his opponent. In less than thirty minutes, Jannik Sinner leads 6/1. This semi-final seemed written in advance.
That was without counting on the strength of character of Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protege. The beginning of the second set marks the advent of his new game strategy: changing position on the return, increasing drop shots, and playing with much more commitment. Jannik Sinner resisted brilliantly even though he was pushed to the limit. His impressive reading of the game allowed him to anticipate Carlitos’ traps. Monumental points followed one another – often to the advantage of the Spaniard. One set all.
The final set left little room for doubt. Lacking first serves, Jannik Sinner was vulnerable from his first service game. Also abandoned by his forehand, the Italian seemed no longer able to fight against Carlos Alcaraz. The latter seemed to fly across the court. The winner of the Australian Open’s succession of accelerations seemed painless. The former world number one returned all balls with disconcerting ease. The level of one reached new heights while the one of the other deteriorated. Not a single forehand from Jannik Sinner landed within the court boundaries. His first defeat of the year was inevitable.
Who better than his already legendary rival to end the Italian’s winning streak? These two such young players ignite the tennis world with each of their confrontations. In 2023, Jannik Sinner’s defeat in the Indian Wells semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz led to his revenge in Miami.
See you next week for an even more spectacular match – with a bit of luck and a lot of talent.
Marnie Abbou
