An all-Italian show at Wimbledon. For the first time in history two Italians face off on the center court of the All England Club, in the temple of tennis, and put on a show .
Jannik Sinner prevails over a great Berrettini after almost 4 hours of play, with the score 7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 .
The world number 1 imposed himself by managing to respond in an impressive manner to Berrettini's shots above 200 km per hour on serve and giving his best in the important points, in the three tiebreaks.
The center is packed like only for finals until late in the evening and the play of the two blue champions draws applause.
Balance reigns in the first set, which ends in a tiebreak, played perfectly by Jannik. In the second Berrettini goes one break ahead and takes the lead at 4-2, but Sinner's counterbreak arrives immediately, dragging the partial back to the tiebreak and prevailing again.
It seems over, but there is the return of a great Berrettini, who takes advantage of an empty pass from the South Tyrolean and prevails 6-2, taking the match to the fourth set . The fourth set was splendid, in which both contenders gave everything. Spectacular and increasingly prolonged exchanges. The Roman seems to reopen it when he takes the lead 2-1 and serves. It is the most difficult moment for Sinner, who responds like a champion and places the counterbreak . Once again we reach the tiebreak, and once again it is the world number 1 who has the upper hand, who closes with a super response between the feet of Berrettini who he is unable to control.
The final hug between the two friends was beautiful, with Berrettini telling Sinner: «Now go and get this tournament» . The South Tyrolean faces the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round.
A show that says a lot about what Italy's tennis has become and which leaves us with great regret. This match could have been seen much later in the tournament, few would have been able to beat yesterday's Berrettini, the best of the last three years.
On the third afternoon of Wimbledon , the feat of Fabio Fognini also stands out, as he - at 37 years of age - beats, for the first time in his career, the world no. 8, Casper Ruud (6-4 7-5 6-7 6 -3) , giving himself the third round at the Championships for the seventh time in his career. To access - for the first time in his career - the round of 16 of the Championships, the Italian will have to deal with the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, winner in four sets over Lorenzo Sonego (63 36 63 64). In the women's field , Jasmine Paolini continues her run and in two sets, and an hour and a half of play, beats the Belgian Greet Minnen (7-6 6-2) .
(Unioneonline/L)
