Jannik Sinner in Cincinnati vs. Daniel Elahi Galan: who he is, their history

Jannik Sinner has known since Thursday night the name of his opponent in his debut in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament. It is Daniel Elahi Galan, currently number 134 on the ATP circuit, who was able to beat in two sets in the first round of the tournament held on the concrete of’Ohio a more emblazoned opponents as Vit Kopriva. Who, in the world rankings, occupies the number 80 position.

Journing to Cincinnati through qualifying, Galan is 29 years old and has been a professional for ten. He has put only six Challengers on his bulletin board, most recently the one in Santiago that he won last March 16. In Grand Slam tournaments he has never gone beyond the fourth round centered at Wimbledon 2023, and in his career he has only once defeated a fellow Top 10 ATP ranked player. However, it is not Sinner: in fact, it was Stefanos Tsitsipas who succumbed to him, at the 2022 US Open, in four sets (6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5).

Sinner’s path against him, however, has been immaculate so far. Galan has faced the champion from Sesto Pusteria just twice in his career, and not only has he always lost: he has yet to win a single set. Not at Wimbledon 2023, where the South Tyrolean defeated him in three, and not in Davis Cup 2021, where the final result was 2-0.

Galan got the better of Kopriva in about an hour and 40 minutes, with a score of 6-2, 6-4. Particularly long and complex were the first three games, all of which went to the Colombian but after a battle that lasted 10, 14 and 10 points, respectively. The Czech tried to get back into the match by snatching the 3-1 service break from his rival, only to give it up again in the next game. After as many as four breaks in just five games, the last three ended without any further jolts.

Decidedly more linear the’course of the second set, at least until Galan snatched 3-2 with a further break against Kopriva. The Czech, however, managed to equalize thanks to a counterbreak that came after 12 points and taking advantage of the fourth chance. All in vain, however, considering that in the next game in turn he again lost his serve. After two failed match points at 5-3, then, the Colombian closed the score in the next game deserving the’upcoming challenge with Sinner.