Tomas Machac upsets Jannik Sinner: it’s on to the third set
The third set will decide the challenge between Sinner and Machac. The South Tyrolean starts strong, who chooses to respond and immediately imposes pace. The Czech struggles to find continuity on serve: between second balls and a few too many errors, he concedes already in the first game. Sinner takes advantage of this, grows in response and snatches the break at the advantages. From there on it is a monologue. The Italian holds serve with authority, moves the exchange well and puts constant pressure. Machac tries to fight back, but is inaccurate at key moments: more errors come, including heavy double faults, paving the way for the second break and 4-0.
The Czech only manages to break free in the fifth game, saving a break point and breaking the losing streak. It is an isolated episode, however. Sinner remains solid, conceding nothing on his own turns and continues to lead. In the seventh game came the credits: more errors by Machac, between forehand and serve, gave two set points to the Italian. Sinner closes without hesitation, 6-1, after a first set dominated far and wide.
The second set opens with Jannik Sinner trying to stay in control on serve, but without the brilliance of the first partial. Tomáš Macháč gradually grows: after nullifying a break ball at the start, he finds rhythm and confidence, starting to push especially with the forehand.
The balance is broken in the fifth game, when it is the Czech himself who places the break: he raises the level in the exchanges, takes advantage of some Sinner errors and goes ahead. From there Machac accelerates, holds serve with confidence and again snatches the serve from the blue, taking it up to 5-2. This is the toughest moment for Sinner, who is experiencing a noticeable drop and struggles to hold his opponent’s intensity.
When the set seems headed, however, comes the reaction. Sinner recovers one of the two breaks, returning more aggressively in response and taking advantage of some of the Czech’s blunders. Machac takes the blow, makes more mistakes and allows the Italian to come completely back: first the counter-break of 3-5, then the constant pressure that brings him back up to 5-5.
In the game of the possible 5-5 all the tension is seen: hard exchanges, chances on both sides and even a break point cancelled by Machac. On the advantages, however, it is Sinner who makes the difference, raising the level in the decisive moments and completing the comeback.
From 2-5 to 5-5: the set is completely reopened. Then one game to one and tie-break. Machac tries the breakaway (2-0 and then even 6-2) and wins 7-3.
