Alex de Minaur, Jannik Sinner confirms black beast: "Yet I would know how to beat him…"

Thirteen matches, thirteen losses. The track record of direct clashes with Jannik Sinner is merciless for Alex de Minaur, with the Australian who, beyond a few sets won here and there, has never really managed to challenge the South Tyrolean, and he failed to do so even in the semifinals at the ATP Finals, where Sinner won by taking flight from the closing part of the first set to the end of the match.

“I&#8217ve met him so many times – explained the Australian in the press conference – and although not many people will think so, I would also know how to beat him. There’s just one problem, however: it&#8217s not so easy! To beat Sinner you have to hit very hard and very flat, with the ball having to go close to the lines-I always try, but it”s not easy.

“To have a chance to break this streak against him, my serve has to be effective throughout the match– added De Minaur -. Today, however, he dropped a little bit at the distance and when that happens he takes advantage with his game. His ability in the response phase is exceptional, if you don”t serve well, it”s trouble against him.

“The problem, against Sinner, is the ’avalanche effect– continued, on the same theme, the current No. 7 in the ATP rankings, who qualified in the semifinals at the expense of Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti, in the round that also promoted Carlos Alcaraz -. You are there and the match seems balanced, then he makes a break, another one, and you find yourself trying to avoid a 6-0. As a player he is impressive, I don”t think I am the first to say that”.