By James Beck
What a Friday!
But it was a big day for tennis lovers who were able to spend most of the day in front of a television set. It was actually worth buying a ticket. And that is not only because Andre Agassi and Jim Courier were on board at the same time, as TNT’s broadcast of the French Open.
Novak Djokovic was super good, but not a real match for Jannik Sünd’s powerful game and court reporting. Novak played his heart as usual, but big and Lean Jannik was just too good at sweeping Novak’s dream of a 25TH Grand Slam with a straight set 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3) victory in the semi-finals.
Novak’s game sparkled
Djokovic played an excellent tennis, but simply couldn’t match Siner’s game.
And then there was Carlos Alcaraz, who used to play on Friday. He played steadily in the first set, but simply couldn’t win the big point against the talented 23-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti. When Alcaraz switched to a tie -breaker in the second set, he was at his game and only delivered three points in the tie -breaker.
Musetti is a strong player who can fully sneak into a Grand Slam title. But in the end, eight games in a row went away, before Musetti came up with surprise muscles and a 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 RET. Loss when exception of the rest of the tournament.
And the final on Sunday between 23-year-old sinner and 22-year-old Alcaraz could be even better. It doesn’t get much better than the number 1 and 2 of the world in a Grand Slam final.
Sünder’s game is better than it looks
Sinner may not look powerful, but he is once when he puts a racket in his hands. The court seems to automatically find its lines in a sizzling manner. And this 6-3 Italian seems to reach the other side of his farm in just a few steps. He wastes no time to take on a point. He just takes it.
It seems to be almost unbeatable these days.
But then Alcaraz brings his brilliant magical game, his own strength, flexibility and pleasure. It is the fan favorite most of the time unless he is in Italy.
Perhaps you would like to throw a coin on the championship in Paris on Sunday.
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James Beck (843-795-3584, H)
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James Beck was the winner of the Usta National Media Award for print media in 2003. As a graduate of the citadel in 1995, he has been reached at [email protected].
See your latest columns on all Grand Slams at ubitennis.net/author/james-beck or worldttennissagazine.com
