South Tyrol or the region of Piemonte? The decision where to go in Italy has probably been made by many holiday makers already. Both regions at the foot of the alps have a lot to offer, nature, good food and drink, adventures and of course relaxation. And they also have brought some tennis personalities. Two of them were opponents at the 30. TERRA WORTMANN OPEN – and that nearly over three hours. Jannik Sinner from South Tyrol defeated Lorrenzo Sonego from Piemonte 6:7(4); 6:4 and 6:4 in exactly 2 hours 52 minutes.
Sinner and Sonego are both in the main field at Halle for the first time this year – and the journey goes on for the 21 year-old player from South Tyrol. He has reached the quarter finals, but the world’s no. 9 and the no. four-seeded in Halle has to boost his performance if he wants to play for the title. “I made a lot of mistakes, also tactical ones,” Sinner said after the match. “But that will help me to get better in the next matches.”
Sinner didn’t get to a good start against his friend and compatriot Sonego. Already in the second game, he wasn’t able to use four chances to break, he wasn’t focussed enough yet. But also the no. 39 of the ATP World Rankings from Piemonte didn’t used four break points. So the tiebreak had to decide. Up to 4:4, everything was going well, then Sinner couldn’t hit two shots properly and play a forehand too long – and that meant the deciding game was gone 4:7.
Sinner performed better in the second set. He broke Sonego, who had once won a grass tournament in Antalya, and brought the round home 3:2. The man from South Tyrol used his fourth set point to make it 6:4. After the roof had been closed at the OWL Arena, play commenced indoors. Sinner utilized his first chance at 3:3 to take his opponent’s service and made it 4:3. Sonego couldn’t catch up with Sinner’s serves and thus the top 10 star was able to convert his first match point to 6:4.
“It wasn’t an easy match, I had to go to the limit mentally”, Sinner explained, who had decided the all-north Italian duel only just in his favour. That will not bother his friendship to Sonego though. Just like South Tyrol and the region of Piemonte are level in fighting for summer holiday makers.
