Archive of posts tagged strokes

Jannik Sinner earns personal record in Cincinnati

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Cincinnati

Competing for the first time since lifting his first Wimbledon title, world no. 1 Jannik Sinner made a stunning debut in Cincinnati. The defending champion ousted a qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.

The Italian had the upper hand fro start to finish, dictating the pace on the fast hard court and sealing the deal in 59 minutes. Thus, Jannik secured his personal record, delivering his fastest ATP win in completed matches.

In 2019, Sinner ousted Mikael Ymer at the Next  Gen ATP Finals in 56 minutes. However, it was a different format with shorter sets.

The Italian produced brutal numbers in his service games, losing six points and saving the only break point while serving for the opener at 5-1. Elahi Galan felt the pressure and cracked under it.

The Colombian landed in 54% of the first serve and lost 56% of the points in his games. Sinner created 13 break chances and converted five, controlling the scoreboard and racing over the top.

Jannik tamed his strokes nicely and fired 20 winners and 12 unforced errors, mixing his shots well and adding drop shots to his arsenal. The Italian hit 19 service winners and forged a vast 31-9 lead from the baseline against the powerless rival.

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

World no. 1 outplayed his opponent in the shortest and mid-range rallies, taking charge and presenting his career-fastest victory. Sinner found his momentum right from the start.

He geld at love in the first game, grabbed a break in the second and drew the rival's mistake at 2-0 for another hold at love. Daniel netted a routine forehand in the fourth game and experienced a break at love.

Jannik painted a forehand winner in game five, providing his third straight hold at love and moving 5-0 up after 15 minutes. Daniel Elahi ended his downfall in the sixth game and created his only break point at 1-5.

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025

Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Italian saved it with a service winner and converted a set point with a half-volley winner for 6-1 after swift 26 minutes. The favorite served well in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. 

Sinner clinched a break in the first game with a deep return and cemented it with a service winner a few moments later for 2-0. Daniel denied five break points in the third game and avoided a bagel.

Jannik held at 15 in the fourth game before generating three break chances in the next one. He converted the last with a forehand winner and forged a 4-1 lead. The Italian held at love for 5-1 and made another push on the return in game seven.

He landed a perfect drop shot winner on a match point, sealing the deal in style and racing into the third round.

Jannik Sinner hands Novak Djokovic a rare Major beating

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6 Kings Slam

Novak Djokovic's quest for the record-equalling eighth Wimbledon crown came to a sudden halt in the semi-final. Jannik Sinner stopped the legend 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 55 minutes. 

Thus, the Italian defeated the Serb for the fifth straight time and handed the 24-time Major winner's third straight loss in the Major semi-final, a rare scene unseen for 15 years!

Alongside that, Novak experienced his worst defeat in the completed matches in the semi-final at Majors. Djokovic is 37-15 in this round on the most notable scene. However, he never took only ten games before, excluding two retirements.

The Serb contemplated his third retirement in the Major semi-finals. Novak fell on a match point in the quarter-final duel against Flavio Cobolli. He injured his left hip area and struggled physically against world no. 1.

Despite obvious discomfort, the 38-year-old refused to retire at Majors for the second time this season. He tried his best and had a chance to move 4-0 in front in the third set before Sinner turned the tables. 

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Italian dominated the baseline. He tamed his strokes superbly, reducing the number of mistakes and drawing over 30 errors from the seven-time champion who chased his seventh consecutive All England Club final.

While Novak stayed in touch in the quickest exchanges, Jannik outplayed him completely in the more demanding ones following the Serb's struggles with movement and rhythm.

Djokovic took a medical timeout and gave everything in his quest to extend the battle. However, he embraced his career-worst performance behind the second serve, taking five of 30 points and suffering five breaks from ten opportunities presented to world no. 1. 

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Jannik made a reliable start and dominated sets one and two for a massive advantage. Novak grabbed his only break early in the third set and had a break point that could have sent him 4-0 in front. 

Instead, the Italian saved it and held, reducing the gap and pulling the break back. Sinner secured another return game and held in the tenth game and wrap up a perfect day at the office. 

Before this match, Djokovic's worst defeat in the completed semi-final matches at Majors came 18 years ago at Roland Garros, with Rafael Nadal ousting him 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.

Umag: Luciano Darderi wins title, joins Jannik Sinner on the list

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AlcarazSinner rivalry

Luciano Darderi enjoy two thrilling weeks in Bastad and Umag. The 23-year-old Italian conquered two titles and became the third player with at least three ATP titles in 2025, joining Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Bublik on the list.

Darderi gained a boost in Bastad and carried it to Umag, lifting his fourth clay-court ATP 250 title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Carlos Taberner in an hour and 26 minutes. 

Thus, Luciano became the fourth Italian champion in Umag and the first since Jannik Sinner in 2022. With 500 ATP points within two weeks, the 23-year-old moved closer to his career-high ranking position.

The Italian struggled a bit with a left ankle injury. He felt the pain after celebrating the title, with Taberner helping him to reach the bench, where he received help. That aside, it was a flawless performance from Darderi.

The 2nd seed took 18 points more than his rival. Luciano dropped seven points in nine service games, facing no break points and mounting the pressure on the other side. 

Taberner dropped 40% of the points in his games and gave serve away three times from five chances presented to his opponent. The favorite tamed his strokes nicely and landed 20 winners and 17 unforced errors. 

He had the upper hand in service winners and from the baseline, building a massive advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes. Luciano lost two points in five service games in the opening set.

Luciano Darderi, Umag 2025

Luciano Darderi, Umag 2025© Stream screenshot

 

He fired a forehand crosscourt winner in the sixth game, providing a break and moving 4-2 in front. They continued after a short rain delay, and Darderi held at 15 in game nine for 6-3 in 40 minutes.

Carlos suffered another break in the fifth game of the second set, sending a backhand wide and moving closer to the exit door. Darderi held at 30 in the next one and moved 4-2 in front.

The Italian held at love in game eight for 5-3 and made a push on the return in the next one. He seized the second match point with a forced error, falling to the ground and celebrating his second title from as many weeks.

Washington: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina bests Ben Shelton

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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will chase his first ATP title in a career in Washngton. The Spaniard bested Ben Shelton 6-2, 7-5 in the semi-final in an hour and 19 minutes, advancing to his fourth ATP final and the third of the season.

Davidovich Fokina left the home star behind in the opening set and grabbed three straight games in the closing stages of the second set for a notable victory. Alejandro will crack the top-20 with these points, regardless of the final outcome.

The Spaniard is 8-0 against left-handers in 2025. He is also the fourth player with five top-10 victories this season, joining Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti on the exclusive list.

Ben could not produce the magic behind the initial shot from the previous matches. He served at 55% and dropped42% of the points in his games. The home player faced six break points and got broken four times. 

Alejandro dropped 14 points in ten service games, suffering one break in the second set and outplaying his rival. They sprayed too many unforced errors. The Spaniard tamed his strokes more efficiently and bested the top-10 star from the baseline. 

They stayed neck and neck in the quickest exchange up to four strokes, and the lower-ranked player had the upper hand in the more advanced ones. Davidovich Fokina made a reliable start.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina & Ben Shelton, Washington 2025

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina & Ben Shelton, Washington 2025© Stream screenshot

 

He served well in the opener and kept the pressure on the other side. Shelton sprayed a forehand error in the fifth game, losing serve and falling behind. The Spaniard cemented the lead with a forehand down the line winner in the next one.

A left-hander struggled again on serve in game seven and netted a forehand to experience another break and fall 5-2 behind. Alejandro landed an ace in the eighth game, wrapping up the opening set 6-2 in 27 minutes.

Ben played against a break point at 2-2 in the second set and saved it with a service winner. However, he played a loose drop shot two games later, losing serve and sending his rival 4-3 in front.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Washington 2025

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Washington 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The Spaniard played his only loose service game in the next one, placing a forehand wide and losing serve to bring the home favorite back to the positive side. 

Shelton sprayed a backhand error in the 11th game and got broken when his opponent painted a forehand down the line winner. Davidovich Fokina served for the win at 6-5 and fired a powerful serve for a hold at 15 and his fourth ATP final, the third of the season.