Google News Sinner beat Monfils and feels himself stronger: "These matches help a lot mentally"
by LORENZO CIOTTI
"These tough matches help a lot mentally when you're not playing your best tennis." Jannik Sinner analyzed at the press conference his victory against Gael Monfils at the ABN AMRO, ATP 500 which is being played in Rotterdam. By beating the Frenchman, the young Italian qualified for the quarter-finals, where he will face the Canadian Milos Raonic.
Sinner explained what happened in the second set, where a blackout allowed his opponent to get back into the running, taking the match to the third set.
"In the second set I played badly on serve and the situation changed quickly. It's never easy against Monfils, he always changes something," he analyzed.
Jannik also praises his opponent Gael, explaining how tennis needs a player like the Frenchman: "He's an incredible showman, all the people love him and the sport needs him. I hope he plays as long as possible and can face him again."
A fairly similar fight awaits him in the quarterfinals. Facing him, for the first time ever in an official match, Jannik will find Canadian Milos Raonic, who has his serve as his main weapon.
"It will be a tough match, but I can't wait to face this new challenge. I trained with him a few times when I was younger. I hope it can be a good race, even if there won't be much pace," he told.
The victory against Monfils
A more painful success than usual but very important to continue the splendid streak of consecutive successes. Sinner, despite the difficulties encountered during the match, eliminated Monfils from the ATP 500 race in Rotterdam, which still forced him to play the third set, before reaching the quarter-finals.
A match well managed by the Italian in the sets that were then won. In fact, in the first set, Jannik was able to win 6-3, taming a super French serve with 90% of first balls on the court. In the second, a missed pass on serve was poorly handled, but it wasn't fatal to the victory.
In fact, in the decisive set the 22-year-old Italian returned to commanding the rallies and obtaining a greater number of winners, securing his pass for the next round.