Unstoppable Sinner too much for Musetti

 ROME - A man on a mission and a clear message for all: he doesn’t make any concessions. Not even for his fellow countrymen. There are only lessons to be taught. Jannik Sinner beat Lorenzo Musetti, he dominated the first Italian derby in the quarter finals of a Grand Slam, and he returns to the US Open semifinals.

 The number one in the world continues on the same path he etched in the round of 16 against Aleksandr Bublik and  overcame the Carrarian in three sets: 6-1 6-4 6-2. Duration: two hours exactly. The man from the Alto Adige confirmed yet again his supremacy in the derby, recording his sixteenth victory in as many matches in the major circuit, his third against Musetti.

 Sinner thus continues on his way towards the confirmation of the title in New York and the top spot in the world rankings, and now he will find himself up against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, victorious in his quarter final against the Australian Alex De Minaur, 4-6 7-6 7-5 7-6. The Canadian leads 2-1 in their head-to-heads, but in the most recent (only a few weeks ago, in the quarter finals of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati) it went the way of the Italian, 6-0 6-2.

 The derby at the US Open was a match that was never in question. But that does not mean that it was not a match. Musetti had his chances to make the contest more interesting. For example, a break point at 2-1 at the start of the second set, or the six chances he had to break back in the third set (four at 1-0 and two at 3-2 to Sinner). However, there was never the feeling that Sinner could let the match slip. Not even the slightest sign.

 He was in total control from the start of the match. All the predictions for the evening materialised. Sinner turned out to be too strong, too relentless for the Carrarian. His ball too “heavy.” The difference in skill on hard-court did nothing but increase the distance between the two Italians at the moment.

 Sinner dominated the first set, imposing a frightening pace, he then managed the second set, before delivering the decisive blow in the third with a break in the first game. Finally, he rejected every attempt the Carrarian made to come back, finding a way to yet again break his fellow countryman’s serve before closing it out, at 4-2.

 For Musetti there was truly nothing he could do. The Carrarian tried to stem the suffocating pressure of the man from the Alto Adige from the back court. After being overwhelmed in the first set he managed to mentally stay in the game, creating, as mentioned, his own chances.

 Attempts to change the game, to give Sinner uncomfortable balls, had to clash with the intensity, depth and mental toughness of the number one in the world, who often forced the Carrarian on to the defensive, meters behind the baseline. From there it is hard to do damage, especially on hard-court and moreover against Sinner.

 A resounding defeat that takes away from the great US Open that Musetti has fought. Indeed, it was not easy to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam on a difficult surface. It was not easy, especially after the difficult period that he had come from, with muscle problems and the disappointments of Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati. These 400 points taken are fuel for Musetti’s ambitions regarding the ATP Finals.

 Right now he is eighth in the race, with 3070 points. Always closer and closer to that threshold of around 3600 points that in past seasons has warranted qualification. An important advance forward, therefore, that brings with it a heavy dose of confidence. Musetti recovered physically, he rediscovered his confidence on the court and is ready for the final stage of the season. To grab ahold of Turin. And to do that a win for Sinner in the semifinals against Auger-Aliassime (tenth in the race and ahead of Musetti with regards to finals) would not hurt.

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