And now the final that everyone was waiting for
(Gaia Piccardi) Sinner-Alcaraz, as nature creates. Flowers grow even in the desert: Six Kings Slam offers the same final as last year, the best that contemporary tennis can offer. It’s all so kitsch over there in Saudi Arabia, but there’s no point in getting scandalized. The body camera that Novak Djokovic agreed to wear makes you feel seasick, and when he takes it off he is left with a red shirt which in the eyes of the player in blue seems like a threat of imminent trouble. And then Jannik Sinner faces the semi-final of the show broadcast in Riyadh which offers the highest prize money in tennis (6 million dollars for the winner), with the competitive spirit that he reserves for real tournaments; on the other hand, on the other side of the net there is the Djoker, an opponent who for a thousand reasons deserves all his consideration. Djokovic’s modern tennis (already fifteen years ago) is the inspiration that guides him, in sport there are no true copies but models to imitate. Djokovic is a mirror in which to look at oneself reflected, Djokovic is the champion who explained to both Piatti and Cahill the changes that the boy should have made: playing less flat, varying the cuts and trajectories of the serve, making himself more unpredictable.
And there he is, red hair on the light blue of the Riyadh court, the student who has already surpassed his master six times, the last five consecutive, Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year included. There are no ATP points up for grabs, but no one likes to lose. The greatest advantage of Six Kings Netflix version is the television shot at court level: it gives a good idea of how Sinner is always low on his legs, almost kneeling despite his height, and the speed at which he walks, or rather runs, his ball. It is on a tracer at the edge of the net with these characteristics that the Serbian, coming to the net in an overly Garibaldian way, misses the volley. It’s the break: 2-1. And now you take it back, Djoker, the predestined from Sesto Pusteria projected towards greatness. 4-2, 5-4, game at 15 to seal the set (6-4) with 83% of firsts on the court. The most insurmountable problem for Djokovic, a formidable responder, is precisely the response.
This same challenge, last year at Six Kings, was won by Jannik in three sets. The hosts wouldn’t mind if the match got longer but the dedication that Sinner dedicates to his serve, combined with the ruthless concreteness of his tennis, takes away any illusions from the Arabs. A double break puts him ahead 4-1: he cancels two break points with the serve in the sixth game (10 aces in total) and closes 6-2. The Djoker is outclassed, the final between the two phenomena who have also disappeared from the four Majors this year is set.
The meaning of Riad’s performance is explained to us by Carlos Alcaraz, who drove Fritz crazy with the sound of bunts and lobs and who asks us to go beyond appearances: «I understand the criticisms, but sometimes it’s you who don’t understand us: the calendar is busy and we often complain about playing too much, but performances are different from tournaments. It’s a completely different situation: in tournaments I have to maintain concentration and intensity for two weeks, without breaks; here I have fun playing tennis just for a couple of days. It’s not that challenging.” The Six Kings final with Jannik on Saturday evening will force him to raise his level: Sinner-Alcaraz will never – never in the history of tennis – be a friendly match. News from other worlds: Berrettini leaves Stockholm at the hands of Humbert, Paolini and Musetti pave the way towards their respective Masters (in Riyadh and Turin) with two good victories in Ningbo and Brussels. There is life, far from the Six Kings.
