Jannik Sinner smokes Griekspoor to keep Italy alive at Davis Cup

(Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Jannik Sinner is playing like a young man possessed currently. Fresh off a fantastic showing at the ATP Finals where he was undefeated until he played the greatest player ever, Novak Djokovic, in the final. Still, Sinner showcased powerful groundstrokes, excellent movement, and the ability to potentially win several Grand Slams at the event. He is clearly one of the best players in the world right now and likely for years to come.

And he was needed by his Italian team at the Davis Cup on Thursday. After the Netherlands’s Botic Van De Zandschulp defeated Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, the Dutch team was one win away from moving into the semifinals of the Davis Cup finals. The only thing the Dutch needed was for Tallon Griekspoor to beat Jannik Sinner.

After a tight first set which Sinner won in a tie-break, Sinner completely wiped away Griekspoor to take the second set 6-1. The second set was 5-0 at one point until Griekspoor seemingly miraculously held serve near the end of the set. Sinner is playing as if he is the second-best player in the world currently, so there is no shame that Griekspoor went down as he did.

Jannik Sinner helps Italy even Davis Cup tie with the Netherlands

And Griekspoor did not even play badly. He finished with 7 aces and just one double fault while Sinner had 9 and 1, respectively. Jannik Sinner, though never faced a break point but he converted two of his five break points against Griekspoor. Sinner’s aggression simply overpowered Griekspoor, however.

Sinner finished with 14 winners and 18 unforced errors, but Tallon Griekspoor had just 7 winners and 31 unforced errors. There is no way a player with these statistics is going to beat Jannik Sinner right now. He is playing too well and with too much confidence.

Sinner’s victory will force a deciding doubles match featuring Italy’s Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego against the Netherlands’s Wesley Koolhof and Griekspoor. The winner of that match will send their team to the semis of the Davis Cup. The semis are held on Friday and Saturday while the final is held on Sunday.

Next. Novak Djokovic reaches one milestone no one will ever reach. dark