Sinner closes out a 'bomb' year. Berrettini slips immediately in Brisbane

May it be the year of Sinner it is well known, yesterday two indirect confirmations arrived which do not give points in the ranking but demonstrate a popularity that goes far beyond the confines of tennis. Not that there was any need, but knowing that on the site of the Treccani the name of Jannik Sinner was the most searched for in 2024, ahead of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump, is something that not only makes the marketing and sponsorship collection workers of the South Tyrolean happy.

The other tribute is very popular, even if it is tinged with black like gunpowder and judicial news: once upon a time the most famous end-of-year bang was the name of Diego Armando Maradona, this year it was Sinner's turn to give the name to the 'bomb' to be used on New Year's Eve produced in 640 units destined for the streets of Catania. The police arrested two Sicilians who had in the trunk several boxes with rudimentary devices called 'Sinner Bombs', in homage to Jannik: "Firecrackers characterised by an orange casing and with a deadly capacity", explained the officers, who found another 110 in the house of one of the two men arrested.

On the court, Jannik is waiting to make his debut in Australia where he will play a charity exhibition on January 7 at 6:10 Italian time against Australian Alexei Popyrin and again on January XNUMX against an opponent to be determined, before making his debut in the Australian Open.

Teammates and rivals of the number one in the ranking have already taken to the field 'down under'.

Matteo Berrettini's season got off to a bad start in Brisbane, defeated in his debut match in the ATP 250 by Jordan Thompson, seeded no. 8 and no. 26 in the world: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Berrettini is currently ranked no. 34. His next appointment is the Melbourne Slam, where he will not be seeded. In Brisbane, the strange pairing of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios won in doubles, having overcome the first round of doubles against the Austrian Alexander Erler and the German Andreas Mies 6-4 6-7(4) 10-8. Arnaldi made his debut in the singles tournament last night against Popyrin.

In Hong Kong, Lorenzo Sonego got off to a good start, beating the American Brandon Nakashima, seeded number 6, 7-6(4) 6-3 in the first round. Luciano Darderi, on the other hand, fared badly, beaten 6-3 6-3, in just 68 minutes of play, by Miomir Kecmanovic.

The second day of the United Cup for the Azzurri was also played during the Italian night, against France.