Sinner, 'deja vu' Slam

Beyond the Pillars of Hercules there is a land he knows. Sinner goes hunting on Sunday in the Slam continent, which remained, before his arrival in 2024, almost fifty years without an Italian flag. It's Jannik's turn (9,30, live on Nove free-to-air, as well as Sky and Eurosport) in a challenge that couldn't be more difficult: against the world number 2 Zverev, rested and now his direct opponent in the rankings. Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, on the other hand, still have to wait to touch down as a couple in the 'new world' of the Slam (the first actually already won in 2015 with Fognini, and Wave signed the Enterprise at the US Open with Sara Errani). Redemption was only just touched for the Italian duo, who yesterday in the final surrendered, after a marathon match (7-6, 6-7, 3-6) to Patten-Heliövaara. Starting one set ahead, 'Bole and Wave' were then overtaken by their opponents, while the redemption match (given the final lost in Melbourne already in 2024) slowly slipped through their fingers. A positive start to the season anyway, counting the title in Adelaide and the second place in the major. They look ahead and say "it's only the beginning, we'll try again", without forgetting a truly fairytale 2024.

All the blue hopes are now placed in Sinner, who after the semifinal victory over Shelton has embraced the low profile approach, trains indoors in great secrecy to sharpen the final shots of a young and mature champion. The oxymoron is a must, but in one round of the calendar the life of a boy in his early twenties has practically changed, praised by the public, colleagues and a staff built "like a family". All this has allowed him to leave behind - with negligible losses - worries and physical ailments: from the intestinal virus with tremors, to the contracture suffered in the last match, in addition to a frontal attack by the German press (Bild headlined: 'Zverev against Skandal Sinner' referring to the Clostebol case).

But on the pitch he is alone Sinner - Zverev, both in their third Slam final. With the difference that the German has never managed to exploit his chances, while the Italian has always hit the target. Not only that, Jannik could enter the Olympus of the magnificent 8 (with Connors, Borg, Edberg, Kuerten, Federer, Wawrinka and Alcaraz) to have immediately won 3 finals out of the 3 played.

Today's final of the challenge has a somewhat dated precedent Australian Open it could also be the preview of a future and incredible dualism if both will be able to maintain such levels. They are currently in the top 5 of active tennis players with the most career titles: Djokovic leads with 99, Sascha second with 23 and Jannik fifth with 18.

Right from Australia, a year ago, Sinner had begun his world tour, reopening the Italian book of history of tennis. Now he is preparing to write the page that could put him at the top, ahead of everyone as the most successful of all time. Three Slam titles mean also surpassing the legend Nicola Pietrangeli, with Panatta, Schiavone and Pennetta 'stuck' at one.

The grown-up, seasoned champion, has touched the stars and seen the darkness of the Clostebol case, returns today at the same place and same time to give us yet another unforgettable Sunday. Whatever happens.

Gabriele Tassi