Sinner, challenge beyond fear

More than from Alex De Minaur, the host in Melbourne and today's opponent in the quarter-finals (not before 9.30 this morning in Italy, live on Eurosport, Sky and Dazn), Jannik Sinner must beware of the eternal Nole aiming for the encore atAustralian Open. After all, the tiny Australian number 8 in the world has always been beaten by the Rosso di Sesto in the nine previous matches. The last one, in the semifinal of the second, triumphant Italian Davis Cup in Malaga. Unless Jannik is still dragging shadows of the discomfort he suffered and overcame against Rune – but yesterday he trained, smiling at the fans and saying he was “much better“ – today's task at the Rod Laver Arena should not present great difficulties.

Instead, he advances impetuously – even defeating muscular ailments – Novak Djokovic. The Serbian adds another exploit to his endless career by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4), who was too faulty in response and impatient in exchanges. Djoker's class made room against everything and everyone, after the first set lost and that very strong pain. It's the 12th semifinal for him in Australia – ten final triumphs and the only 'semi' loss last year against Sinner – and the 50th in a Slam. Alien numbers. Now the 37-year-old Serbian meets a consistent Zverev who beat Paul in four sets. "I won with a leg and a half, at a certain point the drug I took started to work", commented the former number 1. If he won his 25th Slam, he would surpass Margaret Court with whom he shares the record of 24 Majors won. "We'll see – adds Nole – when the effect of the drugs will wear off, but now I'm enjoying the victory".

THEItaltennis of the golden age is not only Sinner, it is not only Sonego who at dawn challenged Shelton in the quarterfinals dreaming of a semifinal against his friend Jannik. It is also Bolelli-Vavassori. The Italian pair, number 3 in the draw, is in the semifinals after beating the Portuguese Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral 6-4, 7-6. Between the Italian doubles and the final act, tomorrow, there is a pair that surprisingly knocked out the favorites: the Swede Andre Goransson and the Dutch Sem Verbeek, in fact, beat the Salvadoran Marcelo Arevalo and the Croatian Mate Pavic 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. "I think it's better for us - admitted Vavassori - even if it was very important to have beaten Arevalo and Pavic in Adelaide after four defeats against them".