Tennis-Sinner and co plotting Italian job on Big Three in Paris

Muzali Arts

06/06/2021 01:22

(.)
    By Julien Pretot
    PARIS, June 6 (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and
Roger Federer have left their rivals just a few crumbs over the
years, but a trio of hungry Italians will be eager to hunt them
down in the fourth round of the French Open on Monday.
    The 19-year-old Jannik Sinner, tipped as the next big thing
in tennis, fellow teenager Lorenzo Musetti, whose stunning
behind-the-back volley has been hailed as the 'shot of the
tournament', and 2019 U.S. Open semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini
all advanced with impressive performances on Saturday.
    Musetti did not shy away from making a blunt assessment
about the success the Italians have enjoyed in Paris after
beating compatriot Marco Cecchinato in five sets: "Me and
Jannik, I think we are the future of Italian tennis, and of
tennis in general."
    That is some prediction coming from a 19-year-old tyro who
is making his Grand Slam debut this week. 
    For the first time since tennis turned professional in 1968,
three Italian men are in the last 16 of a major and they will
face the creme de la creme of men's tennis -- Djokovic, Nadal
and Federer -- who between them have amassed 15 of the last 16
Grand Slam titles and a combined haul of 58 majors.
    "It looked like Sinner was maybe the most promising newcomer
around and now you have Musetti maybe the most promising, and
you have Berrettini who is a few years older and is like the big
brother and had the big result at the U.S. Open semis a few
years back," Mats Wilander, a seven-time Grand Slam champion,
said on Eurosport. 
    "So it's a very bright future for Italian men's tennis. And
they are all very different in style, it's not like they are
producing this typical Italian claycourt player, they are all
very different so it's very exciting."
    
    TRIPLE THREAT
    No Italian man has won a Grand Slam since Adriano Panatta
triumphed at Roland Garros in 1976 and if there is any chance
that Sinner, Musetti or Berrettini will lift the Musketeers Cup
this year, they will face their biggest obstacles in the next
round when they take on the might of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer
respectively.
    The hard-hitting Sinner faced Nadal in the Roland Garros
quarter-finals last year and although he lost in three sets, he
served for the opening set and gave the Spaniard a run for his
money.
    Last month at the Rome Masters, the 19th-ranked Sinner was
no pushover as he troubled the 13-time French Open champion 
before losing 7-5 6-4.
    "In one way, it's tough to play against them (the Big
Three). In the other way, I think it's good that we play against
them," he said.
    "I think it's a good test. I've played twice already against
Rafa. But this time is going to be a little bit different."
    Musetti, who became the sixth male player since 2000 to
reach the fourth round on their Grand Slam debut, delighted the
crowd on Court 7 with his single-handed backhand and effortless
lobs, with Sinner conceding: "I think he's talented, very, very
talented, and maybe more than me."
    But Sinner, despite still being in his teens, already has
experience.
    "He is a bit ahead of me and I'm just living what he was
living last year. We are growing together, playing together
every week," said Musetti, the world number 76.
    "I'm happy if Jannik is going well, but of course I have to
see myself improve. I'm really proud and happy that Jannik is
still going forward."
    Aged 25, Berrettini already has a proven track record at the
slams, having reached the fourth round or better in tennis's big
four events. 
    On paper, he also appears to have the best chance of
reaching the last eight considering Federer, who will turn 40 in
August, was kept on court till almost 1am local time on Saturday
as he struggled to get past unheralded German Dominik Koepfer in
four tight sets.

 (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
 ((julien.pretot@thomsonreuters.com; +33149495370;))