Modest Sinner happy for team-mates after Italy reach first Davis Cup final since 1998
The Italian beat Novak Djokovic in singles and doubles to clinch a 2-1 win over Serbia in the semis
Zuma / Panoramic
For most people, beating world No 1 Novak Djokovic twice in a day to reach the Davis Cup final would qualify as the best day of heir career.
For Jannik Sinner, the hero of Italy’s 2-1 win over Serbia in the semis on Saturday, it was all in a day’s work, the world No 4 typically modest, preferring to focus on his team-mates rather than his own achievement.
“Match of my life, I don’t know, but it’s for sure very, very important,” he admitted, after taking Italy through to a final against Australia. “It helps a lot the last competition that it’s a team competition, because you get a lot of energy from your teammates, from the whole team, and then the crowd is different.
“(Beating Djokovic) means a lot. I think I have to be really proud about how I handle the situation.”
Sinner saved three match points against Djokovic, recovering from 5-4 down, 0-40, to beat the world No 1 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 to level the tie. He then joined Lorenzo Sonego to beat Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-4 to win the deciding doubles.
“I’m just very happy for all of us, for the team, and tomorrow we have a great opportunity. We know this, but in the other way, we will try to stay as relaxed as possible, you know, keeping a smile in our head, which is important also, and then also to be happy to be here.
“For me, it’s the first time that we can play a final in Davis Cup, which means a lot for us.”
