‘Puzzle’ master Jannik Sinner powers champions Italy back into tennis’ Davis Cup final

MALAGA – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was described as a “puzzle that not many have solved”, after defeating Alex de Minaur to power holders Italy into the Davis Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Australia on Nov 23.

The two-time winners faced the Netherlands in the showpiece on Nov 24, after the Dutch ousted Germany 2-0 on Nov 22 to make the final for the first time in 104 years of trying. The result was not available at press time.

Sinner, who has never lost against de Minaur in nine matches, including the 2023 Davis Cup final, triumphed 6-3, 6-4 in Malaga.

In the first singles, Matteo Berrettini earned a 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 7-5 win over Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in two hours and 43 minutes.

“Finals are a huge privilege to be a part of – Sunday is a final and I’m very happy to be here in this position,” said Sinner.

“Winning would mean so much for us, not only for the win but because it would mean we defended our title.

“If we don’t, it’s still an amazing achievement, we showed it was not lucky last year, we’re here because we are an amazing team.”

Australia, beaten finalists in each of the last two years, are the second-most successful team in the tournament’s history with 28 titles but last won it in 2003.

Australian Open, US Open and ATP Finals winner Sinner is enjoying a superb year and can cap it with another Davis Cup triumph.

The 23-year-old is still waiting for the outcome of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal against his initial exoneration for twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

However, he has not been distracted and, despite world No. 9 de Minaur battling hard, claimed the first set without much stress.

The players exchanged breaks in the second and third games before Sinner broke decisively for a 4-2 lead with a delicious drop shot, and he served it out.

The Italian worked the first break points of the second set in the ninth game. De Minaur saved two but Sinner converted the third with a passing shot to serve for the match.

Sinner claimed victory when de Minaur returned badly wide and mangled his racket in sheer frustration.

“He hasn’t won a million matches this year for no reason – it was tough,” admitted de Minaur.

“It’s like trying to solve a puzzle that not a lot of people have managed to solve.

“His ball speed, his consistency, it feels like there’s no real let down of focus throughout the whole match.”

Meanwhile, retired tennis great Andy Murray has agreed to join Novak Djokovic’s team and will coach him at the 2025 Australian Open, the Serbian 24-time Grand Slam champion said on Nov 23.

Briton Murray retired after the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where Djokovic won the gold medal.

The two 37-year-olds, both former world No. 1s, played each other 36 times, with Djokovic winning 25 matches on the ATP Tour.

Djokovic won nine of his 24 Grand Slams with Goran Ivanisevic as his coach but the Croat left his team in March.

Djokovic did not win a Major in 2024 and has slipped to seventh in the world rankings. AFP, REUTERS