In the end, though, we learned just as much about Sinner as we did about Jodar. This was the 24-year-old’s first major test from a player of the next ATP generation, and you could see it in a few of his reactions. Sinner will always keep his emotions under wraps, but on Wednesday they emerged in a few uncharacteristic errors, a sarcastic thumbs-up or two at his team, his annoyance at a bad bounce. He even threatened, for a millisecond, to slam his racquet.
The Big T podcast: Feliciano Lopez talks Madrid, Alcaraz and Jodar
Yet despite the various pressures Sinner felt—from Jodar’s pace, from the Spanish crowd, from his own desire to win his first encounter with a future rival—he never faltered when it mattered, never panicked, never pulled the trigger too early. On big points, he pushed Jodar back with heavy topspin, moved him in with drop shots, and waited for an opening. When it was there, he didn’t miss. He hit 28 winners to Jodar’s 19, and closed with a perfect 7-0 tiebreaker.
“I got a bit lucky in the second set, but also a bit of experience,” Sinner said.
That’s a humble but largely accurate summary of this highly anticipated contest.
In the end, each player proved something. Jodar showed why he belongs on the big stage. Sinner showed why he owns it.
