Google News
The gladiatorial spectacle unfolded at the Final Masters in Turin, reaching its climax in the fierce duel between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner. The Italian emerged victorious after a nail-biting contest that spanned three sets and endured for over three grueling hours, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats.
As the third set commenced, the tension escalated when the Serb found himself embroiled in a dispute with the chair umpire. The catalyst for this clash was a malfunctioning net sensor that failed to register an unmistakable fault.
Despite the collective acknowledgment from the audience that the ball had grazed the top of the net, the umpire invoked the defense that he couldn't override the machine's decision. The world's top-ranked tennis player, visibly incensed, confronted the umpire's rationale.
The umpire attempted to justify his oversight by stating, "I didn't hear the sensor go off." Djokovic, undeterred, retorted with frustration, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. Djokovic's response was a testament to his resilience.
He declared, "Okay, this is how we play tonight. Every time he makes a mistake, it's not a mistake. When I err, the machine beeps. Several times." The 36-year-old from Belgrade was unyielding in his challenge against the officiating.
In a subsequent game, Djokovic showcased his prowess by delivering three ace shots, securing the fourth point with a service winner and denying Jannik Sinner a single point. Despite this formidable display, Djokovic ultimately succumbed to a 5:7, 7:6, 6:7 defeat.
The disappointment loomed large as he prepared for a third-round encounter against Hubert Hurkacz from Poland in the Green Group, replacing the injured Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. Throughout the match, Djokovic faced not only the challenges posed by the faulty machine and the umpire but also contended with a crowd that seemed more reminiscent of a football match than a tennis event.
The atmosphere, charged with adversarial energy, underscored the intense drama that unfolded on the court. It's nice to see that many new young tennis players have appeared like Sinner who can mess with the best and Sinner really belongs to them now.