Jannik Sinner was delighted after qualifying for the first-ever grass final as he defeated Zhang Zhizhen by 6-4, 7-6(3) in the semifinal of the Halle Open. The Italian came up with his best against the 27-year-old Chinese to book his final ticket.
The Australian Open champion wrapped up the first set with an ace. But Sinner had to save a set point in the 12th game of the second set; however he was able to keep his calm. Sinner then won the tiebreaker to move ahead in the tournament.
“It means a lot. I had four very tough matches to go to the final,” Sinner said in his post-match interview. “It was a good match today. Definitely more rallies than yesterday and that’s exactly what I needed today. I’m happy and let’s see what’s coming tomorrow.”
Sinner smashed eight aces and felt he was able to serve well when he was under the cosh against the Chinese.
“In important moments [I was] trying to serve well,” the Italian said. “He returned actually really well in some moments so I had to be very careful. I had to save a set point in the second set. If not I had to go again in three sets. But this is a grass court, anything can happen.”
Sinner will become the eighth man in PIF ATP Rankings history to win the title in his first event as a World No. 1 if he goes all the way in Halle. The Italian will meet 2022 Halle champion Hubert Hurkacz in Sunday’s title match.
Recently, Sinner lost the Roland Garros semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz and he would look to keep the good form ahead of Wimbledon. The championship will begin on July 1.
