It took just two sets for Jannik Sinner to beat Taro Daniel and qualify for the 3rd round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters. A performance that did not seem to be affected by what is revolving around Wada appeal: indeed, even in Beijing Jannik showed for some parts his best tennis, losing only in the final against his rival friend Carlos Alcaraz.
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The two arrived together in Shanghai, leaving on the same plane with their respective teams, highlighting a friendship that goes far beyond the tennis court. And Jannik talked precisely about this friendship and rivalry in the media day before the Shanghai tournament.
"As people off the court we are quite similar in character and so for us it is very easy. On the pitch we are different but it is our nature. Off the pitch I listen to him, he is very close to the people who are close to him and this is the same for me too. We live normally and on the pitch obviously we try to beat each other, it was a great fight, in general as always. He pushes me to do better, this is definitely something good, the season is about to end and at the end I will train to improve and try to beat him. But off the pitch we are quite similar," he explained.
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Analyzing the Shanghai final, Sinner then explained: "The defeat in the tiebreak is something that can happen, you can win as well as lose in the tiebreak of the third, sometimes I win and sometimes he wins. I had chances in the third set but he could have won in the first set and in the end I won it. In the second set I had some break points at 4-3 and some opportunities also at 5-4, in the tiebreak of the third I was ahead but he made some great shots and I think it was really a great match."
