World no. 263 Jannik Sinner debuted at the home Rome Masters in 2019. The 17-year-old barely received the invitation following an exciting unfold at the Madrid Masters. Thus, he entered his second ATP tournament of his young career and earned a spot on Centre Court.
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The young Italian faced Steve Johnson in the first round and prevailed 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 in an hour and 51 minutes. The American bounced back after the second set. He moved 5-2 in front in the decider and earned a match point on the return in game eight.
The young gun saved it and performed an incredible comeback, rattling off five games to seal the deal and celebrate his first Masters 1000 victory at 17.
Steve Johnson's incredible story about Jannik Sinner
Johnson retired this seasonand could have done it five years earlier! Speaking about his match against Jannik, Steve revealed an entertaining story and an epic misjudgement. Namely, the American did not see anything special in the young Italian andcalledhis game terrible!
Johnson knew his chances at Foro Italico were not big!He did not want to even think about losing to a skinny 17-year-old in the first round, especially not after a perfect start. However, he lost the ground in the second set and missed a massive advantage in the decider.
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Furious, Johnson called his agent and told him to cancel his next tournaments and announce his retirement! Steve's coach and agent saw much more than him, predicting Jannik's bright future and advising his player to change his decision and remain on the Tour.
The American jokes about his incredible prediction in a recent podcast, praising the Italian and his astonishingtransition into the world's dominant player!
Jannik produces stunning victory over Steve at Foro Italico
Sinner arrived in Rome after scoring his first ATP win in Budapest and reaching the Challenger final in Ostrava. He claimed three points less than Johnson at Foro Italico. However, the young gun grabbed the decisive points, including erasing a match point!
The young gun produced more efficient numbers behind the first serve and struggled on the second. He faced four break points and suffered three breaks. He provided four breaks in sets two and three, including crucial ones at 2-5 in the decider.
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The more experienced player landed 22 winners and 21 unforced errors. The home favorite added 31 direct points and 44 mistakes to his tally, struggling from his forehand but finding hisway through. Sinner played flawless tennis at the net, finding his range in the closing stages and prevailing.
They hit a similar number of service winners and stayed close to each other in the shortest, mid-range and most advanced exchanges. Steve was off to a flying start, serving well in the opener and keeping the pressure on the 17-year-old. The American held in the first game with an ace.
Jannik hit a double fault in the second game, losing serve at 15 and falling behind. The American cemented the break with a hold at love, forging a 3-0 lead after seven minutes. The young gun claimed his first Masters 1000 game in the fourth game, reducing the deficit.
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Johnson clinched the fifth game with an ace and made a push on the return in the next one. He drew the youngster's mistake and forged a 5-1 advantage. Steve served for the set in game seven and provided a hold at love, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 21 minutes!
Jannik turned the tables in the second set, serving well and finding the range on the return. The 17-year-old fired an ace in the third game, moving 2-1 in front and already doing better than in the opener. Sinner welcomed Johnson's mistake in the fourth game for a break and a 3-1 lead.
The Italian came from 0-30 in the fifth game and held for 4-1, gathering a boost and making another push on the return in the next one. Steve hit a double fault and got broken for the second time, falling 5-1 behind.
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Jannik served for the set in game seven and fired a forehand winner, wrapping it up 6-1 and forcing a decider after 54 minutes. They produced fine holds at the beginning of the final set before Steve faced issues at 1-1. He denied two break points and held for 2-1.
The Italian missed a forehand in the fourth game, losing serve and falling 3-1 behind. Johnson produced comfortable holds in games five and seven, landing a service winner at 4-2 and extending the gap. Sinner served to stay in the match in game eight.
He faced a match point and denied it with a fine attack, holding and extending the battle. The youngster gained a massive boost and cracked two winners at 30-30 in the next one for a break and a much better position. The home favorite closed the tenth game with a forehand down the line winner for 5-5.
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Feeling the positive vibes, Jannik passed Steve at the net in game 11 and clinched his second consecutive break that sent him 6-5 in front. The 17-year-old served for the win in game 12. He moved 30-15 in front with a winner at the net and generated match points with a service winner.
He seized the second with a service winner, rattling off five games and earning his first Masters 1000 victory in grand style.
"The story happened in Rome five years ago. I played well, standing in the top-60 and with good feelings. I knew I would struggle to deliver my best tennis at Foro Italico, but I was confident. I drew a local 17-year-old player, and they scheduled our match on Centre Court.
I was a bit nervous, but I knew I had to win as soon as the match started. Jannik was very skinny, and I did not see how he could hurt my game, especially after the opening set. I had not heard anything about him ahead of our match and told myself it would be embarrassing to lose.
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My level dropped at the beginning of the second set, spraying mistakes and playing terrible tennis. The match went into a decider, and I had chances to beat him, although I missed them and lost. When I returned to the locker room, I called my agent and told him I wanted to retire.
I could not accept the shame of losing to that kid, and I toldmy agent and my coach that. They both told me to give Jannik time and watch him develop into a great player. However, I believed he would never win another ATP match. I'mglad to see how good I amatrecognizing a talent.
I could not have imagined that he would be in this position only five years later, but I'm glad to be a footnote in the history books," Steve Johnson said.
