Sixth final of 2023, 55th victory of the season with an Italian record and an increasingly overwhelming game: Jannik Sinner beat Andrej Rublev and tomorrow he will play against Daniil Medvedev to win the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna. The Italian champion won in two sets 7-5, 7-6 (7-5). Not an easy match for the Italian, won thanks to superior mental stability, especially in the first half. Rublev started the match at a very high pace, snatching a break thanks to which he took the lead 5-2. An advantage that seemed decisive but which Sinner canceled thanks to a very precise serve and two counter-breaks. Two shots that made the Russian collapse, getting nervous to the point of screaming on the court and throwing his racket violently to the ground. In the second set the South Tyrolean, who had a large part of the Vienna crowd on his side, continued to play, maintaining his dribble for a long time and trusting in his opponent’s mistakes. However, the Russian overcame the difficulties and found his balance again.
The first games were played blow for blow with the two tennis players able to take advantage of their serves. At 4-4 break from Sinner who reaches 5-4 and serves for the victory. But Rublev reacts and gets a counter-break. He goes to 6-6. The match ends in a tie-break where, once again, it is mental strength that makes the difference: mini-break by Rublev but the Italian with two forehand returns takes the lead and closes 7-5 thanks to a double fault of the opponent. With this victory Sinner also managed to secure his fourth place in the ATP rankings: the Atoatesian was in the sights of Rublev who was hot on his heels in the world rankings. In the final the Italian will face Medvedev who he last met and beat in the final at the ATP 500 in Beijing. «I will be ready for Sinner or Rublev», said the ATP number 3 at the end of his semi-final victory against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-4, 7-6) without yet knowing his opponent tomorrow. «I played in the final against both of them this year. Jannik three times, maybe this is a record for me. He’s finishing strong this year. Surely I will be ready for both,” Medvedev said.