Sinner 4-6 Alcaraz*
Alcaraz is on the attack. At 0-15 he changes the momentum of a long exchange of groundstokes by wafting a spinny backhand towards Sinner, which dives low toward his feet. Sinner flicks it back which allows Alacraz to take the time to open up his body and slam a forehand across the court. He narrowly misses but it’s a statement of intent.
Sinner wins the next point and should really win the one after that, too, but he jumps forward to meet a flailing Alcaraz backhand and slams his forehand volley at the net long! That’s a missed opportunity.
It’s then Sinner’s time to slip on the dry grass, as he started off in pursuit of another Alcaraz drop shot from the baseline. Bad luck on the slip but it’s break point.
Alcaraz fails to convert the break point when he dumps a backhand into the net but a rare Sinner double fault presents him with a second set point.
AND HE TAKES IT. My word what a point. Where to even start. Sinner looked to be on the cusp of winning it when he punched a forehand into the corner of the court which a sliding Alcaraz only just returned. But the Italian then went back to that side of the court, allowing Alcaraz to smash a forehand of his own back the other way. Sinner sprinted across the court to fire a shot down the line but Alcaraz was equal to it, hitting a backhand winner to take the opening set.