Sinner, debut in Rotterdam will not be as happy as we would have hoped and wanted: the situation has changed from so-so to so-so.
In theory he should have just defended the points he won by nabbing last year’s final. In practice, however, Rotterdam could be a watershed in his very bright career. Jannik Sinner is concretely staking his chance to climb to the third spot in the world rankings and to be the first Open Era tennis player to succeed in this miraculous feat.
It goes without saying, then, that the one in the Netherlands will be much more than an Atp 500 tournament for its own sake. Especially since there is, on the Slam champions, a kind of curse. Statistically speaking, each of them struggles to get through to the second round in the first tournament they enter after winning a Major. To the South Tyrolean, then, the arduous task of dispelling this taboo and pushing himself all the way to the final in a date that has ended up being so incredibly crucial for him. It won’t be easy, of course, since there will be several competitors at the starting ribbons who are as hungry as he is for victory: Rublev, Rune, Hurkacz, De Minaur, Musetti and Sonego will also be in Rotterdam. Absent is Alcaraz, who preferred the Atp 250 in Buenos Aires to the Netherlands, which is played on clay.
Everything is ready, then, after the short break that Sinner gave himself in the aftermath of the Australian Open, for the return to the court of the South Tyrolean champion who gave the fans immeasurable joy. It will, however, unfortunately be a somewhat bitter comeback. Because not everyone, in light of the latest news, will be able to enjoy it as they certainly would have liked.
Sinner, fans disappointed: they won’t be able to do it anymore
This time last year, the Italian public had been able to “actively” cheer for Jannik Sinner at the time of his participation in the 2023 edition of the Atp 500 in Rotterdam. This year, however, it will not be possible, as the well-informed will already know.
The ABN AMRO Open ATP-500 will be broadcast exclusively on Sky. To enjoy the exploits of the South Tyrolean champion it will be necessary, accordingly, to be a pay TV subscriber. Sky, as it will be recalled, has made an agreement with the Atp such that no live free-to-air broadcast will be shown anymore on Supertennis, the thematic channel of the Federation chaired by Angelo Binaghi. No subscription, therefore, no party.
The only way to enjoy Sinner’s live matches will be to tune in to Sky or the Now streaming platform. The commentators who will commentate his matches will be Elena Pero, Luca Boschetto, Fabio Tavelli, Federico Ferrero, Pietro Nicolodi, Alessandro Lupi and Lucio Rizzica. Technical commentary will be alternated by Stefano Pescosolido and Laura Golarsa.