By Adrianna Outlaw | Friday, November 26, 2021
Jannik Sinner streaked through nine straight games stopping John Isner 6-2, 6-0 to seal Italy's Davis Cup win over the U.S. in Turin.
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Italian shotmakers cut American tall trees down in Turin.
Jannik Sinner streaked through nine straight games stopping John Isner 6-2, 6-0 to seal Italy's Davis Cup win over the United States in a Group E round-robin on the hard court of the Pala Alpitour Arena.
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It was a historic win marking the first time ever anyone has held Isner to two or fewer games in a completed match. Sinner broke Isner's imposing serve four times in a row in a stunning 62-minute demolition of tennis' towering ace master.
Sinner's sweep gave host Italy an insumountable 2-0 lead over the Americans in the best-of-three match opener for both nations.
Earlier, world No. 27 Lorenzo Sonego did not drop serve in a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over American Reilly Opelka in the opener.
The USA is playing without American No. 1 Taylor Fritz, who withdrew. Captain Mardy Fish hoped the court, which some players saying is playing slower than it did during last week's ATP Finals, could help the 6'11" Opelka and 6'10" Isner, who both prefer a bit more time to unleash the big backswings on their forehand.
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It was the 20-year-old Sinner, who played on the Turin court as an alternate in the ATP Finals, who looked most comfortable on the court. Sinner rolled through 12 of 14 points breaking in the third game and backing up the break before Isner held for 2-3. That was the last game Isner won.
The 10th-ranked Sinner smacked 17 winners, including eight apiece off his forehand and backhand wings, while Isner hit only three groundstroke winners to go along with seven aces.
American Olympians Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram are facing Italians Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Musetti in the doubles match.