Having reached the worst in the round of 16 since his debut in the tournament, Jannik Sinner, 9th in the world, left the event this time in the 2nd round. The Italian was surprised in five sets this Thursday against the German Daniel Altmaier, 79th in the world and 8th runner-up in 2020, after an incredible fight of 5 hours and 26 minutes.
“It’s because I love clay, I love the public, I love everything. There were incredible moments, completely crazy ”. In all the Grand Slam tournaments he has played so far, Daniel Altmaier has never skipped a single round. Everywhere ? No, since at Roland-Garros, the German, in 2020 during this famous edition disputed behind closed doors in the midst of a global pandemic and moved to the end of the year, was invited to the round of 16, a little to the surprise general and no offense to Matteo Berrettini and Jan-Lennard Struff in particular, both victims of the motivation and drive of the one that everyone had discovered at the time.
Since then, the native of Kempen has disappeared somewhat from circulation again. But this Thursday, the Roland-Garros magic worked again for the man who had already shown in the first round against the Swiss Huessler that the Porte d’Auteuil gave him wings every time he walked on it or almost (Editor’s note: He got kicked out of the gate in 2022). And facing the same Jannik Sinner who had dominated him in five sets at the last edition of the US Open on the occasion of their first confrontation, Altmaier signed the biggest sensation since the elimination of Daniil Medvedev against the young Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild by winning in five sets (6-7, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 7-5) against the world number 9 and seeded number 8, and this at the from a breathtaking fight that lasted a total of 5 hours and 23 minutes.
Sinner saved four match points
A standing ovation on Lenglen for the man of the hour.
Soak it up @daniel_altmaier ⭐#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/dGhwOXk5N3
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2023
At the end of the effort, the Italian, who had reached the quarter-finals during his first participation, in 2021, then had climbed to the 8th finals the following two years, tried to avoid the disastrous drawing what his German executioner had in store for him. The semi-finalist this season of the Monte-Carlo tournament has thus given himself the right to stay alive four times by saving as many match points. He even got three balls to equalize at 5-5.
Finally, the fifth opportunity for the 79th in the world, in tears after his victory, to take revenge from New York was the right one. On arrival, another earthquake at Roland-Garros, and Altmaier, as in 2020, can dream of being present in the second week. For that, he will have to achieve another feat, this time against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (n°28).
