Roland Garros Paris French Open 2022 Day 5 27052022 JANNICK SINNER (AUT) elebrates as he wins second round match Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Home fans got their money’s worth on Friday as Italian No. 1 Jannik Sinner hammered Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4 to begin the Rome Masters with a resounding win.
The Roman crowd showed their support of the ATP No. 8 from the German-speaking alpine north of the country which was once a part of the Austrian empire.
The former childhood ski racer who chose the court over the slopes reached the third round at the Foro Italico after a bye as he won in 77 minutes over his Australian opponent.
“I played an efficient match today,” Sinner said as he competed for the first time since losing a Barcelona quarter-final last month.
“I’m happy with the level today, though it was breezy and windy.
“I’ve been training since last week here to get used to conditions; I felt the ball well.
“I’m happy to have finally played my first match.”
Sinner finished on his second match point and advanced with 25 winners to just seven for Kokkinakis.
The Italian was unable to close out the match on the Kokkinakis serve, with the Aussie saving a match point in the penultimate game before Sinner cracked a winner to the empty court a game later to end the contest.
He now stands a perfect 8-0 this season in opening matches and has gone to at least the quarters in seven of his starts.
“This is a very special tournament for me,” the winner said. “There are only one or two (if he qualifies for the ATP Finals in Turin this autumn) chance to play in Italy.
“I feel ready to compete.”
Jack Draper will crack the ATP top 10 for the first time after the Brit defeated two-time…
Iga Swiatek switched to warp speed after rain delayed her fourth-round match by an hour,…
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz ran his hot streak at the Indian Wells Masters to 14…
Aryna Sabalenka spent just an hour and a quarter in dispatching Italian Lucia Bronzetti 6-1,…
Coco Gauff wasted five match points while double-faulting four times in the final game but managed…
Jack Draper used the confidence earned just weeks ago in Australia to power past Jensen Brooksby…