Jannik Sinner shook off a brief setback to beat Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong 6-4, 6-2 in Rome, extending his win streak to 23 matches since last October. The top-ranked Italian looked composed from the start, jumping to a 4-1 first-set lead before an uncharacteristic lapse at 4-4 saw his serve broken twice.
In front of an electric home crowd at the Italian Open, Sinner regrouped with powerful groundstrokes and a booming serve, breaking back at 4-4 to reclaim momentum. His mix of precision and power kept De Jong on the defensive, sealing the second set with disciplined shot-making.
'I felt like I started the match very well and then I had a big drop,' Sinner said. 'Breaking him again at 4-all gave me confidence to continue.' This match marked his second outing since a three-month doping ban, his first tournament back since lifting his third Grand Slam trophy in Australia.
Looking ahead, Sinner will face 17th seed Francisco Cerundolo, who earlier defeated Austrian Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 6-4. Cerundoloās run to the Madrid Open semifinals and his straight-set upset of last yearās Rome finalist Nicolas Jarry have made him a dangerous contender.
Sinner remembered a three-set loss to Cerundolo on the same Rome court two years ago, welcoming the challenge. 'Itās going to be tough,' he admitted. 'I have to raise my level if I want to play even. Itāll be a good test of where my game stands.'
As the clay-court season heats up, Sinnerās blend of resilience and raw firepower makes him a favorite among young global fans tracking the sportās rising stars. Can he maintain his momentum on home soil? The clash against Cerundolo promises plenty of drama.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
