After 100 days away, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner made a statement at the Italian Open, defeating Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4 in front of a roaring home crowd.
The match marked Sinner's first appearance since serving a three-month doping ban and capturing his third Slam at the Australian Open in January. He found his rhythm within three games, sealing the opening set with a break for 3-1.
Fans in Rome packed Campo Centrale, chanting "Ole, ole, ole, Sinner, Sinner" as he delivered 21 winners to Navone's 10. Though a late lapse saw him drop serve in the second set, Sinner regrouped swiftly, breaking again and closing out the win.
With this victory, Sinner's unbeaten run extends to 22 matches, dating back to October. "It's an amazing feeling to be back," he said. "The crowd gave me strength in every point."
Next up, Sinner faces Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong, who upset Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-0, 6-2. All eyes will be on whether Sinner can carry this momentum forward and chase his first Italian Open title.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
