Jannik Sinner made an impressive comeback at the Italian Open, proving his resilience on the tennis court after a three‐month break. Facing Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong in only his second match back, Sinner quickly demonstrated he was ready to reclaim his form.
After jumping to a 4-1 lead, the match took a twist when Sinner experienced a few hiccups – including poor drop shots and a double-fault – allowing De Jong to level the first set at 4-all. But just like any true champion, Sinner regained control with his powerful groundstrokes and a big serve, pushing him to win 6-4, 6-2. 🔥
"I felt like I started the match very well and then I had a big drop," Sinner admitted. "I tried to understand what was going on. Then fortunately I broke him on 4-all again, which then gave me the confidence to continue." His determination has now extended a winning streak to 23 matches since October.
By advancing to the last 16 – his first tournament since winning his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year – Sinner now faces a fresh challenge. His next opponent is 17th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo, fresh off an impressive run in Madrid that included a win over a top competitor.
Cerundolo's recent performance, highlighted by a straight-sets victory and a semifinal appearance in Madrid, promises an exciting contest. Sinner, recalling his previous three-set loss to Cerundolo on this very court two years ago, confidently notes that he must elevate his game to overcome the tough challenge ahead. 🎾
Stay tuned as Sinner looks to ride this wave of momentum and continue his thrilling journey at the Italian Open!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
