Australian Open: Sinner on point to begin title defence
Patric Ridge in Melbourne
January 13, 2025 14:09 MYT
January 13, 2025 14:09 MYT
Jannik Sinner kicked off his Australian Open title defence with a straight sets win over Nicolas Jarry.
Yet the world number one, competing in his first match of the season, was made to work, with Sinner requiring two tie-breaks in the opening two sets en route to a 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 success at Rod Laver Arena.
Jarry clawed back three break points in the opening set to force the first tie-break, but Sinner clicked through the gears to nose ahead.
Yet neither player offered up a single chance to break during an even second set.
A brilliant backhand shot on the lunge from Sinner, combined with a poor drop shot from Jarry into the net, saw the Italian get himself clear in the tie-break.
Another underhit effort from Jarry handed Sinner set point, but two wobbles on serve saw the opportunity squandered before the 23-year-old finally got over the line.
Sinner clinched the first, decisve break of the match in the third set, and that ultimately saw the momentum swing in his favour, with Jarry only able to hold serve once more before a forehand long from the Chilean ensured the top seed's victory.
15 - Jannik Sinner has claimed his 15th straight Grand Slam match win on hard court, becoming the fourth player since 2000 to achieve as many consecutive wins on the surface after Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Ride. #AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @TennisAustralia pic.twitter.com/tI1w32CGmm — OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 13, 2025
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Data Debrief: Sinner the hard-court specialist
That is now 15 straight grand slam match wins on hard courts for Sinner, who became the fourth player in the 21st century to go on such a run, after Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Since the start of the 2024 tournament, Sinner has dropped sets in only two of his eight matches (last year's semi-final and final).
He has now reeled off 24 major match wins since the start of last season, while only Alexander Zverev (13) has won more grand slam tie-breaks than Sinner (12) in the same timespan.