Jannik Sinner qualified for the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Madrid by winning 6-2 7-5 over the Russian Pavel Kotov. The South Tyrolean, after a first set essentially in control, has more than one problem (including a physical one, on his right hip) in the second, but at 3-5 his class and his opponent’s lack of habit in similar contests do the rest . The wait is now for one between Flavio Cobolli and the other Russian Karen Khachanov. On the hip, in any case, the ATP number 2 reassures everyone at the end of the match: it’s nothing serious, but tomorrow he’ll see what’s best for him.
Sinner immediately started very strong, taking home both 8 of the first 9 points and the opening break. Kotov, however, isn’t up for it, he remains aggressive and takes the counterbreak within a few minutes. This opens a rather strange phase of the match, at least for Jannik’s habits. In fact, there are five consecutive times in which the person serving does not hold it. Then the world number 2 easily takes everything that comes from 3-2 onwards, taking advantage of three consecutive backhand errors from the Russian and closes 6-2.
Another fight occurs at 1-1 in the second set, with Sinner forced to save two consecutive break points, one with the first and the other seeing a ball from Kotov just come out. There is a third, which Jannik handles badly by placing the short ball after the serve in the middle of the net: the Russian moves forward. During a change of field, the blue also shows that he is not entirely right with his right hip, a fact that can also be seen in his movements in that direction. It must also be said that Kotov is in such a good moment to hit whatever comes his way with force and precision.
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Sinner’s shots are a little less incisive and there are also some unusual errors: the set point in favor of the Russian arrives in the ninth game, which is canceled out with the serve-forehand scheme. That Jannik often comes to the net is unusual, but in this way he saves the game. And, at 4-5, he finds the counterbreak with a couple of errors from Kotov and a long point, well handled at 30-40. The Russian seems to be going into a prolonged break, with various errors including major ones that lead Sinner to three match points (6-5 0-40), but the Muscovite re-emerges and finds the strength to cancel them. We enter the battle, On the ball to go to the tie-break Kotov decides to surprise Sinner by serving from underneath, only to see a backhand winning return come back. The class of 1998 must thus learn a fundamental lesson: never make Jannik Sinner angry. The blue begins to shoot with the best power he has and closes in two points, also exalting the crowd.
The world number 2’s winners-free errors ratio is 22-22 versus Kotov’s 14-21, in a match that still sees Jannik finding good resources from first (67% on the field and 71% of points won). This is his first time among the best 16 in the Madrid tournament.
