MADRID. Stronger than the pain, Jannik Sinner proceeds with 2-0 victories in the Masters 1000 in Madrid and after eliminating Lorenzo Sonego he did the same with the Russian Pavel Kotov, beaten 6-2, 7-5, to reach the round of 16 of the tournament. But the match was not an easy one for the world no.2 and raises some concerns about his condition – we will see today -, given that a hip pain that appeared in the second set, after a first set that took half an hour, risked compromising his match.
Ivan Ljubicic, Federer’s former coach: “Sinner will soon become number 1. But don’t give up on Djokovic”
April 30, 2024
Pavel Kotov (reuters)
“It hurts,” he said out loud to his coaches. «Let’s try to win it like this, let’s think about today», Simone Vagnozzi replied. And the blue executed, recovering a break from the Russian and then winning 7-5 after having broken serve again from his rival, who lost himself when he seemed to have the opportunity for a comeback. «It was a difficult match. In the first set I was in control while in the second I had a little more difficulty. I struggled a little and let’s see how it goes todaywhat is best for my body – Sinner said at the end -. I’ve had some problems with my right hip recently, it’s nothing serious – has explained -. Sometimes I feel it stronger, like today, sometimes less but I have a good team that takes care of me and I count on being at my best tomorrow.”
Waiting for the South Tyrolean will be the Russian Karen Khachanov, who eliminated Flavio Cobolli with the score 7-5, 6-4. Before Sinner, Rafa Nadal had struggled to reach the round of 16, forced to the third set by the Argentine Pedro Cachin (6-1, 6-7, 6-3), but for the 38-year-old Majorcan it is already a success to have won three matches row, as has not happened since the 2022 US Open.
