Italian tennis star and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner delivered an impressive performance in the second round of the ongoing French Open, defeating home favorite Richard Gasquet on Wednesday night.
Sinner triumphed over Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in a match lasting two hours and 14 minutes, showcasing top form despite a recent hip injury. Signs of physical strain appeared in the final set as Sinner walked gingerly between points, facing a late surge from Gasquet.
The second-seeded Italian has advanced to the third round without dropping a set and is set to face Pavel Kotov, who defeated Stan Wawrinka 7-6(5), 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5).
In the match, Sinner faced just two break points and neutralized Gasquet’s first significant opportunity to consolidate a break late in the opening set. However, Gasquet fought back, leveling the third set at 2-2. Despite some physical struggles in the final set, Sinner regrouped and managed to close out the match, even as Gasquet fought through four deuces to hold his serve.
Sinner is just four wins away from claiming the top spot in the ATP Rankings. If he reaches the final or if current number one Novak Djokovic does not make it to the title clash, Sinner will become the first-ever Italian world number one after the tournament.
Gasquet, 37, is playing in his 21st French Open. His best result in this competition was a quarterfinal finish in 2016.
