World no. 3 Jannik Sinner is off to a flying start in Indian Wells. The Australian Open champion enjoyed a great day at the office in the desert, ousting Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-0 in an hour and 21 minutes. The Italian rattled off nine games from 3-3 in the opener, delivering a bagel in set number two and notching his 13th win of the season and the 16th in a row. Sinner dropped 12 points in eight service games, saving the only break point he faced and turning 55% of the return points into four consecutive breaks. Jannik had more service winners than Thanasi and tamed his strokes superbly, landing 21 direct points and seven unforced errors, leaving his rival on a 12-22 ratio.
Jannik Sinner, Indian Wells 2024© Michael Owens / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
The Italian forged a handful advantage in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, producing the more efficient hitting with the first groundstroke. Also, Jannik overpowered Thanasi in the mid-range and most advanced rallies, losing five points in set number two and sailing over the top. Sinner held at 15 in the first game of the encounter after an extended rally and Kokkinakis’ backhand mistake. Jannik extended the second game with a backhand down the line winner before spraying a forehand mistake, bringing Thanasi to the scoreboard. World no. 3 produced a fine hold in the third game, closing it with a service winner before his rival locked the scoreboard at 2-2 after a fine backhand attack.
Jannik Sinner lost three games against Thanasi Kokkinakis in Indian Wells.
Jannik wasted a game point in the fifth game and placed a forehand long, offering Thanasi his only break chance. Sinner saved it with a forehand down the line winner and held after an impressive court coverage for 3-2. The Aussie clinched the sixth game after forcing the Italian’s mistake, staying in touch after 33 minutes before losing ground. Jannik held after deuce in game seven and stepped in on the return in the next one. Kokkinakis squandered game points and got broken after Sinner’s volley winner at the net. World no. 3 served for the opener at 5-3 and held at 15 with a serve & volley combo for 6-3 in 54 minutes.
Jannik Sinner, Indian Wells 2024© Michael Owens / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
Jannik forced Thanasi’s error in the first game of the second set, earning a break and holding at love with a service winner a few minutes later for 2-0. Kokkinakis played a wayward forehand in the third game, losing serve at love and moving closer to the exit door. Jannik grabbed the fourth game with an ace and delivered his fourth straight break with a cracking backhand down the line winner in the next one. Sinner served for the win at 5-0 and earned three match points with a booming serve. He seized the first with a volley winner, celebrating a routine win and moving into the third round.
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