World no. 2 Jannik Sinner is through to the last 16 at the Madrid Masters. Jannik met Pavel Kotov in the third round, scoring a 6-2, 7-5 win in an hour and 38 minutes. The Australian Open champion grabbed four consecutive breaks in the opener before experiencing issues in set number two. Sinner trailed and faced a set point before delivering two late breaks that sent him over the top. Jannik revealed a problem with his right hip that has been bothering him for a while. He is seeking solutions with his team, hoping for an injury-free run for the rest of the week and in Rome and Paris. The Italian played better behind the first serve, while they struggled on the second.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Jannik lost serve three times and turned half of the return points into six breaks from 13 opportunities, rattling off the final four games and avoiding a decider. Sinner made the difference in the shortest rallies up to four strokes while landing 22 winners and unforced errors. World no. 2 held at love in the first game of the encounter with a service winner and made a push on the return in the next one. Jannik landed a drop shot winner, securing a break at 15 and forging an early advantage. The Russian pulled the break back in game three after the Italian’s forehand error before struggling on serve at 1-2. Sinner grabbed his second break and moved 3-1 in front.
Pavel Kotov, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Jannik Sinner defeated Pavel Kotov in the Madrid Masters third round.
However, world no. 2 failed to cement the advantage, as Kotov attacked in the fifth game and landed a forehand down the line winner, reducing the deficit to 3-2. Jannik stayed composed and grabbed his third straight break in the sixth game after forcing the rival’s error, moving 4-2 in front and holding at love a few minutes later, delivering the first successful return game after five straight breaks. Pavel served to stay in the set at 2-5, netting a backhand and allowing Jannik to wrap up the set after 34 minutes following his fourth consecutive break of serve. The Russian raised his level in the second set, producing four comfortable holds and building the advantage with an early break.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Kotov seized the third break chance in the third game after Sinner’s loose drop shot attempt and held at love with a forced error in the next one for a 3-1 advantage. The lower-ranked player produced another fine hold in the sixth game and opened a 5-3 gap with a hold at love two games later. Sinner served to stay in the set in game nine and faced a set point after landing a backhand long. Jannik denied it with a forehand winner and held, reducing the deficit to 5-4.
The Russian served for the set in game ten and cracked under pressure, losing serve after an extended rally and a forehand mistake, bringing the Italian back to 5-5. Jannik held easily in the 11th game and kept the pressure on the other side after earning three match points on the return at 6-5. Pavel denied them with good serves and earned three game points. The Russian squandered them and faced the fourth match points after the Italian’s deep return. Jannik seized it with a strong forehand, sealing the deal and moving into the last 16.
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