The ATP Race leader Jannik Sinner booked a place in his first Madrid Masters quarter-final. World no. 2 faced Karen Khachanov in the fourth round and claimed a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 triumph in two hours and 10 minutes, remaining on the title course. However, Jannik is not feeling at his best physically, dealing with an ongoing right hip injury and contemplating a withdrawal ahead of Thursday’s clash with Felix Auger-Aliassime. Sinner played well in his first match against Lorenzo Sonego before some issues against Pavel Kotov, who had a chance to force a decider. The Italian revealed his problems after that match and did not have a clear plan ahead of the Khachanov clash until the last moments of his training session. Jannik decided to play and test his body, losing the opener only for the fourth time in 2024 but turning the tables and delivering his 28th win from 30 encounters this year. Sinner grabbed 80% of the points behind the first serve.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
He defended five out of six break points, losing serve in the closing stages of the opener and recovering his game in sets two and three. Sinner broke Khachanov three times from as many chances, doing enough to emerge at the top and extend his great streak at notable tournaments in 2024. Karen stayed in touch in the mid-range and most advanced rallies. Still, he lost ground in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes, squandering break chances early in the decider and ending his campaign in the third round. The Russian produced six comfortable holds in the first set, patiently waiting for an opportunity on the return. Khachanov forced Sinner’s mistake at 1-1 in the opening set, earning three break points. The younger player denied them with three booming serves, moved in front with a forehand crosscourt winner and held with another unreturned serve, avoiding an early setback.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Jannik Sinner defeated Karen Khachanov in three sets at the Madrid Masters.
There were no chances for the returners in the following seven games, with Karen locking the result at 5-5 with a backhand down the line winner at the net. The Russian drew the rival’s mistake in the 11th game, creating a break chance and seizing it with a backhand down the line winner after the Italian’s terrible drop shot attempt. Karen served for the opener at 6-5 and held at love with an unreturned serve, clinching the set after 50 minutes. World no. 2 raised his level behind the initial shot in the second set, providing five comfortable holds and keeping the pressure on the other side. Jannik held in the first game with a forehand down the line winner and caused Karen’s error in the next one for break points. The Russian netted a backhand, losing serve and falling 2-0 behind. Sinner cemented the lead with a forehand crosscourt winner in game three before opening a 4-1 gap after a forehand winner two games later.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Khachanov reduced the deficit with a hold at love in game six, and Sinner stayed in front with a hold at 15 in the next one. The Australian Open champion served for the set at 5-3 and landed a service winner, holding at love and introducing a decider after an hour and 25 minutes. Khachanov had the upper hand early in the final set, producing easy holds in games two and four and pressuring Sinner on the return. Jannik saved a break point in game two with an ace and wrapped up the game with two more direct points. Karen painted a forehand down the line winner right after the serve in the third game, opening a 2-1 lead and stepping in on the return in the next one. Sinner played a loose drop shot and offered his rival a break point. The Italian saved it with a forehand down the line winner, gained a game point with a forehand crosscourt winner and held after a service winner, locking the result at 2-2.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Khachanov squandered his chances and paid the price in the fifth game. Jannik earned a break chance with a cracking backhand winner and converted it with an efficient attack and a forehand winner. The Italian landed a service winner for game points in game six and closed it with an ace, cementing the break and moving closer to the finish line. Karen fired an ace after deuce in game seven, bringing it home and remaining within one break deficit. Sinner served well in the eighth game, clinching it with a forehand crosscourt winner and forcing his rival to serve to stay in the match at 2-5. Khachanov missed a game point after a wild forehand following a challenging bounce and faced a match point after Sinner’s booming backhand down the line winner. World no. 2 seized it with a well-constructed attack and a forehand down the line winner, booking a place in his fifth notable quarter-final from as many tournaments in 2024.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login