World no. 2 Jannik Sinner is the top seed at the Madrid Masters. Novak Djokovic withdrew from Madrid, leading the ATP Race leader as the top seed at Caja Magica. Thus, Sinner leads a Masters 1000 draw for the first time in a career, hoping for a good run at Caja Magica ahead of his home Rome Masters. Jannik made an impressive start in Madrid, facing his good friend Lorenzo Sonego in the second round and notching a 6-0, 6-3 triumph in 69 minutes. Sinner dropped nine points in eight service games, facing no break points and mounting the pressure on his opponent. Sonego failed to follow that pace, experiencing a bagel in the opener and getting broken once in the second set.
Jannik Sinner & Lorenzo Sonego, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
The Australian Open champion claimed over half of the return points, taming his strokes nicely and building the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced exchanges. Sinner kicked off the action with a hold at love in the first game of the encounter and created three break chances in game two. Lorenzo missed a forehand on the first, suffering a break and propelling Jannik toward an early advantage. World no. 2 closed the third game at 15, taking 12 of the opening 13 points and moving 3-0 ahead after eight minutes. With nothing working his way, Sonego placed a forehand long in the fourth game, offering Sinner three break chances. Jannik seized the third with a volley winner at the net, extending the lead before falling 30-0 behind on his serve in the next one.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Jannik Sinner is off to a great start in Madrid.
World no. 2 closed the game with a backhand down the line winner after deuce, building a 5-0 advantage after 20 minutes and forcing his rival to serve to stay in the set. Lorenzo played a loose drop shot in the sixth game, offering Jannik a set point. The older Italian hit a double fault, suffering a bagel after 25 minutes and sending the ATP Race leader closer to the finish line. Sinner held at 15 at the beginning of the second set, rattling off seven games and earning a break chance in game two with a forehand crosscourt winner. Lorenzo denied it with a rare forehand winner and held, getting his name on the scoreboard after 38 minutes.
Jannik Sinner, Madrid 2024© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Jannik held at love in game three with a forced error and erased a 40-15 deficit in the next one. Sonego sprayed a forehand error and lost serve after another wayward shot from his right wing, propelling Sinner 3-1 in front. Jannik served well in games five and seven, forging a 5-2 advantage after Lorenzo’s forehand mistake. Sonego served to stay in the match in game eight and produced his finest hold, bringing the game home at love with a drop shot winner and prolonging the action. However, Jannik served for the win at 5-3 and landed an ace down the T line for three match points. World no. 2 converted the first, sailing over the top and making a winning start as the top seed.
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