Jannik Sinner reveals ‘different’ feelings of being a defending champion at this year’s Australian Open after second-round win
Jannik Sinner secured his spot in the third round of the Australian Open after a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Tristan Schoolkate.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via X)
Jannik Sinner had to dig deep for a comeback win against World No.173 Tristan Schoolkate to reach the third round of the Australian Open. The Italian and top seed is seeking to defend the Melbourne Grand Slam. With that as the goal, he is also seeking to improve his performance.
Schoolkate was bidding to become the lowest-ranked player to defeat Sinner at a Grand Slam when he made a solid start in the first set. The Australian star went toe-to-toe with Sinner from the baseline and won 94 percent of points at the net. He claimed the opening set 6-4 with the backing of the crowd.
Sinner did excellently to bounce back in time by raising the level of his game in the second set. Schoolkate, on the other hand, didn’t have any reply for the World No.1 aggressive style of play. The Italian won 16 of the final 21 from 2-3 in the second set to level the match 1-1. He maintained the momentum and went on to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
After the two hours and 26 minutes victory, Sinner was asked how he felt being the defending champion of the tournament. The 23-year-old revealed that it was a different but beautiful feeling.
It’s definitely a different feeling. So many beautiful moments on and off the court happened for me here in this beautiful place. I take it as a chance to hopefully do it again. But it’s still a very long way to go. We go day by day. Seeing my level today, we know I can improve. Hopefully I can show this in the next round and it’s gonna be a great tournament for me again.
Jannik Sinner said
Sinner after beating Schoolkate to reach Australian R3
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 16, 2025
“This is the first time you’re defending a grand slam title… how is that different for you?”
Jannik: “It’s definitely a different feeling. So many beautiful moments on and off the court happened for me here in this… pic.twitter.com/kRS1FV6MvQ
Certainly, Sinner feels different on the court because he’s under pressure to successfully defend the title. The Italian played well against Schoolkate, but should he play the same way he did in the first set against top players, he might need to dig deeper to win.
Jannik Sinner says the Australian Open has a special place in his heart
Jannik Sinner has often revealed that he hopes to improve on his game working hand-in-hand with his team. Despite dominating the men’s circuit last year, he believes there’s still enough room for improvement. The World No.1 has made Melbourne his home and after winning his first career Grand Slam, the Australian Open has become an event close to his heart.
He revealed this after coming from behind to beat Tristan Schoolkate in the second round. He added that he was excited and grateful to earn a step closer to winning the Australian Open.
It’s a very special place, especially for Australians to play here with the home crowd, but I have to be very happy still with my performance. I never take things for granted, so I’m very happy to again be in the next round.
Jannik Sinner said via ATP
Sinner’s next opponent is American Marcos Giron. The Italian recently met him at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October, where he defeated him in a straight set. It will be their second meeting when they face each other on Saturday (January 18).
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Victor Okechukwu
(700 Articles Published)