World no. 1 Jannik Sinner is off to a winning start at the Australian Open. The defending champion faced Nicolas Jarry in the first round and scored a 7-6, 7-6,6-1 victory at Rod Laver Arena. Thus, the Italian extended the winning streak and moved into the second round.
As was expected, Jarry fought well in the opening two sets. The former world no. 16 kept his serve intact in the opening two sets. However, he lost both tie breaks to fall behind and send momentum to the other side.
Jannik stepped in and dominated the third set to seal the deal and move over the top without spending more time on the court.
The Chilean served at 72% and fired 13 aces. However, he struggled behind the second serve and remained competitive only in the opening two sets. The Italian dropped 23 points behind the initial shot and denied both break points.
He kept the pressure on the other side and provided two breaks in the third set to move over the top. Nicolas hit 40 winners and 50 unforced errors. Jannik tamed his strokes more efficiently and forged the lead in the shortest and mid-range exchanges.
They served well at the beginning of the duel. Sinner saved two the only two break points in the seventh game and created two chances on the return in the next one. Jarry denied them and stayed on the positive side.
The Chilean saved a set point at 5-6 with a service winner and introduced a tie break. The Italian claimed all five points on serve and challenged his rival to repeat that. Nicolas missed a routine forehand in the second point to fall behind.
He repeated a similar mistake in the sixth point before Sinner wrapped up the breaker 7-2 with an ace, building an early lead after 72 minutes. The servers stood too strong in the second set, providing 12 comfortable holds and arranging another tie break.
Jannik grabbed a mini-break in the eighth point and welcomed the rival's loose forehand for 6-3 and three set points. The Italian played two loose shots on serve and brought his rival back to 5-6. Still, he converted the third set point after the opponent's wild backhand for 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and 11 minutes.
Sinner served well in the third set and outplayed his rival. Jarry played a terrible smash in the second game, losing serve for the first time and moving closer to the exit door. Jannik provided two fine holds for a 4-1 advantage.
World no. 1 secured another break in game six and held at love with a service winner at 5-1, moving over the top and starting the title defense.
