World No. 1 Jannik Sinner made a strong start in his bid to complete the Career Golden Masters, defeating Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the Italian Open on Saturday.
The Italian arrived in Rome after another dominant run at the ATP Masters 1000 level and continued his impressive form on home soil. Sinner’s recent titles in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo and Madrid have left him just one title short of completing the Career Golden Masters by winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. Novak Djokovic is the only player to have achieved the feat since the series began in 1990.
Backed by an enthusiastic home crowd, Sinner dominated Ofner with his trademark baseline consistency and precise ball-striking. The 24-year-old committed only five unforced errors in the opening set and carried the momentum into the second. He used a delicate drop shot to earn an early break and take complete control of the match.
“It is an amazing feeling to be back,” Sinner said after the win.
“In the first match, the most important thing is not to lose. The level will improve day by day. I am very happy to be here. Since day one, this has been a very special tournament for me. Every year when you come here, you reflect a bit about the year, being Italian. A lot can change in a year. I am happy to be here.”
The victory, achieved in one hour and 31 minutes, extended Sinner’s ATP Masters 1000 winning streak to 29 matches, tying him with Roger Federer for the third-longest streak in the series.
Sinner, who finished runner-up in Rome last year, is now aiming to become the first Italian man to win the tournament since Adriano Panatta lifted the title in 1976.
Next up for the top seed is Alexei Popyrin, who defeated Jakub Mensik 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in a two-hour, 11-minute contest to book his place in the third round.
Interestingly, Ofner and Sinner had previously met at Challenger level in Italy in 2019, when a teenage Sinner won 6-2, 6-4 in Ortisei.
-IANS
