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Defending champion Jannik Sinner powered into the last 16 of the Australian Open on Saturday with an emphatic straight-sets victory, asserting his readiness to improve as the tournament progresses.
The Italian world number one overcame American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just over two hours on Rod Laver Arena, slamming 35 winners and eight aces. This commanding performance came after Sinner dropped a set for the first time in 14 matches during his second-round clash against Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate.
Reflecting on his performance, Sinner expressed satisfaction with his progress but acknowledged room for improvement.
Sinner, who also claimed titles at the US Open and ATP Finals last year, has been on a 17-match winning streak since a loss to Carlos Alcaraz in October. His victory over Giron showcased his authority, particularly in extended rallies, and reinforced his confidence as he aims to defend his Grand Slam title for the first time.
The 23-year-old established his dominance early, breaking Giron in his first service game to secure the opening set despite a handful of unforced errors. In the second set, Sinner broke at 3-2 after forcing Giron into a forehand error, maintaining control throughout.
In the third set, Giron briefly fought back, breaking Sinner to level at 2-2. However, the Italian responded immediately, regaining the break and reeling off the next four games to seal the win.
Sinner’s next test will be against either Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic or Danish 13th seed Holger Rune, both formidable opponents. Despite his confidence, Sinner acknowledged the need for further adjustments. “When you play good, you realise that you’re playing some good tennis, which gives you a very calm mindset, knowing that today it might be a good day,” he said.
The Italian’s ability to remain composed under pressure and experiment with serve-and-volley tactics and drop shots signals his readiness to adapt and elevate his game as the competition intensifies.
