Jannik Sinner played brilliantly. © APA/afp / PIERO CRUCIATTI

Demonstration of power in Rome: Sinner teaches fear again

"I'll have to raise my level if I want to compete on a level playing field," said Jannik Sinner ahead of his round of 18 match against Francisco Cerundolo (ATP 1000) at the Masters XNUMX tournament in Rome. No sooner said than done: Thanks to a fantastic performance on Tuesday, the South Tyrolean put the Argentine clay-court specialist in his place.

13 May 2025

From: leo

The match between the Sexten native and Cerundolo was originally scheduled to take place at around 16 p.m., but persistent rain thwarted the organizers in Rome. Sinner didn't let the delay dampen his spirits: Videos showed the 23-year-old clearly enjoying himself as he played football in the catacombs of the Foro Italico. His composure gave way to concentration when the match kicked off three hours later on Center Court. Sinner knew his opponent's strength. Cerundolo challenged the world number one for a long time, but ultimately Sinner's class and will to win prevailed – the final score was 7:6, 6:3.

Due to the rain, the conditions had changed compared to the last match. The moisture slowed the balls, and the clay also became duller. This led to many rallies, with the serve taking a backseat. These conditions played into Cerundolo's hands – but Sinner wouldn't be Sinner if he didn't find a solution to every problem. The Sextner played with a bit more spin, varied the height and speed of his shots, and repeatedly massaged the Argentinian's backhand. It was the right approach to win the third match in a row without dropping a set.

High-class match

After a nervous opening phase in which both players appeared uncertain, it was Sinner who landed the first break. Cerundolo promptly reclaimed it in the following game, which lasted about a quarter of an hour. The man from Buenos Aires now seemed to have a slight advantage. Sinner, however, steadily improved, gaining confidence through impressive points at the net, and then played a flawless tiebreak.

At the start of the second period, Sinner caused concern among his fans. The heavy running he'd had to do up to that point had left a blister on his right foot. Simone Vagnozzi's protégé took a medical timeout, had himself treated, and then continued playing brilliantly.

He broke the now-unsteady Cerundolo's serve and escaped to 4-1. The Argentinian then slumped, not least due to Sinner's irresistible style of play. A slight slump when the Sexten native served for the match at 5-1 and 5-3 didn't change the outcome. Yes, Jannik Sinner is back to his old self after a three-month break. In the quarterfinals, he will now face either Casper Ruud (ATP 7) or Jaume Munar (ATP 66).