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Jannik Sinner opened his Australian Open title defense with a commanding victory, defeating Chile's Nicolás Jarry in straight sets 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-1 in two hours and 45 minutes. The opening set was closely contested, with Sinner missing two key break point opportunities in the eighth game. However, the world number one proved his resilience in the tiebreak, taking it 7-2.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Jarry’s powerful serve causing some issues for the Italian. Despite conceding a mini-break, Sinner stayed composed and secured the second tiebreak 7-6 (5). In the third set, the South Tyrolean shifted gears, breaking Jarry early to jump to a 3-0 lead. A second break in the sixth game sealed the deal with a decisive 6-1.
"It was a tough match, especially the first two sets. They could have gone either way, but I managed the difficult moments well,” Sinner said after the match. “The break in the third set allowed me to relax and take control of the game. The atmosphere here is incredible, and I’m really happy to be back."
Sinner also addressed the upcoming Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in mid-April regarding the Clostebol case: "I’m optimistic. The amount was so minimal that I don’t believe anything serious will happen."
His next opponent will be Australian wild card Tristan Schoolkate, ranked 173rd in the ATP rankings. Schoolkate advanced after defeating Japan’s Taro Daniel in four sets, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-4, in a three-hour and 14-minute battle. The matchup, their first-ever meeting, is set for Thursday.
