Daijiworld Media Network - Rome
Rome, May 10: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner made a strong start at the Italian Open, defeating Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 in the second round as he continued his pursuit of a rare Career Golden Masters achievement.
Fresh from a landmark run that saw him capture five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles across Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, and Madrid, Sinner carried his dominant form into Rome. The win keeps him on track to become only the second player in history, after Novak Djokovic, to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments since the series began in 1990.
Playing in front of an energetic home crowd, the 24-year-old Italian showcased his trademark baseline control and clean ball striking. He committed just five unforced errors in the opening set and quickly took command of the match. A well-timed drop shot early in the second set helped him secure a break, allowing him to maintain control until the finish.
After the match, Sinner said he was pleased with his return to competition in Rome.
“It is an amazing feel to be back,” he said. “The first match is always about finding rhythm and not making mistakes. The level will improve day by day. I am very happy to be here. This is a special tournament for me, and every year here you reflect on how much can change in tennis and in life.”
The victory, completed in one hour and 31 minutes, extended Sinner’s winning streak in ATP Masters 1000 events to 29 matches, placing him alongside Roger Federer in the record books for the third-longest streak in the category.
Sinner, who finished runner-up in Rome last year, is now aiming to become the first Italian man since Adriano Panatta in 1976 to win the prestigious home tournament.
He will next face Alexei Popyrin, who advanced after a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win over Jakub Mensik in a match lasting just over two hours.
Sinner and Ofner have met before, including at Challenger level in 2019 in Ortisei, where a teenage Sinner also came out on top in straight sets.