World No. 1 Jannik Sinner celebrated his 17th consecutive victory after defeating American Marcos Giron with ease, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, at the Australian Open on Saturday. This win marks another solid performance from the reigning champion as he advanced to the last 16 at Melbourne Park.
Sinner faced Giron under the bright lights of Rod Laver Arena, showcasing his capabilities with 35 winners throughout the match, conducted over two hours. Following his earlier round, where he experienced his first set loss since October against Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate, Sinner made sure to avoid any hiccups this time around.
"Every match has its own difficulties. I felt he was very solid from the back of the court and he served well, especially the first serve, I struggled a bit to return," Sinner mentioned during his on-court interview with Jim Courier. Reflecting on his performance, Sinner expressed satisfaction with the victory but acknowledged the need for improvement as the tournament progresses.
Having dropped his first set of the tournament just days earlier, Sinner attacked Giron from the start, establishing dominance with an early break. Giron, ranked No. 46, struggled to capitalize on his opportunities, converting only one of his seven break points. "I still have room to improve, but every win is great, especially in these conditions," Sinner noted, highlighting his focus on mental resilience.
Each set showcased Sinner's steady progress, with quick breaks early on defining the pace of the match. The Italian swiftly moved to lead 3-0 and continued to maintain control, finishing the contest without much resistance from Giron. Despite the match's comfortable nature, Sinner emphasized the importance of raising his game as he heads toward the later rounds of the tournament.
Looking ahead, Sinner’s next challenge looms against either 13th seed Holger Rune or Miomir Kecmanovic. Rune made headlines after battling through a five-set thriller, securing narrow passage with scores 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Interestingly, Sinner holds the edge over Rune with their previous meetings totaling 2-2, making their upcoming clash rather intriguing.
The match against Giron not only advanced Sinner to the fourth round but also contributed to his growing legacy within Italian tennis. He has now reached this stage at the Australian Open for the fourth time and secured his 64th match win at Grand Slams, inching closer to surpassing Fabio Fognini’s record of 71 matches.
Throughout the tournament, Sinner continues to exhibit signs of steady growth, though he remains aware of necessary adjustments. "Today the percentage of my net game was not really good, but I try to improve. It’s part of the game. Sometimes I feel things a little bit, sometimes worse, that's normal. Trying to stay mentally focused is the most important aspect,” Sinner stated.
The excitement builds as Sinner's title defense remains alive, and tennis fans are left eagerly anticipating his next steps at Melbourne Park. With each match, he aims to deliver elevation to his game and battle toward another championship, echoing his triumphs from the previous year.