In the US capital: Jannik Sinner ends the negative series – tennis

Has a good laugh: Jannik Sinner won his first round match in Washington. © APA / getty / Casey Sykes

Jannik Sinner (ATP 24) last lost his opening game three times in a row. Now the negative series is over. At the ATP 500 tournament in Washington, the South Tyrolean clearly won his first round game.

05. August 2021

Author: cst

Emil Ruusuvuori didn’t really enjoy playing against Jannik Sinner on Wednesday (local time in Washington). The Finn, who ranks 69th in the world, didn’t stand a chance against the Sesto. In two sets (6: 2, 6: 4) Sinner swept the Scandinavian off the floor.

Sinner started resolutely. The first break ball was used to lead 2-0. As a result, the 19-year-old showed a focused and almost flawless performance. The determination to break the negative spiral was evident in the South Tyrolean. And so Sinner made short work of Ruusuvuori, who weakened himself with numerous minor errors and four double errors.

Ruusuvuori gets stronger, Sinner counters

In the second set the match became more balanced. That was because the Finn was now much better at it and went to work with more concentration. Ruusuvuori made far fewer mistakes of his own than he made at the start of the game. So a duel at eye level developed in that the first breakball only came when the score was 3: 3 – but Sinner could not use it.

Jannik Sinner showed a strong performance at the Washington opener. © APA / getty / Casey Sykes

Ruusuvuori smelled a fuse and put Sinner under pressure, but the South Tyrolean countered coolly and showed no nakedness. When the Pusterer was only one point short of victory, he showed his whole class. The Finn couldn’t score a single point in the decisive game, even though he served himself. After 1.19 hours, Sinner used his second break ball in the set and the first match point in the game and turned it into 6: 4.

Sebastian Korda (ATP 45) is now waiting in the round of 16. The 21-year-old American also won a two-set win against Vasek Pospisil.