What a statement from Jannik Sinner (ATP 2). Against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik (ATP 16), the Italian needed just 76 minutes to seal the win – finishing the match with an ace – and took revenge for his loss on grass in Halle last July, which had been his only defeat at ATP 500 level this season.

A single break in each set was enough for Sinner, though the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story. Bublik put up spirited resistance and entertained the crowd with his trademark flair – including an underarm ace that drew loud applause.

Missed Chances

Yet, the result could have been even more one-sided. Sinner created no fewer than eight break points, three of them in Bublik’s second service game, when the Kazakh saved 0:40 with five consecutive points.

In the end, Sinner’s class was simply too much to handle – his pace too high, his precision too sharp. On serve, the world No. 2 was untouchable, not facing a single break point all match. The victory marked his 19th consecutive indoor win.

Praise for the fans and the tournament

“The support from the crowd was fantastic,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “Alexander has had his best season so far. I lost to him in Halle, so today I wanted to play a little smarter. He’s so talented and can hit winners from impossible positions. But today I had a good rhythm and good length on my shots.”

Before leaving the court to thunderous applause, Sinner added one more compliment: “This is one of the best tournaments on the tour.”