Just a little over a fortnight after an impressive performance at the Australian Open where he defeated the world’s number one player Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and came back from a two-set deficit to win against Daniil Medvedev in the final, Sinner’s winning streak continues. The Italian remains undefeated in 2024, extending his unbeaten run to 11 matches, with eight wins this year and three victories at the Davis Cup Finals last year.
In the first round of the Rotterdam tournament, Sinner’s win was relatively straightforward. He broke his opponent’s serve twice in the first set and once in the second, securing a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 victory. Van de Zandschulp, whom Sinner previously defeated on his way to winning the Australian Open, had hoped that Sinner’s recent Grand Slam success would affect his performance. However, the Dutchman jokingly expressed disappointment as Sinner showed no signs of slowing down. “He certainly didn’t take a day off, and when he shows up like this, it’s really hard to pull anything off,” he remarked.
For Sinner, this win marks the beginning of his pursuit to achieve a career-high ranking of number 3 in the ATP Rankings. With Medvedev choosing not to defend his title in Rotterdam, Sinner now trails him by just 445 points. If he goes on to win the ATP 500 event, he will surpass Medvedev by the narrowest of margins, accumulating 8,270 points compared to the Russian’s 8,265 points.
However, Sinner is fully aware that he will face increased scrutiny and challenges in the days, weeks, and months ahead. “I’ve been putting in a lot of work in Monaco, but I wanted to come here and get a feel for the court,” he explained. “I’m pleased to secure my first victory here against such a formidable opponent. Playing as a Grand Slam champion brings a different dynamic, and you have to be prepared for your opponents to have a better understanding of your game and weaknesses. So, you must be ready to work hard and stay prepared.”
Sinner’s next opponent will be world number 70 Gael Monfils, who secured his spot in the second round with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) win over Denis Shapovalov. Monfils, a two-time champion in Rotterdam, poses a significant challenge for the Italian. “Gael is an extremely dangerous opponent, regardless of the venue. He’ll undoubtedly be a favorite among the fans, but that’s just part of the game, and you have to accept it,” Sinner acknowledged. “Whenever we face each other, it’s always an intense and difficult match. I watched his first-round match, and he played exceptionally well.”
The tournament still features several other formidable opponents, including second seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced with a three-set victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime. Third seed Holger Rune and fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz are also still in contention.
According to the Source tennis365.com