Jannik Sinner made it to the second round of the 2022 Monte Carlo Open, but the win was not without struggles.
The ninth seed fought hard to beat Croatia’s Borna Coric 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 after 2 hours 28 minutes.
“It was quite a difficult match because it was the first time on clay again in a long time. It’s never easy,” admits Jannik Sinner.
“So, I feel really good about my performance, even if it wasn’t my best. I think, at the end of the game I raised the level of my game, which for me is quite important.”
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In the second set, it was not clear whether the Italian was able to finish the match. He sometimes hunched over and grimaced at the pain he felt in his midsection, so he asked for a break for medical reasons at the end of the second set.
But despite the pain and effort of Coric, who is in his fourth match since last month’s Rotterdam Open, the ninth seed found his way to victory, including securing a break point in the first game of the decider and never looking back.
The Italian’s aggressive game put pressure on Coric after he couldn’t handle it consistently. That was especially key in the third set as the ninth seed regained momentum.
Throughout the match, the 20-year-old saved seven of the nine break point opportunities he faced and won 42 percent of Coric’s first serve points.
“I’ve known Borna for a long time, so I wish him all the best. It’s great to see him back in the tournament,” said Sinner, who is making his second appearance at the Monte Carlo Open.
“I feel like I’m back at my best and ready to compete.”
Waiting for Sinner in the second round of the Monte Carlo Open is a Finnish tennis player, Emil Ruuzuvuori or a German tennis player, Oscar Otte.
While the Argentinean, Federico Delbonis booked a second round match against the second seed, Alexander Zverev, thanks to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over the Spaniard, Jaume Munar.
