Sinne beats Schoolkate in the second round of the Australian Open: he will face Giron

It had been 106 days since Jannik Sinner had lost a set. It was October 2, 2024 and it was the third round of the Shanghai Masters 1000, against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, in a match however won by the blue. Four months later, with 29 consecutive partial victories, the world number one is about to fall into this trap again, but comes out immediately and as a true champion. In the second round of the Australian Open, on the Rod Laver Arena, Sinner comes back and beats Tristan Schoolkate: 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-3 is the result in favor of the blue tennis player. He suffers in the first hour of play: the Australian’s sometimes unscrupulous serve and volley and some unexpected variations put him in crisis. Then the recovery, the domination, the victory and access to the third round of the first Slam of the season: he will face the American Marcos Giron, who defeated Etcheverry in five sets.

THE FIRST SET

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In front of her audience, on the center court of Melbourne Park, Schoolkate wanted to impress. Few aces, but the Australian hits hard with the serve: 83% of points won with the first serve and he attacks well with the second serve. It is the variations, however, that cause Sinner problems. Serve and volley and accelerations alternate continuously and Jannik, who doesn’t find the right fit with the new serve, struggles. Then, the fatal game: more serving problems and the blue goes 0-40 down. Schoolkate responds deeply and Sinner only manages to hit the forehand into the net. Thus the Australian takes home the set 6-4.

THE RECOVERY

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Sinner, the man of break points, doesn’t get one in the first set. The music, however, changes immediately. He doesn’t get it right away, but he gets closer and closer. The turning point of the match came in the seventh game. Schoolkate concedes three, Jannik takes advantage immediately and takes the break at zero and closes 6-4. Then, it’s all downhill. The Australian cannot keep up with the increasingly pressing pace of his opponent, who always starts the exchange by retreating in response. The result of the third and fourth reads 6-1 6-3, the pitch also says dominance. The hunt to defend the title is in full swing and Sinner has made it known that he is present.