NEW DELHI: Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner secured his first Rotterdam Open title in a thrilling encounter against Australia's Alex De Minaur on Sunday.
Sinner's 7-5, 6-4 victory marked his 15th consecutive win, including his recent triumph at the Australian Open, elevating him to a career-best third position in the world rankings.
Despite De Minaur's determined defensive efforts, Sinner's remarkable consistency and powerful groundstrokes proved to be the difference in the high-quality battle between the top-seeded Italian and the fifth-seeded Australian.
In the early stages of the match, De Minaur showcased the form of his life, engaging Sinner in intense exchanges. However, Sinner's unwavering focus and attacking play eventually broke through De Minaur's resilient defense, securing a crucial break at 2-2.
Although De Minaur fought back valiantly, saving two set points in a pivotal 10th game, Sinner's composure prevailed as he clinched the first set to the delight of the enthusiastic Rotterdam crowd.
The second set witnessed a relentless battle, with both players trading breaks to level at 3-3. However, a determined Sinner capitalized on a tired-looking De Minaur's unforced errors to secure another crucial break, edging closer to the title.
Despite De Minaur's tenacious resistance, Sinner's dominance prevailed as he sealed the victory with a 6-4 finish, showcasing his strength and skill on the court.
Following the intense contest, the two players, who are good friends off the court and former doubles partners, shared a warm embrace at the net, acknowledging the crowd's thunderous applause for their entertaining performance.
De Minaur's impressive run to the final included a thrilling semi-final clash against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, while Sinner's path to victory remained smooth, with a quarter-final withdrawal from Milos Raonic and a straightforward win over Tallon Griekspoor in the semi-finals.
(With inputs from AFP)
