NEW DELHI: Jannik Sinner, the world number two, breezed into the fourth round of the French Open with a commanding 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Russian Pavel Kotov in Paris on Friday.
Despite the chilly weather, with Sinner opting for a long-sleeve undershirt, he encountered little resistance, facing only one break point throughout the match.
Kotov, aiming for another upset after defeating Stan Wawrinka in the previous round, started aggressively. However, Sinner proved to be superior, particularly in the first set.
The Italian secured an early break in the second set, extending his lead to two sets. This pattern continued in the third set as Sinner clinched victory with an ace on match point, setting up a clash with either Austrian Sebastian Ofner or local favorite Corentin Moutet.
Sinner had previously defeated Kotov in straight sets at the Madrid Masters in April.
"It was very different, I just tried to stay very focused on my game. Thanks for the support, it's amazing to play on this court," Sinner said on court Philippe Chatrier, where the stands gradually filled up after lunch time.
(With Reuters inputs)
