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E-mail Xinhua, January 13, 2025
MELBOURNE, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Men's singles defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame big-serving Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-1 on Monday in a physical first round match at the Australian Open.
Top seed Sinner had to fend off Jarry's considerable firepower, but his consistency and deft touch eventually crushed the Chilean's resistance in a clash lasting two hours and 40 minutes.
Sinner was unable to crack the towering Chilean's serve until early in the third set, having earlier relied on his composure to prevail in the tiebreaks that decided the opening two sets.
The 34th-ranked Jarry, who made the fourth round of the 2023 French Open, fired down 13 aces and hit 40 winners but had 38 more unforced errors than Sinner.
It was a relief for Sinner, who has been shrouded under a doping cloud after he twice tested positive last year for traces of the steroid clostebol.
"I'm very, very happy to be back here," said Sinner, who beat Daniil Medvedev in last year's Australian Open final. "Today was a very close one. When I broke for the first time in the third set, it gave me room to breathe.
"I'm happy I handled a tough situation in the first two sets. I'm happy to be in the next round, but there are things I can get better at."
Having broken his Grand Slam title drought at last year's Australian Open, Sinner established himself as the best player of the year in men's tennis with victories at the US Open and ATP Finals.
He is deemed to be in the favorable half of the men's draw, avoiding rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic until the final.
But he was given a tough opening assignment against Jarry, who was ranked a career-high No. 16 last May.
In warm conditions at Rod Laver Arena, a contrast to Melbourne's stormy weather on day one, Sinner was under siege against the powerful serve and groundstrokes from a pumped-up Jarry.
Sinner was unable to convert two break points in the eighth game as the opening set went to a tiebreak, where the Italian hit the lines with precision to force errors off Jarry's racquet.
Similarly, Sinner lifted his level in the second set tiebreak to break Jarry's spirit and he then raced through the third set.
Sinner celebrated his 16th straight victory on the professional tour with a steely fist pump and he will next play Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate. Enditem
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