Jannik Sinner coasted into the fourth round of the French Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over Pavel Kotov.
Sinner, the world No. 2, never seemed in trouble on Court Philippe-Chatrier, as he came through Cameron Norrie and Stan Wawrinka’s big-hitting conqueror 6-4 6-4 6-4.
The Italian, who arrived in Paris short of match practice following a hip injury that forced him out of the Rome Open, was dominant in his movement, and clever with his shot selection as he looked to counter the non-stop, destructive power of his Russian opponent.
Jannik Sinner coasted into the fourth round of the French Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over Pavel Kotov.
Sinner, the world No. 2, never seemed in trouble on Court Philippe-Chatrier, as he came through Cameron Norrie and Stan Wawrinka’s big-hitting conqueror 6-4 6-4 6-4.
The Italian, who arrived in Paris short of match practice following a hip injury that forced him out of the Rome Open, was dominant in his movement, and clever with his shot selection as he looked to counter the non-stop, destructive power of his Russian opponent.
A match-up with Kotov would have been seen by Sinner as a potential banana skin, particularly after the Russian had disposed of experienced heads Norrie and Wawrinka in his opening rounds.
The world No. 56 looked to take the match to the Australian Open champion from the get-go, hammering down forehands to see what the Italian was made of.
Sinner’s defence was pristine, however, as he perfected his touch to deflect Kotov’s power and force him to make silly mistakes.
The Russian’s first couple of service games looked dicey as Sinner showed no signs of letting up, looking to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Front-footedness from the Italian on a big break point at 2-2 in the first set had Kotov struggling, and he planted a backhand into the net to cede the first break.
A beautiful Sinner drop shot teed up a set point a few games later, and Kotov began to cut a frustrated figure as he began to realise that for all his power, his shots were being rebounded back at him with just as much ferocity. A netted backhand did the damage as Sinner took the first set 6-4.
A break in the third game of the second had the match heading just as most people would have expected, and it was Sinner’s steadiness that provided the perfect antidote to Kotov’s manic power off both wings.
The Russian was beginning to tire as Sinner continued to switch up his approach play and shot selection, changing direction at the flick of a wrist to bring up two set points, before a wayward Kotov forehand doubled the Italian’s set advantage.
Kotov was showing good touch and variation in the third, rushing the net, throwing in audacious drop shots, and looking to shake up Sinner’s rhythm and throw something new at the second seed.
That worked until the fifth game, when the Italian conjured a brilliant forehand pass to make it 15-30, and a backhand volley finish on the slide after some expert court coverage brought up two more break points. He converted the first as Kotov lashed a forehand long and wide, and the game was up.
Two more comfortable holds – sandwiching a Kotov love-hold – were sealed with an ace out wide, and the Italian raised his arms aloft in celebration.
“It was very different [to the match I played against Kotov in Madrid],” Sinner said afterwards.
“Every situation on the court was much different. I just tried to stay very focussed on my game. Thanks very much everyone for your support; I really enjoy playing on this court.”
