Last year’s Next Gen champion Jannik Sinner broke serve five times in his 6-2 6-4 win over Marton Fucsovics after 1 hour and 37 minutes to secure his spot in the second round at the Sofia Open.
Sinner avenged the 6-4 6-4 6-3 defeat against Fucsovics in the second round at this year’s Australian Open.
Sinner converted his sixth break point in the second game to take a 2-0 lead with a backhand error from Fucsovics after five deuces. The Hungarian player broke straight back in the third game for 1-2.
Fucsovics saved three break points in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Sinner fended off two break points in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The 19-year-old player rallied from 0-40 down to break serve for the second time for 4-2. Sinner closed out the first set 6-2 with his fourth consecutive game thanks to his third break.
Sinner got a break at love in the second set to open up a 3-0 lead. Sinner survived a late comeback attempt from Fucsovics, who converted his second break-back point to take a 4-3 lead. Fucsovics saved three break points to hold serve at deuce for 4-4. Sinner earned a match point with a forehand passing shot on Fucsovics’serve in the tenth game and converted it with a forehand down the line to close out the second set 6-4.
Sinner has improved his record this year to 15-11 with his first win over Fucsovics.
“For everyone, fourth-round matches are not easy. I tried to be solid. In the beginning of the match, we were both playing quite well and moving well. In the second set, I was a break up and he recovered. It was just two or three points in each set that decided the match”, said Sinner.
Sinner set up a second round match against Swiss lucky loser Marc-Andrea Huesler, who beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili.
“I know that he is lefty, serving well and going to the net. It is not an easy match for sure, especially when you don’ know a guy and you have to play against him. It is never easy. I am going to try to be focused from the first point and then we will see”, said Sinner.
Richard Gasquet beat Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3 6-4. The Frenchman saved three break points to hold serve in a long third game with four deuces. After holding his next two service games Gasquet broke serve at 30 in the eighth game to close out the first set 6-3.
Carballes Baena opened up a 2-0 lead at the start of the second set with a break at love in the second game. Gasquet broke straight back in the third game. Gasquet did not convert two break points in the fifth game before getting the decisive break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Carballes Baena saved two break points to win his service game after two deuces. Gasquet served out the win on his first match point in the 10th game.
Gasquet set up a second round match against Czech 19-year-old Jonas Forejtek, who upset Marin Cilic in straight sets yesterday.
Another Frenchman Gilles Simon cruised past Andrej Martin 6-2 6-2 setting up a clash against Nur Sultan champion John Millman for a spot in the quarter final.
