Roland Garros: Jannik Sinner gives Kotov no chance and flies to the round of 16

Jannik Sinner-Pavel Kotov 6-4 6-4 6-4

Jannik Sinner flies to the round of 16 at Roland Garros. In the third-round match, played on the center court, the 'Philippe-Chatrier', with the roof closed in the middle of the first set due to rain, the South Tyrolean liquidated Russian Pavel Kotov, No. 56 in the ATP rankings, in three sets with a three-set 6-4, after 2 hours and 27 minutes of play.

Sinner got off to a strong start, immediately putting pressure on Kotov, who already in the third game was forced to face three break points, two of which were consecutive: the Russian saved himself but capitulated in the fifth game, surrendering the serve on the sixth break point conceded to the Italian. At that point it was just a matter for Sinner to administer the lead and close the first partial for 6-4 after 50 minutes.

In the second set the balance is broken even earlier: Sinner places the break in the third game at the third chance, taking advantage of an error with the backhand of Kotov. The South Tyrolean, forced to cancel the first break point of the match in the sixth game, could repeat it in the seventh game but the Russian saves three more break points. It matters little forò because on 5-4 and serve Jannik does not tremble and closes the second partial 6-4 with an ace.

In the third set è again the fifth game made the difference: Sinner got two consecutive break points with a stunning one-handed volley pass and the blue’s first was enough to go up 3-2. The South Tyrolean confirmed the break without any problems and closed easily on 6-4 also the third partial, sealed with the ace.

With this victory Sinner reaches the round of 16 of the Paris Slam where he will face the winner of the match between Frenchman Corentin Moutet, world number 79, and Austrian Sebastian Ofner, number 45 in the ATP rankings.