Jannik Sinner overcomes early scare to eliminate Moutet, sets up quarterfinal clash with Dimitrov

Jannik Sinner (No. 2) recovered from a rough start to defeat the local favorite Corentin Moutet (No. 79) by 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the French Open for the second time in his career. The Italian now totals 15 victories at Roland Garros and will face Grigor Dimitrov in search of his first semifinal appearance at the tournament.

Moutet displayed a high level of play in the first set, entertaining fans with his irreverent playing style. However, he couldn't maintain his level throughout the match, allowing Sinner to find his rhythm and secure a hard-fought victory.

Moutet started strong with an early break, playing numerous dropshots and lobs that thrilled the crowd as he quickly surged ahead 2-0. The height and spin of Moutet's shots disrupted Sinner, pulling him out of his comfort zone.

The Italian was particularly error-prone, and the world No. 2 experienced his lowest level of play in the tournament during the first set. Moutet broke Sinner three consecutive times, advancing to 5-0. Sinner avoided a bagel by saving two set points but couldn’t prevent Moutet from taking the set 6-2.

The second set began with breaks on both sides. Up to that point, Sinner had won only one of his five service games. From 1-1 in the second set, things changed in Sinner’s favor. He started winning his service games with ease, conceding only two points in his next four service games.

The Italian reduced his unforced errors from 14 to just 4, secured a break in the sixth game, and clinched the set 6-3. The 2024 Australian Open champion remained composed as Moutet began to falter, lacking new strategies to challenge Sinner.

The third set quickly tilted in favor of Sinner, who had clearly recovered from his poor start and appeared dominant. An early break gave him the lead and increased pressure on Moutet, who began taking more risks with his shots. Sinner secured a second break and won the set 6-2 in 38 minutes.

The fourth and final set followed a similar pattern, with Sinner securing an early break and another in the fifth game, effectively sealing the match. Despite offering a commendable performance for his home crowd, Moutet couldn’t withstand Sinner’s consistency. Sinner recovered from a difficult start to ultimately claim a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

With this loss, the last local player in the men’s draw exits the tournament. The French now only have Varvara Gracheva left in the women’s draw. In the quarterfinals, Sinner faces a tough match against world No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets to reach the French Open last eight for the first time.