Another
test passed for
Jannik Sinner, who conceded just four games to overcome the
26th seed
Sebastian Baez 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 in the third round of the 2024
Australian Open. The world No. 4 demonstrated his title contender status,
securing a quick victory in just one hour and 52 minutes at the Margaret Court
Arena.
Sinner had
already showcased an imposing game in the previous rounds, extending an
excellent start to the tournament and entering the second week with freshness.
He won his first three matches without dropping sets, not even reaching a
tie-break, swiftly defeating Dutch players Botic van de Zandschulp and Jesper
de Jong before triumphing over Baez.
For the
Argentine, reaching the third round of the AO for the first time in his career
marked a notable achievement. He secured victories over J. J. Wolf and Daniel
Elahi Galán, but the defeat against Sinner deepened his deficit against
Top-ranked players, with only one victory and 13 losses against opponents
ranked in the top ten in the world.
In the
first set, various factors contributed to the 6-0 score. Baez, ranked 29th in
the world, couldn't capitalize on his high first-serve percentage (76%),
winning only 4 points through that avenue, while Sinner claimed 12 out of 16.
The Italian was highly effective in crucial points, converting 3 out of 4 break
points (75%) he generated. On the flip side, Baez failed to seize any of the
three opportunities he had to break Sinner's serve.
Sinner
remained highly efficient in crucial points, taking advantage of Baez's
deficiencies. As the match progressed, Sinner continued dominating with
powerful and swift shots, further extending the lead with a 6-1 score in the
second set.
In the
third set, although Baez managed to narrow the gap, Sinner maintained his
authority, breaking the Argentine's serve on two occasions. The Italian sealed
the victory on his second match point, solidifying his outstanding performance
in the tournament. Now, Sinner, fresh for the second week, awaits the winner of
the match between Russian Karen Khachanov and Czech Tomas Machac, anticipating
a potential thrilling encounter with Novak Djokovic in the subsequent rounds.
