World No. 1 Jannik continues to dominate after return from three-month doping ban; beats 17th seed Cerundolo 7-6, 6-3 to storm into quarters
Jannik Sinner during his match against Francisco Cerundolo on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Jannik Sinner came through the first true test of his comeback from a three-month doping ban with a straight-set win over Francisco Cerundolo on Tuesday.
Sinner bested his 17th seeded Argentine opponent 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 in a match which was delayed by a couple of hours due to a torrential downpour.
The victory took the World No.1 into the Italian Open quarter-finals where he will face either Madrid Open winner Casper Ruud or Spain’s Jaume Munar.
Cerundolo knocked out Sinner in the Round-of-16 the last time they played here in 2023, but that was before the 23-year-old had became the tournament-winning machine he is today.
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The Italian is finding his feet in Rome, his first tournament since the end of a three-month suspension accepted in February from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following two positive tests for traces of clostebol in March last year.
His true target is the French Open which follows his home event and he showed some signs of rediscovering the form which has won him three Grand Slams and last year’s ATP Finals.
“He’s a very tough competitor, it was a great challenge for me. I’m very happy because today I felt that I raised my level. Game-wise I felt a little bit better,” he said.
“I’m happy to be back. I was three months out so, you know, every situation for me I feel very fortunate to be here,” he added.
Sinner had to battle through the first set against a spirited Cerundolo, but once he prevailed in the tie-break, he built up an unassailable lead by winning four games in a row in the second.
The packed centre court stands hailed their hero — now on a 24-match winning streak — after he took the win at the fourth time of asking to continue his bid for a first Rome title.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz punched his ticket to the semi-finals by defeating Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4.
24
No. of matches since Jannik Sinner’s last defeat
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