No problem for Jannik Sinner in his debut match at the “Mutua Madrid Open”, the second Masters 1000 on clay in 2024, with a total prize pool of 9,249,713 euros, underway at the Caja Magica in the Spanish capital. The South Tyrolean, number 2 in the world, reaches the third round by clearly winning the derby with Lorenzo Sonego, number 52 ATP. Nothing to do for the Piedmontese, defeated in two sets with scores of 6-0, 6-3. Pavel Kotov will challenge the Italian Jannik Sinner in the third round. The Russian tennis player, number 72 in the world ranking, defeated the Australian Jordan Thompson, 33 ATP and seeded number 32, in three sets and in a comeback with a score of 5-7 6-4 7-5.
«Playing against Lori is not easy, we have a good friendship off the court, we often train together and we played the Davis Cup together. But I tried to put all this aside.” Jannik Sinner shows all the respect he has for his friend Sonego after dominating him 6-0, 6-3 in the second round of the ATP 1000 in Madrid. «I started well, I played a very solid game from behind. He was in a bit of a hurry, he made a lot of mistakes. I tried to stay calm – he added -. I wish Lori good luck, I know he is going through a different moment in his career. I wish him only the best.”
Returning to Madrid two years after his last participation, Sinner will continue his journey against Pavel Kotov or the Australian Jordan Thompson. «In the two years since my last presence in Madrid I have improved a lot. The conditions here are different from other tournaments, I can make even more progress” concluded Sinner. The Italian, who did not participate in the Mutua Madrid Open last year, knows that by winning the title at the Caja Magica and at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia he will become the first Italian world number 1 in the history of men's tennis.
From the Magic Box, the Caja Magica of Madrid, Flavio Cobolli extracts his best result in a Masters 1000. After his debut victory over an apathetic Gael Monfils, the Roman continued his journey at the Mutua Madrid Open with a much more difficult success, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Nicolas Jarry which evidently suits him well. Cobolli in fact hit this year at the Australian Open against the Chilean, nephew of that Jaime Fillo, Italy's opponent in the Davis Cup final in 1976, celebrating his first victory in a Slam at the Caja Magica. Cobolli will face the Russian Karen Khachanov (17) who remained undefeated on clay against Roberto Bautista Agut (86 ATP), former Top 10 and semi-finalist at Wimbledon, who was aiming for the 100th career victory in the ATP main draws on clay. Bautista Agut, who hasn't beaten a Top 20 player on this surface since 2014 when he beat Fabio Fognini, then number 15, in Stuttgart, surrendered 3-6 6-3 7-5. At this point Italy can dream of a derby in the round of 16 between Cobolli and Jannik Sinner.