Jannik Sinner shrugs off injury troubles to beat Christopher Eubanks at the French Open - 'The hip is good'
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Updated 27/05/2024 at 14:27 GMT
Jannik Sinner missed the Italian Open due to a hip injury and, although at times he seemed perhaps not quite at his best against Christopher Eubanks, the world No. 2 progressed to the second round with a straight-sets victory under the roof on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. He will play Richard Gasquet next, after the Frenchman beat Borna Coric.
French Open highlights - Sinner sinks Eubanks with classy opening display
Jannik Sinner shrugged off his recent injury troubles to reach the second round of the French Open with a straight-sets win over Christopher Eubanks.
A hip issue kept the world No. 2 out of the recent Italian Open, and there were concerns he would not be able to feature at Roland-Garros.
But the Australian Open champion was largely dominant throughout and despite briefly clutching his right hip in the third set, moved impressively around the clay to seal his place in round two, progressing 6-3 6-3 6-4.
Speaking after the match, Sinner said: "I’m just happy to be back on court. I was injured. I’m very happy to be back here. It’s a very special tournament for me.
"I’m just trying to get day-by-day, building every day and I’m just happy about today’s performance and let’s see what’s coming."
Sinner's fast start was matched by an error-strewn performance from his opponent.
By the midpoint of his second service game, Eubanks had already posted three double faults, so it came as no surprise when Sinner made the first break of the match.
Struggling for fluidity, the American lost his next service game too and found himself 4-1 down.
Eubanks then launched something of a comeback by breaking Sinner, before saving a break point and holding serve to narrow the deficit to 4-3.
Sinner held for 5-3, before producing a sublime cross-court forehand to work himself a set point on the Eubanks serve.
As had been his downfall earlier in the set, it was a double fault which proved costly to Eubanks once again and Sinner took the lead in the tie.
Powerful strokes with pinpoint accuracy saw Sinner take total control of the tie early in the second set as he broke Eubanks to go 2-0 ahead.
The set proceeded to go with serve and, although he was forced to save three break points in the final game, Sinner moved two sets up without much trouble.
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Sinner clinches impressive victory over Eubanks in three sets
The players got the third set underway while the roof was closing above them and Sinner fended off some intense pressure from Eubanks, who was unable to convert three break points.
Eubanks was hoping a change in conditions on Court Suzanne-Lenglen would lead to a change in momentum but it was not to be as Sinner broke him to love to move 2-1 ahead in the third.
The set went with serve and Sinner missed a match-point opportunity on the Eubanks serve before seeing things out in the next game to progress.
After a winning return from injury, Sinner has been asked for a fitness update.
"The hip is good. I’m very happy. I’m glad that my team and myself, we were working very hard to be on court as soon as possible.
"For sure, the general shape is not at 100% yet so we try to build every day."
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'They salute him!' - Sinner marches through second set in opener
Sinner will play Richard Gasquet next, after the Frenchman beat Borna Coric in straight sets in the first round.
The Italian is hoping to go far in the tournament to continue what has been an impressive season so far.
"I’m obviously happy with what I have achieved in the last months, this year, but our goal is to improve every day.
"I truly enjoy to play tennis so I’m very happy to be here," he said.
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