World no. 1 Jannik Sinner will search the title protection in Melbourne. The reigning Australian Open champion arrived Down Beneath a few days in the past. He embraced follow classes with Cruz Hewitt and Stan Wawrinka earlier than making issues extra critical.
On Tuesday, Sinner stepped on Rod Laver Area alongside Alexei Popyrin for a take a look at match. The Italian prevailed 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 37 minutes for his first successful vibes in Melbourne this yr.
Sealed with a pleasant contact 🪽
Jannik Sinner beats Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 7-6(2) in a charity match on Rod Laver Area! 👏#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/qVcOQeYysN
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 7, 2025
Jannik grabbed a break within the ninth sport of the opener and closed it with a tremendous maintain a couple of minutes later. Alexei offered a break within the sixth sport of the second set, shifting 5-2 up and looking out good to drive a decider.
Nevertheless, Sinner pulled the break again at 3-5 and sealed the take care of a tremendous efficiency within the tie break. They exchanged tremendous holds at first of the duel earlier than the Aussie netted a routine forehand within the third sport and confronted two break factors.
Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
World no. 1 wasted them, lacking an opportunity to construct an early lead. Jannik made one other push on the return in sport seven, creating two extra break probabilities. Alexei denied them and held with an unreturned serve, opening a 4-3 benefit.
The defending Australian Open champion held at love within the eighth sport and made one other push on the return within the subsequent one. The Italian drew the Aussie’s mistake and generated two break factors. Popyrin hit a double fault on the primary, falling 5-4 behind.
Alexei Popyrin, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Sinner served for the opener in sport ten and drew the opponent’s mistake for a maintain at 15 and 6-4 in 41 minutes. The lower-ranked participant painted an ace within the third sport of the second set and repeated that two video games later for a 3-2 lead.
Feeling the ball in these moments, Alexei offered a break within the sixth sport after Jannik’s unfastened forehand, opening a 4-2 hole. The house star drew an error from world no. 1 in sport seven, cementing the lead and shifting 5-2 forward.
Sinner held at 15 whereas serving to remain within the set in sport eight and made a push on the return at 3-5. He created two break probabilities after the rival’s wayward forehand drive-volley. Popyrin sprayed a forehand error on the second, conserving his rival alive.
Jannik Sinner & Alexei Popyrin, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Italian missed one other break probability within the eleventh sport, and the Aussie held to remain in rivalry. Jannik left that probability behind and held at love in sport 12 to introduce a tie break. Alexei performed a wild forehand within the fourth level, falling 3-1 behind.
He repeated that error within the fifth level, propelling world no. 1 additional in entrance. Sinner painted an ace at 5-1, producing 5 match factors. He seized the second with an ideal drop shot winner, sealing the deal and shifting excessive.
