Jannik Sinner Survives Tristan Schoolkate Scare at Australian Open

Jannik Sinner survived an early scare against Tristan Schoolkate to reach the third round of the Australian Open, winning 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-3.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner was given a stern test by Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate in the second round of the Australian Open. The 23-year-old Italian eventually prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-3, but not before Schoolkate had given him a run for his money.

Tristan Schoolkate made a dream start, breaking Jannik Sinner's 15-match streak of not dropping a set. The Western Australian converted the only break point of the opening set to take it 6-4, sending the Rod Laver Arena crowd into raptures. Schoolkate's impressive display had Sinner on the back foot early on.

However, Jannik Sinner's class eventually told as he regained his composure to take control of the match. A crucial break in the second set, sealed with a stunning crosscourt winner, gave Sinner the momentum he needed. From 4-3 up in the second set, Sinner dominated the remainder of the match, dropping just four more games to book his place in the third round.

Top seed Jannik Sinner acknowledged the challenges of facing an unfamiliar opponent in Tristan Schoolkate. “It's always tough to play against a player I have never played before, he was playing really good at the start, serving really well,” Sinner said. Despite the initial struggles, Sinner expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating: “I have to be very pleased with my performance, never take anything for granted, and I'm really happy to be in the next round. I can improve, yes, but I'll take it.”

Sinner's next opponent will be American world number 46 Marcos Giron, as he seeks to build on his hardcourt Grand Slam titles in Melbourne and New York last year. Although Sinner may be concerned about his unusually high tally of 29 unforced errors, credit must be given to Schoolkate for the pressure he applied throughout the match.

Tristan Schoolkate, ranked 173rd in the world, pushed Sinner to his limits, particularly in the early stages. The Australian's top serve speed of 210 kph outpaced Sinner's best effort, and his serve-volley tactics kept Sinner on his toes. However, as the match wore on, Schoolkate's level dropped, and he was only able to produce brief glimpses of his earlier form.

In contrast, Sinner continued to deliver accurate serves and clean winners from both wings, ultimately securing his 20th straight win over Australian opposition. The Italian sealed the deal with a powerful forehand, his 42nd winner of the match, to wrap up a 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-3 victory after two hours and 46 minutes.