Aus Open 2024: Jannik Sinner Storms into Fourth Round Past Sebastian Baez

Jannik Sinner, the fourth seed at the Australian Open, showcased his strong form by effortlessly moving into the tournament’s second week. He achieved this feat without losing a single set, most recently cruising past Sebastian Baez, the 26th seed from Argentina, with a commanding 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 victory in the third round on Friday. Demonstrating impressive power on the court, the Italian player delivered six aces and 34 winners, wrapping up the match in under two hours amidst cool and windy conditions at Margaret Court Arena. Sinner sealed his triumph with a seventh break of serve.

The 22-year-old Italian, who was exceptionally successful towards the end of the last season, played a key role in leading Italy to their first Davis Cup victory in late November. Sinner’s choice to extend his vacation and miss the preliminary tournaments leading up to the Grand Slam sparked some debate, but he believes his excellent performance in Melbourne justifies his decision.

Sinner expressed his satisfaction with his current form at the Australian Open, acknowledging that competing in matches differs from training. He remains optimistic about his reaction in the upcoming rounds. Having reached the quarter-finals in 2022, Sinner is favorably positioned to achieve a similar or better outcome this year. His next challenge is a fourth-round match against the Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov. Sinner holds a positive record against Khachanov, having won their last two encounters out of three, with his only defeat to Khachanov occurring at the 2020 U.S. Open when Sinner was still in his late teens.