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Sinner romps past Giron into Australian Open last 16 / Photo: DAVID GRAY - AFP
Sinner romps past Giron into Australian Open last 16
Ruthless defending champion Jannik Sinner was in the zone Saturday as he powered into the last 16 of the Australian Open with a straight-sets thrashing of American Marcos Giron.
The Italian world number one dropped a set for the first time in 14 matches in his second-round clash against Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate.
But there were no such wobbles against the unseeded Giron on Rod Laver Arena as he emphatically sprinted home 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in 2hrs 1min, slamming 35 winners and eight aces.
Awaiting him next is either Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic or Danish 13th seed Holger Rune, who will face a player on a 17-match win streak.
That record stretches back to a defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in Beijing in October.
"Very happy to be in the next round," said Sinner, who also won the US Open and ATP Finals among eight titles last year.
"Every match has its own difficulties. Today I felt like he was very solid from the back of the court, he served well.
"I still have room to improve, but every win is great.
"Trying to stay there mentally, which I think is the most important aspect for us tennis players,' he added.
"But for sure, if I want to go on in this tournament I have to improve."
The 23-year-old, who is defending a Grand Slam title for the first time after his five-set win against Daniil Medvedev in last year's final, asserted his authority immediately against Giron.
He broke him on his first service game and that proved sufficient to take the set, despite making 11 unforced errors, two more than Giron.
The top seed bided his time in set two before making his move in the fifth game, working two break points and taking a 3-2 lead when Giron slapped a forehand wide.
The American, who was bidding to reach the last 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time, had no answers as Sinner dominated the rallies.
A Sinner backhand winner earned him another break to move 2-0 clear in the third set and it all looked to be over.
But the plucky Giron, ranked 46, still had some fight left and broke for the first time in the match to level up at 2-2.
That riled up the Italian, who broke straight back and made no more mistakes in winning the next four games on his way to victory.
X.Boucher--SMC
