Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner continued his imperious form at Melbourne Park, dispatching American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to storm into the fourth round. The 23-year-old Italian has now racked up 17 consecutive victories dating back to last season as he looks to defend the first of his two Grand Slam titles captured in a breakthrough 2024 campaign.
Sinner’s path to a successful title defense won’t get any easier, with a potential clash against 13th seed Holger Rune or dangerous floater Miomir Kecmanovic looming in the round of 16. But the way the world No. 1 is playing, it’s hard to bet against him going deep into the second week once again.
Sinner not satisfied despite dominant display
While the scoreline suggests a straightforward affair, Sinner wasn’t entirely pleased with his performance against Giron. The top seed was particularly critical of his net game, lamenting a subpar 16/24 (67%) success rate on points when he ventured forward.
“The percentage of my net game was not really good. For sure, if I want to go on in this tournament, I have to improve,” Sinner said with a chuckle post-match.
Jannik Sinner’s self-assessment after beating Marcos Giron
It’s a scary prospect for the rest of the field if Sinner still sees significant room for improvement. Any marginal gains could prove decisive as the matches get tougher in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the season’s first major.
Doping case appeal still hanging over Sinner
Sinner’s blistering start to the 2025 season comes against the backdrop of a doping case that is still not fully resolved. The Italian was cleared of any wrongdoing last year, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed that decision, leaving a cloud of uncertainty.
For now, Sinner remains focused on his tennis and lets his racquet do the talking. If he maintains this level, a second consecutive Australian Open title is well within reach, even with the specter of the doping case appeal lingering in the background.
- Key stats from Sinner’s win over Giron:
- 🎾 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 scoreline
- 🎾 Extended unbeaten run to 17 matches
- 🎾 16/24 net points won (67%)
- 🎾 Reached Aussie Open round of 16
What lies ahead for Sinner?
With each dominant display, the target on Sinner’s back only grows larger. Rune or Kecmanovic will fancy their chances of an upset in the fourth round, while a quarter-final against the likes of Andrey Rublev or Matteo Berrettini would provide a stern test.
If Sinner does navigate his way into the final four, a blockbuster showdown with 2022 winner Rafael Nadal or third seed Daniil Medvedev could await. It’s a tough road ahead, but on current form, the defending champ is up for the challenge.
Can Sinner join the all-time greats?
Should Sinner go all the way again in Melbourne, he would become the first man to successfully defend the Australian Open title since the great Roger Federer achieved the feat in 2018. It would also see him join a select group of just four active players – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Daniil Medvedev – to have won multiple major titles.
At just 23, Sinner has already achieved so much. But if his start to 2025 is anything to go by, we could be witnessing the dawn of a new era of dominance in men’s tennis. For now, all eyes are on Sinner as he looks to etch his name deeper into the history books at the Australian Open.
