Australian Open

LIVE: Sinner loses first set against Nobody

Jannik Sinner

(Bild: AFP)

Jannik Sinner had more trouble than expected on his way to the third round of the Australian Open. The top seed from South Tyrol lost the first set 4:6 against local hero Tristan Schoolkate on Thursday, but managed to turn things around with a 6:4, 6:1 and 6:3 win.

In Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, there was no discernible difference in quality between the world numbers one and 173 at the start. Schoolkate played without nervousness at first, didn't have to concede a break point in the first set and made it 6:4 with a break to zero. The 23-year-old Australian also held his own for half another set before Sinner turned the tide with a break to nil to make it 4:3. The favorite took the momentum into the third set, where a break right at the start set the tone.

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Schoolkate scattered a lot more unforced errors, Sinner showed his class. That didn't change in the fourth set either, which became easy prey for the world number one. As at the US Open last year, Schoolkate was also eliminated in his second major second-round match. "It's always difficult to play against a player you don't really know. What's more, it was something special for him to play in front of a home crowd and an incredible atmosphere here," said Sinner.

Tristan Schoolkate

(Bild: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Next hurdle: Giron
His opponent played "really well" at the beginning. He also had to contend with the strong wind himself. "It was a difficult match, but in the end I'm very happy to be back in the third round," said the South Tyrolean. The chance of successfully defending his title remains alive, with US American Marcos Giron his next opponent.