Top-seed Jannik Sinner needed just 59 minutes to defeat world No. 144 Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 on Center Court, making it through the third round at the Cincinnati Open, extending his winning streak to 22 matches on hard court surfaces.
In his on-court interview, the Wimbledon champion commented: “I’m very happy. It’s not easy to play here; the ball is flying. You have to serve very precisely, but also at a good pace if you want to go far in the tournament.”
The 23-year-old delivered a nearly flawless performance, showcasing his trademark aggressive baseline play, while competing in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon last month.
Throughout the first set, Sinner did not drop a point behind his serve until a loose seventh game in which he hit two double faults. However, he reacted fast, fending off a break point to notch the opener 6-1 in just 26 minutes.
“Today, I felt like I was serving in the spots I wanted,” added the No. 1 Italian. “There is still room to improve, but as a first-round match, I couldn’t have wished [for more]. I am very happy to be back here. The crowd is amazing.”
He set off the second set by breaking his opponent and held to open a 2-0 lead.
Galan bravely resisted the unrelenting Italian force, saving five break points before holding his ground 1-2.
From that moment on, the contest turned into a one-sided affair as the 20-time ATP titlist produced a double break to seal the set 6-1 and the match at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Overall, the world No. 1 fired 17 winners against four unforced errors, winning 96 percent of the points on his first serve, and fending off the lone break point he faced through the encounter.
Next, he will face off against 30th seed Gabriel Diallo, who earlier beat Argentine player Sebastian Baez 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 31 minutes.
This week, Sinner qualified for the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals staged in Turin, where he will aim to defend his year-end championships title in November.
At this time in 2024, his breakthrough season, the Italian player had won his maiden Cincinnati Open before heading to New York, where he would become a first-time US Open champion, his second Grand Slam, having won the Australian Open earlier that year.
With his focus on finishing the year at the top of men’s tennis, he went further, lifting the Masters 1000 trophy in Shanghai, before surging to victory at the end-of-season Finals, establishing himself as a force to beat.