Jannik Sinner beat Pierre Hugues Herbert 6-3 6-1 to cruise into the quarter finals at the bett 1 HULKS Championships in Cologne.
With this win Sinner has improved his ranking by two positions to a career-high of world number 44 in the ATP Ranking.
Sinner got an early break in the first game with his forehand. Herbert broke straight back in the second game. Sinner earned his second break at love to take a 2-1 lead. Herbert pulled the break back for the second time in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3 with a lob. Sinner won the final three games with two breaks in the seventh and ninth games to seal the first set on his second set point.
In the second set Sinner broke serve twice and held his two service games at 30 to build up a 4-0 lead. The 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion saved three break points in the fifth game to hold his serve at deuce and served out the win on his first match point. The 19-year-old Italian player won 78 % of his first serve points.
Sinner has got through to his second quarter final on hard court in 2020 eight months after reaching this stage in Rotterdam, where he beat David Goffin.
“I have never practised with Pierre Hugues. I have never played against him. He is changing every ball. Knowing that he is a good doubles player, when he is approaching you have to give him a difficult ball”, said Sinner.
Sinner set up a quarter final against French veteran Gilles Simon, who edged past Denis Shapovalov 6-1 4-6 6-2 avenging his first round defeat at Roland Garros.
Simon broke three times to win the first set 6-1. Shapovalov rallied from 15-40 to get the first break of the second set in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Simon broke straight back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Shapovalov earned his second break at 30 in the fifth game and saved a break point to hold serve in the sixth game for 4-2. Shapovalov held his next two service games to close out the second set 6-4.
Simon went up a double break to race out to a 4-0 lead. Shapovalov pulled one break back in the fifth game. Simon held serve at love before breaking in the seventh game to win the decider 6-2.
“It was really hard. Denis has a very offensive game. He is really going for everything, every time. Missing a lot, but making a lot of winners also. He is creating a lot of stress on the other side of the court. I am really happy with the way I played today, with the focus I had over all of the match. I am really happy to beat him, because it is a very good win. I had a tough match with him at Roland Garros. I lost it unfortunately, so i am happy that I am the winner this time”, said Simon.
