Jannik Sinner came back from one set down to beat Alexander Bublik 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 after 2 hours and 1 minute at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Bublik rallied from 0-1 down by winning five consecutive games to take a 5-1 lead with two consecutive breaks.
Bublik earned his first break in the third game, as Sinner hit his backhand into the net. Bublik rallied from 15-30 to hold his serve for 3-1. Bublik converted his third break point at deuce to open up a 4-1 lead. Sinner received a medical time-out to treat a problem on his left foot.
Both players went on serve in the second set with no break points and never reached deuce. Sinner earned two mini-breaks to to win the tie-break 7-2 forcing the match to the decider.
Sinner broke serve in the fifth game of the third set. Bublik pulled the break back in the eighth game after three forehand errors from Sinner to draw level to 4-4
Sinner converted his second break point at deuce in the ninth game after Bublik made three double faults. The 2019 Next Gen champion served out the win on his first match point. Sinner faced just break points in the third set. Sinner converted two of his four break points and won 79% of his second service points.
Sinner set up a Round of 16 match against number 4 seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who lost the Doha final against Nikoloz Basilashvili last week.
“The most important thing is to continue improving. This is my second ATP 500 tournament. Apart from Rome and the Grand Slam tournaments I played most of my matches in ATP 250 tournaments. I expected a strange match. I have to adjust to many different situations. Sometimes it is windy, sometimes it is warm. It is not easy. I had to stay mentally in the match and I am happy with today’s match. My next opponent is Roberto Bautista Agut. He is a great player and a great person. We played an exhibition match. Here it will be a different match. It will not be easy. I am looking forward to playing against Roberto”, said Sinner.
