Jannik Sinner came back from a first-set bagel to beat this year’s Australian Open semifinalist Aslan Karatsev 0-6 6-3 6-4 after 2 hours and 32 minutes at Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone Alpes Lyon.
Karatsev broke serve three times and saved three break points en route to taking a bagel win in the first set. Sinner went up a double break in two deuce games to race out to a 4-0 lead. Karatsev pulled back one break in the fifth game for 1-4, but Sinner fended three break points in the seventh game to hold serve for 5-2.
The match was suspended by rain for 70 minutes, when Karatsev was leading 2-1. Sinner saved a break point in the eighth game before earning the decisive break to take a 5-4 lead. Sinner sealed the win on his first match point with a big serve.
Sinner set up a quarter final against French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknecht, who converted four of his nine break points in his 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 win over Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer. “It was tough. He is a great player, especially this year with some big results. Today I was struggling in the beginning, especially in the first set. Karatsev is a great player, especially this year with some big results. I dug deep today and I am happy to have won today. It’s definitely good to have the support of the crowd in order to come back from Aslan’s fast start. I tried to take a bit of time, then the rain came so it was mnot easy but I can say I am very happy”, said Sinner.
