Jannik Sinner edged world number 54 Filip Krajinovic 6-2 7-6 (8-6) after 1 hour and 42 minutes to reach the quarter final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome for the first time in his career.
Sinner won three consecutive points from 30-15 in the third game to earn his first break for 2-1 with an inside-in forehand. Sinner earned a double break in the the fifth game with a down the line backhand winner to race out to a 4-1 lead.
Sinner served out the first set 6-2 on his second set point.
The Italian star went up a set and a break in the first game of the first game of the second set. Krajnovic broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Sinner hit two aces at 4-5 30-30 to hold serve for 5-5.
Sinner opened up a 4-1 lead in the tie-break, but Krajinovic won three consecutive points to take a 5-4 lead. The 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals champion fired two consecutive points at 4-5. The Italian earned a match point with two aces at 6-5, but he sent his forehand return into the net.
Sinner sealed the tie-break 8-6 on his second match point with a down the line backhand winner.
Sinner set up a quarter final clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Karen Khachanov 4-6 6-0 6-3. Tsitsipas leads 3-1 in his four head-to-head matches against Sinner. Tsitsipas beat Sinner in Rome 2019, in the Barcelona semifinal 2021 and in the Australian Open quarter final in 2022. Sinner earned his only win over Tsitsipas in Rome 2020.
“I am very happy. It was a difficult match. I started very well in the first set and at the start of the second set. The match got complicated, but I served well at 4-5 in the tie-break. I am happy with my match. Tsitsipas played well in our head-to-head match at the Australian Open last January. Let’s see what happens tomorrow, but it’s going to be a good test for me”, said Sinner.
Casper Ruud beat US rising star Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-4. Ruud broke in the sixth game and saved two break points as he was serving out for the first set, before sealing the opener on his fourth set point. Ruud was pushed to 30-30 three times in the second set, but he did not face a break point. The Norwegian earned the break in the third game to seal the second set 6-4.
