Jannik Sinner overcame a hip injury to beat Pavel Kotov 6-2 7-5 reaching the fourth round of the Madrid Mutua Open.
Sinner went up a break twice in the first set, but Kotov pulled back on serve both times. Sinner broke twice in the sixth and eighth games to win the first set 6-2.
Sinner held serve at love in the first game of the second set before Kotov won three games to take a 3-1 lead. Kotov failed to convert a set point in the ninth game at 5-4. Sinner broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5. Sinner earned a second break on his fourth match point to seal the second set 7-5.
“I have been struggling a little bit with my right hip. We are trying to find a solution and I don’t it’s anything serious. Sometimes I feel it more like today and some days are a little bit better. I don’t think it’s anything serious, but I can feel it. Sometimes I feel it more like today. Some days are a little better. Let’s see. I have a good team behind me””, said Sinner.
Sinner set up a fourth round match against Karen Khachanov, who beat Flavio Cobolli 7-5 6-4. Khachanov hit nine more winners and nine unforced errors to Cobolli’s fourteen.
Khachanov broke serve in the 11th game to win the first set 7-5. The Russian player broke serve at love in the first game of the second set and served out the win on his second match point in the 10th game.
Khachanov has lost his last three matches against Sinner, including in the fourth round at this year’s Australian Open.
