Two-time reigning champion Jannik Sinner wasted no time in barrelling into the Australian Open third round with a demolition of home player James Duckworth on Thursday. The Italian second seed romped to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory in just one hour and 49 minutes against the shell-shocked wildcard on Rod Laver Arena.
Sinner plays big-serving Eliot Spizzirri, the 85th-ranked American, next as he pursues a Melbourne Park hat-trick. Should he win three titles in a row in Melbourne, Sinner would join Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era (since 1968) to do so.
“Every match is very difficult, so very happy to be in the next round. Very happy with my performance,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. Addressing the crowd, he said: “You have been very fair to me, so thank you very much for the support. “I feel I am in good shape at the moment,” he added.