Jannik Sinner made a lightning-fast start to his Italian Open 2023 campaign, breezing past the 6-1, 6-4 to reach the third round at the ATP Masters 1000 event, here on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A near-complete performance from the World No. 8 featured precise serving, fierce baseline hitting and high-class net play, and he wrapped victory in 79-minutes at the Foro Italico to improve to 13-3 at Masters 1000 level for the year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm happy about my level today," said Sinner, who did not face a break point and converted three of five of his own against Kokkinakis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It was not easy. It was a little bit breezy, a little bit windy and I think he especially in the second set served a little bit better. I also had a couple of chances then which I didn't use, but I'm very happy about my serve, I felt the ball very well," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sinner arrived in Rome having reached the championship match in Miami either side of semi-final runs in Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo, a sequence of Masters 1000 performances that have lifted the 21-year-old to fifth in the ATP Live Race To Turin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Italian feels ready to impress at home as he seeks another deep run to boost his early Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It is a very special feeling, especially here in Rome, trying to be an example for the young kids," said Sinner, when asked about his vocal young fans in the crowd.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Also spending a little bit of time with them, which is important, to show them the love. It is just a very special tournament for me. I only have this kind of crowd once a year, or twice a year if I qualify for Turin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That's obviously my goal, and I am also trying to go deep here in Rome, but I take it match after match. I feel ready to compete, but let's see in the next round because it is going to be a tough one," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n