ROMA – Janik Thinner is still focusing on tennis courts after a three-month ban on doping.
World No. 1 overcame a brief lapse in the first set of a 6-4, 6-2 victory in the second match on the tour in front of the home crowd at the Italian Open on Monday.
Thinner jumped out to 4-1, but lost his serve twice as De Jung evenly evenly the set at 4-4.
There were poor drop shots, inappropriate double faults, and other errors from the sinner. However, he regained control with strong ground strokes and big serves, expanding his winning streak, dating back to October to 23 games.
“I felt like I started the game very well and then I made a big drop,” Thinner said. “I tried to understand what was going on, and fortunately, I broke him four times again.
Thinner became the final 16 of his first tournament since winning his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
In February, the sinner agreed to a three-month ban on a settlement with the world’s anti-doping agency, which raised several questions, as he failed to miss the Grand Slam and returned to the home tournament.
The Italian opening is the last major warm-up before the French opening begins on May 25th.
Just as he opened Mariano Navone on Saturday, italico fans, the first place in Italy, were the first Italian fans.
Crying “Vai Jannik” (“Go Jannik”), singing his name, the crowd offered encouragement whenever the sinner needed it.
“It’s good to get him back,” No. 12 Tommy Paul said of the sinner after beating Thomas Machuk 6-3, 6-7 (5) and 6-4. “He’s a big guy in sports. He’s setting the bar right now.”
The last Italian to win the Rome title was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
The sinner is then faced with 17th seed Francisco Selundro, who defeated Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 6-4.
Cerundolo left Madrid’s run to the Open Semi-finals and defeated last year’s Rome finalist Nicolas Jarry in a straight set in the opening round.
“The last time I played here, I lost to him here at this court,” said Thinner, referring to Cerundolo’s three set losses two years ago in the 16th round. “It’s going to be tough. Certainly, if I want to play, I have to level up myself. …I’m trying to understand where my game is, so it’s going to be a good challenge, it’s going to be a good test for me.”
De Jung fell into clay when he lost his leg trying to reach a passing shot from Thinner in the second set, and the sinner stumbles into the net to check him out. The sinner acquired a towel for De Jung and wiped off the Dutchman racket handle.
De Jung needed to see a doctor on his right wrist before he resumed playing.
Also, it was Alex de Minaurus, the seventh seed, who defeated Bolivian qualifier Hugo Delien in a match that was suspended twice in the first set.
De Minaur was visibly annoyed by the overpass.
“It broke quickly so I didn’t handle it very well,” De Minaur said. “I did well to bounce back and get the break back, but I have to be a little mentally good to not let those things go. External factors affect me.”
In the 16-person women’s round, Coco Gauff routed Emma Radukanu 6-1, 6-2 in a matchup between the former US Open Championship.
Payton Stearns eliminated Naomi Osaka 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) two hours later, 41 minutes later. Stearns also closed Australian Open Champion Madison Keys with a tiebreaker in the third set in a previous match.
Also, home favourite Jasmine Paolini reached the quarterfinals, beating 2017 French Open champion Jerena Osta Penco 7-5, 6-2.