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Jannik Sinner is 12-0 in 2024! The Italian conquered his first Major crown at the Australian Open and backed it with the ATP 500 crown in Rotterdam on Sunday. Jannik took down his great friend Alex de Minaur in the title clash, prevailing 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes and remaining perfect against the Aussie.
De Minaur lost his seventh consecutive match against Sinner, joking and saying he no longer likes him. Jannik has been on a role after last year's US Open, winning 32 out of 34 matches and lifting four ATP titles and the Davis Cup crown.
The Italian notched his 15th straight win in the Rotterdam final, struggling a bit on the second serve and defending four out of six break points.
The better-ranked player earned eight break points, seizing four and emerging over the top in straight sets after taking three points more than his rival. Sinner landed 23 winners and 26 unforced errors, spraying errors but overpowering de Minaur in the pivotal moments.
They served well early on before Jannik stepped in on the return at 2-2.
Alex de Minaur joked with his good friend Jannik Sinner after the Rotterdam final.
De Minaur went for a drop shot, but it did not cross the net, losing serve and falling 3-2 behind.
Sinner confirmed the advantage with a backhand crosscourt winner in the sixth game and opened a 5-3 lead with another fine hold, forcing his rival to serve to stay in the set. Alex grabbed the ninth game, reducing the deficit and defending four set points on the return in the next one!
It was one of Sinner's rare loss of focus this season, facing two break points and getting broken after a thrilling rally, finishing on the ground and bringing de Minaur back to 5-5. Jannik recovered instantly, extending the 11th game with a backhand winner and seizing the second break point with another backhand winner that sent him 6-5 in front.
The Italian wrapped up the opener with a service winner in game 12, forging the advantage after over an hour. Sinner saved two break points at 1-2 in the second set, keeping his serve intact and erasing de Minaur's game points in the next one.
Jannik earned three break points and seized the last after Alex's forehand error, moving a set and a break up. Eager to extend his chances, the Aussie pulled the break back at 15 in game six, landing a winner at the net and locking the result at 3-3.
De Minaur could not gain a boost from that, netting a backhand in the seventh game and suffering another break that pushed Sinner closer to the finish line. Jannik grabbed the eighth game at 30 and served for his 12th ATP title at 5-4.
An in-form youngster painted a forehand crosscourt winner for two match points and clinched the first with a service winner, celebrating the title and remaining perfect in 2024.