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Jannik Sinner is the ATP 500 Rotterdam champion! The Italian confirmed his status as the world's best player in the last couple of months, extending his great run and gaining a boost ahead of Indian Wells and Miami. Jannik is 32-2 after the US Open, winning four ATP titles and the Davis Cup, losing only to Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic!
Sinner claimed his 12th ATP title in Rotterdam and the third in a row at the ATP 500 level after Beijing and Vienna in the closing stages of 2023. Jannik faced Alex de Minaur in Sunday's final and prevailed 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes, notching his 15th consecutive victory.
Jannik served at 56% and faced six break points after struggling behind the second serve.
He saved four, reducing the deficit in his games and making the difference with four return games on his tally from eight chances.
They had a similar number of service winners, and Sinner tamed his strokes more efficiently, although claiming only three points more than his rival. De Minaur forced Sinner's mistake in the first game of the encounter, and the Italian leveled the score at 1-1 with a service winner in the next one.
They served well in games three and four before Jannik elevated his pace on the return at 2-2. Alex faced a break point and lost serve when his drop shot failed to pass the net. The Australian Open champion cemented the break with a crafty backhand crosscourt winner in the sixth game, settling into a fine rhythm.
Jannik Sinner claimed his first Rotterdam title over Alex de Minaur.
World no. 4 produced a comfortable hold in the eighth game, forcing de Minaur's mistake and moving 5-3 in front. Sinner served for the opener at 5-4 and squandered four set points in a rare loose moment in 2024.
The Aussie seized the second break point after an entertaining rally, sending his rival to the ground and locking the result at 5-5. Jannik left the setback behind and extended the 11th game with a backhand crosscourt winner.
The Italian painted a backhand down the line winner on the second break point, moving 6-5 in front and serving for the set for the second time. Sinner fired a powerful serve on a set point, wrapping up the opener 7-5 after 64 minutes.
Jannik denied two break points in the fourth game of the second set and stole the rival's serve in the next one. De Minaur squandered multiple game points and netted a routine forehand on the third break point to find himself a set and a break down.
Alex recovered promptly and broke back at 15 in game six with a winner at the net, improving his chances. Instead of building on that, the Aussie netted a backhand in the seventh game, experiencing another break and pushing the Italian closer to the finish line.
Sinner held at 30 in the eighth game and served for the title at 5-4. World no. 4 fired a forehand crosscourt winner for two match points and seized the first with a service winner to celebrate the second title from as many tournaments in 2024.