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Jannik Sinner admitted it was difficult for him to play Taro Daniel because he didn't know that much about his opponent. Sinner entered the match as the big favorite but Daniel competed extremely well. However, SInner escaped a shock loss as he beat Daniel 6-4 1-6 6-3 6-1 to reach the Australian Open round-of-16.
“I am very happy about my match wins [this week],” Sinner said in his post-match press conference, per the ATP website. “But talking about the match today, it was a tough match for me. I didn’t know him very well.
I started well but after that I made a couple of unforced errors and he raised his level, not missing many balls in the second set. It was not the most clinical performance but I am through into the second week”.
Sinner bounced back after the second set
Sinner started the match with back-to-back breaks and a 3-0 lead.
Daniel quickly bounced back from a terrible start to the match as he responded with back-to-back breaks to level the set at three games apiece. Sinner kept his focus as he broke Daniel again in the seventh game and served out for the first set in the 10th game.
After winning the first set, Sinner had a chance to start the second set with a break but Daniel saved a break point in the opening game of the set. Daniel then claimed back-to-back breaks and took a 5-0 lead before serving out for the second set in the seventh game.
Sinner failed to convert a break point in the second game of the third set but broke Daniel in the eighth game and served out for the set in the following game. Daniel's game completely fell apart after losing the third set as Sinner earned three breaks in the fourth set to book a place in the round-of-16.
Sinner plays home favorite Alex de Minaur in his next match at Melbourne Park. Sinner has been through to the Australian Open round-of-16 for the first time in his career.