Jannik Sinner, the second seed at the Monte Carlo Masters, navigated a tough three-set battle against Tomas Machac to advance to the quarterfinals. The world No. 2 triumphed 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-3 in a match lasting just over two hours on the picturesque Court Rainier. The Czech qualifier pushed Sinner hard, but the Italian’s experience prevailed.
From the outset, Sinner asserted dominance, breaking Machac repeatedly to seize the first set convincingly. The second frame saw Sinner falter; unforced errors crept in, allowing Machac to surge ahead. Sinner clawed back to force a tiebreak, only for Machac to capitalize and force a third set.
‘I wouldn’t call this my finest hour, but getting the win is what matters,’ Sinner said afterward. ‘I was dealing with some fatigue, but I stayed mentally tough.’ The decider belonged to Sinner, who dialed up the intensity, breaking serve decisively for a 6-3 finish.
Sinner highlighted adaptability: ‘Tennis has ups and downs. When you’re not at 100%, you grind it out.’ His stats underscored the edge: five aces, 72% first-serve success, 7/11 break points saved and converted, outscoring Machac 92-72 overall.
With the quarters beckoning, Sinner eyes recovery ahead of facing Felix Auger-Aliassime. ‘I’ll focus on rest to peak for the next round,’ he added. This gritty win boosts Sinner’s clay season momentum, reminding fans why he’s a title contender in Monte Carlo.
