Sinner Shines In Roland Garros Opener

Jannik Sinner was ruthlessly efficient in his first-round win at Roland Garros on Monday evening.

The Italian cruised past home favourite Alexandre Muller 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the second round at the clay-court major for the fourth straight year. Sinner has never fallen short of the fourth round in three previous appearances in Paris.

The eighth seed hit 30 winners and saved the two break points he faced to defeat Muller on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Next up will be German Daniel Altmaier, who eliminated Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Sinner will be plenty familiar with Altmaier, who at last year’s US Open pushed him to five sets in a three-hour, 35-minute tussle. The Italian will try to keep his opponent’s aggressive one-handed backhand at bay.

In other action late in the day, #NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche ousted 2018 Roland Garros semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. It was the 19-year-old’s main draw debut at this event after losing in the first round of qualifying in each of the past two years.

The teen won the Roland Garros boys’ singles title two years ago. The player he defeated in the final, Arthur Fils, claimed his first ATP Tour trophy on Saturday in Lyon, but was unable to advance in Paris. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 29th seed, defeated Fils 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to set a second-round clash with Van Assche.