An underdone Jannik Sinner dipped into his reserves to start his Madrid Masters with a 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-4 win as hot rival Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the rest of the spring clay season.

Sinner had a handful with French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi, finally advancing to the third round after a bye in just under two and a half hours.

News of the Alcaraz pullout from Rome and Roland Garros due to a wrist injury came mid-match.

Sinner is playing for history, trying to become the first to win five straight Masters 1000 titles. The 24-year-old Italian extended his current season win streak to 18 matches while winning his 23rd in a row at Masters tournaments dating to Paris last November. 

Sinner admitted that defeating Bondi on the high-altitude (670 metres above sea level) was difficult while he was not on his own top form.

“I struggled quite a lot here, it was tough,” the winner said. “But I knew this (would be the case) before the match

“This is a unique court and conditions. Every day is different and can make a big difference. We can improve slightly for the next round.

Sinner advanced with 10 aces and three breaks of serve from 13 chances.

“I stayed calm mentally, that’ is why I won today,” he said. “I have a day off tomorrow so there is time to improve.”

The Italian said he is trying to avoid thinking of any possible record-setting.

“I’m just trying to figure out how to play here, going one day at a time.

“Of course I know what is on the line but I don’t focus on that.”

Sinner dropped the opening set in a tiebreaker to Bonzi, missing his chance on a set point.

But the top seeded world No. 1 overcame physical difficulties and found his range, sweeping the second set as his opponent received a medical time out to start the third.

Sinner broke for 3-2 in the deciding set and finished off with a  drop shot winner.

Hot-headed Nick Kyrgios will skip the French Open for the ninth time in his chequered career, with the now-part-timer vowing to take another crack at Wimbledon.

The 30-year-old, once notorious as the foul-mouthed bad boy of the ATP, has gone quiet in recent seasons as his career trailed off due to injury, a 2023 wrist operation and what some see as a lack of desire to compete at the elite level.

The Australian who played the 2022 Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, , has made just two Grand Slam appearances in the four intervening years.

With his current ranking flirting with the 1,000 mark, Kyrgios will need either a wild card or qualifying rounds to secure his first place at the All England Club since 2022.

The Kyrgios disdain for clay is evident, with the Aussie last competing at Roland Garros nine years ago; in five previous entries, he never advanced past the third round.

Kyrgios detailed his rough-draft schedule to Britain’s Tennishead: “The clay court and I have an interesting relationship—maybe not this year, but next year is a possibility.

“I’m working toward Wimbledon and will be playing in Stuttgart and Mallorca this June. I can’t wait to be back on the grass playing some really, really high-level tennis.”

Kyrgios opened up a bit more to the Good Trouble podcast:  “All I do now is play for the fans.”I still have a massive following. 

“Now, I just enjoy going out there for the fans and putting on a crazy show, seeing the kids out there, that’s basically why I’m playing now.

Main photo:-Wimbledon 2022 Novak Djokovic beat Nick Kyrgios in Mens Singles Final – Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Novak Djokovic is playing tennis on his own terms in 2006, with the 37-year-old happy to pick and choose his events as a record-breaking career winds down.

Djokovic will be back on court at the Indian Wells Masters, his first event since losing the Australian Open final in January to Carlos Alcaraz after defeating Jannik Sinner in the semis.

The five-time champion won three trophies on the trot from 2014-2016 sounded happy to be back in a comfortable and familiar setting in the Californian desert.

“My logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and also motivation to do that,” he said.

“Schedule is unclear; it revolves mostly around Slams. I pick and choose where I want to play. It’s not just from a tennis standpoint but also emotionally, whatever it is that inspires me to come.”

The Serb with 24 GrandSlam titles added: “Indian Wells has been always a location that I was really happy to come back to in a tournament that I really love playing.

“I haven’t had great results and performances in the last 10 years, but in the first 10 years of my career, this was one of my best tournaments.

“I really enjoy the thrill of competition. I enjoy still getting out there in front of the
fans and really being competitive.”

The ATP No. 3 said he sees no signs yet of slowing. “No. 3 is no so bad in erms of ranking and results and performances.

“I’m still competitive. I still have that edge, and I’ll keep on
going as long as I feel like it.”