Sinner extends win streak over Italians to 18

Jannik Sinner added a new name to his ATP hit list as he recovered from a below-average second set to beat compatriot Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 7-6 (4) on Thursday for a place in the ATP Vienna quarter-finals.

The top-seed from his country’s German-speaking alpine north has never lost to a compatriot in the Tour and made Cobolli his 18th victim.

He’s one of the few Italians I’ve never played,” the winner said after struggling to gain the edge in a tight second set.

“He’s playing an incredible season, I was looking forward to this match. We both played some great tennis at times.”

The 2023 champion in the Austrian capital where he admits he feels most at home, rolled through the first set but needed a late opening in the depths of the second to advance with a service winner on match point.

Victory in almost two hours featured just 14 winners but 29 unforced errors from the world No. 2, with Sinner never facing a break point.

“I had chances in the second set, but I couldn’t use them,” Sinner said.

“But I stayed in the moment and played with a great mentality. I’m satisfied but I don’t take anything for granted. 

‘I’m just happy to be here and play the best tennis that I can.”

Sinner moved into his 40th career hard-court quarter-final as he won his 18th straight indoor match – his last loss coming in early 2023.