Sinner makes winning start as world No. 1

Jannik Sinner got away to a fighback 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2  win on Tuesday to open his grass season with his first match as world No. 1 at the Halle Grass event.

The first Italian to top the ATP table held off Dutchman Talon Griekspoor in a battle lasting for nearly two and a half hours.

Sinner’s first grass outing of the summer proved to be a vital test, with the top seed proud of his comeback effort.

 The win featured a spectacular shot sequence midway through the second set, with Sinner slipping, recovering, changing directions and getting to the ball for a winner which concluded with a diving roll to break Griekspoor for a 4-2 lead.

“I was running a little bit to the right and to the left trying to get to the ball.” he said. “I don;t know how I made that shot.

“But I wanted to make him play one more ball and put him under pressure. I got confidence after breaking him for the first time, I knew I could do it again.”

Sinner defeated Griekspoor for the fifth time and has never lost to Dutch opponents in eight career matches.

The 22-year-old Australian Open champion broke twice in the third set as he completed his turnaround with 43 winners while fighting off four break points.

“For sure it was mentally tough when I led 5-1 in the first-set tiebreaker, he said. “But this can happen on this surface, things can go every fast.

“I was good mentally but it was a struggle, it’s all about trying to get the confidence back on grass.

“Hopefully I can show some better tennis in the next round.”

Sinner said he is physically fine and is having no more problems with his hip.

“This tournament believed in me five years ago by giving me a wild card. This is a special occasion for me.”