Sinner stumbles into first Paris quarter-final

Jannik Sinner earned a laboured victory into his first quarter-final at the Paris Masters on Thursday, with the top seed scraping out a 7-5, 6-1 defeat of Francisco Cerundolo.

World No. 2 Sinner’s somewhat listless opening set contrasted with the second, where he managed a double break, earning tow match points on a lucky net cord bounce which caught his Argentine opponent flat-footed as it sailed over his head.

The Italian closed it out moments later with a service winner to move into a last-eight test against Ben Shelton, who defeated Andrey Rublev 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Sinner’s game looked on the brink in the opening set, which featured four consecutive breaks of serve with the seed shaky on his forehand and listless from his usual energy level.

Cerundolo missed his chance to move the opener it into a tiebreaker, missing a drop shot to trail 5-6 before Sinner served out the set.

The Italian broke it open in the second set to complete his career matched set of nine Masters 1000 last-eight places.

Sinner also extended his unbeaten streak indoors, clinching his 23rd on the trot.

It was very difficult, I was glad to win in two sets,” Sinner said, adding that he had slept poorly the night before.

“I will be very focused for tomorrow. I need to recover physically but I’ll be ready.”

Friday opponent Shelton stands 1-6 in his series with Sinner, winning their first meeting two years ago before losing the next six, including the last two Wimbledons and this year’s Australian Open.