Sinner zaps Zizou for 2nd straight indoor win

Jannik Sinner fought off Zizou Bergs in a 12-minute opening game before establishing rhythm at the Paris Masters to earn his 22nd straight indoor hardcourt win on Wednesday.

The Italian world No. 2 produced a 6-4, 6-2 result after getting through a 51-minute opening set and sprinting away with the second.

The 24-year-old has become title favourite here after top seed Carlos Alcaraz exited on Tuesday in an opening-match shock loss to Britain’s Cam Norrie.

Sinner can take back the world No. 1 ranking – temporarily, it seems – from the Spaniard if he wins the title on Sunday.

The top seed has previously come up short indoors in the capital, managing only one match win from three previous editions.

He now hits the third round with a wave of late-season momentum and will next take on Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.

“I always struggle a bit here,” Sinner said. “I’m  happy to win my first match. I’m happy with how I served, it was very precise.

“Starting with a break of serve gives you confidence, there was not a lot of rhythm in the match, but I’m happy about today’s performance.”

Sinner and Bergs duelled in the marathon opening game of the afternoon, which only ended after seven deuces as the Belgian dropped serve.

Sinner then took flight on his way to victory as he worked to duplicate his Vienna title from three days ago.

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner beating Zizou Bergs at La Defense – by Corinne Dubreuil/ATPTour.com