Jannik Sinner has still not dropped a set at the 2024 Australian Open after sweeping aside Sebastian Baez in straight sets.
The Italian has made great progress since the closing months of last season. He won a maiden Masters 1000 title and was the runner-up at the ATP Finals. Mats Wilander recently discussed his most improved shot in recent months.
He showed those developments in his opening two rounds in Melbourne. This included a spectacular win for Sinner in the second round against Jesper De Jong. But the 22-year-old was even better in this contest with Baez.
Sinner dominated from the outset, and did not drop a single game in the opening set. Baez won just 31% of points on his first serve and 28% behind his second delivery. The Argentine did not place his serves as well as he can, but Sinner was returning phenomenally.
The Toronto Masters champion did have to fend off some pressure on his serve, with Baez returning better than he was serving, but Sinner saved all three break points he faced to go 6-0 up.
Things only got marginally better for Baez in the second set. He did at least get on the scoreboard by holding serve to make it 1-1, but that was as good as it got for the 23-year-old, and the Sinner domination began again.
Baez was landing a lot of first serves in the second set, and won over 60% of points when he found it. However, Sinner was utterly devastating when he got a look at a second serve, and incredibly, Baez won 0% of points on the second serve in the set. Sinner took it 6-1.
The third set was the most competitive. To Baez's credit, he did not give up and hit a few blistering forehands for the crowd to enjoy at the Margaret Court Arena.
In truth, though, Sinner was never in any danger and continued to hit winners from all over the court. Breaks of serve in the fifth and ninth games gave him the set and sealed a dominant 6-0 6-1 6-3 win.
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