Jannik Sinner survived another opening round scare in China just days after losing in the Beijing final to Carlos Alcaraz.
Despite his unbeaten streak from the Cincinnati open finally halted, Jannik Sinner remains stoically committed to winning both elegantly and ugly.
Facing Tomas Etcheverry, the world number one lost just his second tiebreak out of his last 20 to be pegged back.
Grinding out the big points at the most opportune moments is what has separated the Italian from the rest of the pack this year.
It feels as if pressure is somewhat of a privilege for Sinner, with the two-time Grand Slam winner making such a clinical and disciplined habit of thriving under it.
His Argentinian opponent played one of the best sets of his life and yet still only got through the opener by a whisker.
Jannik Sinner admits ‘tough’ battle against Tomas Etcheverry
With Etcheverry forced to play his very best for the first hour, the gulf between the two became absolutely clear the moment he won it.
No stranger to the top of the ATP, the 25-year-old has been ranked as high as 27th and currently sits just six places off that best.
Sinner’s ability to keep his level and capitalise when Etcheverry wobbled was the difference in what was a gruelling opener, just days after the Italian’s marathon final defeat in the capital.
“I felt like it was a tough set that I lost,” Sinner confessed on-court. “I had chances.. but you know, these things can happen.
“He played a very very great tiebreak. I had to accept it and restart from zero. It was a tough match physically and also mentally. I’m very happy that I’m through this one. Let’s see what’s coming.”
It’s worth mentioning too however, Etcheverry’s opening round win was the longest match in Shanghai Masters history as he defeated Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in three hours and 43 minutes.
Who is up next for Jannik Sinner in Shanghai?
Sinner will face either Roberto Carballes Baena or America’s Ben Shelton, fresh off a failed title defense in Tokyo.
If he is to face the young American, it would be a narrative-heavy rematch of last year’s fourth-round clash, which Shelton won in a last gasp third-set tie-break.
Having faced the world number 16 three times since however, Sinner has notched up a sizeable 3-1 lead in their overall head-to-head.
The world number one is also unbeaten against Spain’s Carballes Baena having defeated him twice in their previous meetings, both in 2022.
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