By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 27, 2020
Early in the third set, David Goffin had seen enough, but Jannik Sinner was just getting tuned up.
An explosive Sinner slashed a running backhand winner around the net post leaving a dazed Goffin lunging in vain at the shot.
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In a dynamic debut, Sinner streaked through 11 straight games dismissing Goffin 7-5, 6-0, 6-3 charging through his first Roland Garros win.
It was a historic match—the first main-draw match ever played beneath the closed Court Philippe Chatrier roof—and Sinner showed his skills disarming one of the game’s most precise counter-puncher with ease.
"The first set was very tight, a lot of breaks of serve, and it was like the key to manage to win quite easily the service game," Sinner said. "In the beginning, that was not easy. He was returning well. I was not serving that well.
"But the balls here are very heavy. The court was heavy. It was not easy. But at the end, when you win the first set and go up a break, so it's a little bit easier to play.I mean, he's top-15 player, top-10 player, so you always have to be focused. I tried to do that, and today it worked."
In a match played amid heavy conditions, Sinner's weight of shot was a major difference today.
A superb Sinner struck from all areas of the court wrapping a running backhand around the net post, pulling off a spinning half-volley and repeatedly victimizing the Belgian with forehand drives that sometimes kicked up puffs of red clay. Sinner's heavier forehand—and his willingness to change direction and drive the ball down the line—helped him break open the match.
"I felt comfortable on court trying to go with the backhand a little bit more down the line and to open the court a little bit. And I think that was the key," Sinner said. "And trying tomove him. I'm trying to mix a little bit the ball. But I don't think there was like one key. It was a tennis match at the end.
"He maybe didn't felt that well on court. I felt well. I was not thinking about 11 games to 0, because it can, the things can change quite quickly, especially against the top guys, you know. I feel one or two games, they are there. Then maybe you go to the fourth set or five sets. I have just been trying to be focused."
The explosive Italian beat Goffin for the second time this season—following his victory in Rotterdam last February—and scored his fourth career Top 20 victory. Sinner stopped Stefano Tsitsipas in Rome earlier this month and spent much of his first French Open match cracking shots in the corners and stretching Goffin converting seven of 11 break-point chances.
It was the third opening-round exit in nine appearances in Paris for Goffin, who fell to Novak Djokovic in the 2013 first round and lost to former semifinalist Jurgen Melzer in his 2014 opener.
The first 10 games of the match featured quality ball striking from both men. Then Sinner elevated his game to places Goffin could not match.
The 29-year-old Goffin, who took a set off 12-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal in the third round last year, has practiced with Sinner frequently and knew exactly what he was in for before stepping on court. Goffin conceded he couldn't match Sinner's energy or shotmaking today.
"Of course, I knew it was going to be a difficult match. I know how he's playing," Goffin said. "I know the level he can have. We practiced a few times. We practiced a lot. I know how well he can play.
"But even if he played well today, I mean, it was not a good match, of course, on my side. It's tough to lose a match like that, but it's a great player. When I saw that I was playing against him first round, I knew it was going to be tough, especially on the first round when you have no rhythm, I didn't have a win on the clay. Not easy, no."
The world No. 74, who has hit with 12-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal and two-time Roland Garros runner-up Dominic Thiem in practice, dictated play with authority after squeezing through a tight opening set.
Sinner drew Goffin forward with a drop shot then spun a crosscourt forehand that rattled the Belgian’s racquet for set point. When Goffin scattered a backhand down the line wide, Sinner had the opening set.
Though Goffin guarded the baseline zealously and frequently took the ball earlier, the pace of Sinner’s shot and those running forehand strikes empowered him to a one-set lead.
Dodging trouble to start the second set, Sinner went right back to work on the Belgian’s serve. Scorching a running backhand down the line off the sideline, Sinner gained a break point and snapped off a smash to break for a 2-0 second-set lead.
Seventy-five minutes into the match, the teenager extended his lead to a set and a double break at 4-0.
Former ATP Finals finalist Goffin could not gain traction against the Italian’s power and shotmaking. Sinner streaked through his eighth straight game sealing the second set at love.
Four games into the third set, Sinner unleashed a jaw-dropping running backhand winner around the net post into the corner of the court. Goffin shook it off finally holding to snap an 11-game slide and get on the board at 1-3 of the third set.
Sinner served out the match at 15 closing a commanding performance one minute shy of two hours. A dazzling debut could be the start of big things for Sinner, who will face French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi for a spot in the third round.