By Courtney Walsh
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Jannik Sinner will leave Melbourne in a positive frame of mind despite receiving a lesson from Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open quarter-final on Wednesday.
The Italian had dropped only one set on the way to his first quarter-final appearance at Melbourne Park, but was outclassed by world number four Tsitsipas when he was beaten 6-3 6-4 6-2 in just over two hours.
The 20-year-old Sinner conceded his rival did everything better, despite his best efforts to change strategy when attempting to unsettle the rhythm of Tsitsipas.
“He served better. He moved the ball better than me. He was moving better than me,” he said.
“It’s tough to play against him, especially when he plays like this. I couldn’t generate the power that I would have wanted.
“I was trying to move him, but I was maybe a little bit too far back, because he played incredible today. I know that I have to improve many, many things, and this, for me today, was a lesson.”
Against Australian Alex de Minaur in the fourth round, Sinner was in complete control. The ease of his power was a feature, so too his command of the court. The 11th seed rarely looked hurried.
But it was a different story against Tsitsipas, who harried him from the opening game with brilliant serving and aggressive shot making.
Sinner believes the experience in Melbourne, where he reached the second Grand Slam quarter-final of his career from just eight attempts, will help him take the next step in his career.
“Of course it is a positive tournament,” he said.
“I have to improve (my) tennis in general. I have to serve better. I have to do everything (better), especially when you play against the best guys.
“My goal is to play many matches like this, important matches against the best guys in the world, and then … I grow. Let’s see, next year, what I do here.”
(Reporting by Courtney Walsh; editing by Christian Radnedge)
