World No. 2 Jannik Sinner advances in Australian Open as opponent retires hurt in first round
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Italy’s world No. 2 Jannik Sinner consoling Hugo Gaston of France after the Frenchman decided to retire from their first-round match at the Australian Open on Jan 20.
PHOTO: AFP
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MELBOURNE – Jannik Sinner strolled into the second round of the Australian Open on Jan 20, when his opponent retired with the two-time defending champion in full control.
The Italian second seed led 6-2, 6-1 when France’s Hugo Gaston called it quits with an apparent injury after 68 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.
Sinner will face Australian wild card James Duckworth next.
“I saw that he was not serving at pace, especially in the second set. It’s not the way you want to win the match, but he’s such a talented player,” said the 24-year-old star.
“He has incredible touch. Moving very, very well. So I knew from the beginning I had to play a very high-level tennis. Trying to be as aggressive as possible which I’ve done.
“I’m very happy to be back here. It’s a very special place for me. The atmosphere is amazing.”
Sinner had made a sticky start, falling 40-0 down on his serve in the first game of the match, before rattling off three aces to hold.
It was about the only blip, as he quickly found his devastating range to assert his authority over the 93rd-ranked Frenchman.
Sinner, who comfortably defeated Alexander Zverev in the 2025 final
The 25-year-old Gaston had brief treatment between sets from the trainer, and when they resumed Sinner tightened his grip on the contest.
The Italian romped through the second set and Gaston shook hands.
Should he win three titles in a row at Melbourne Park, he would join Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to do so.
“Honestly I felt very well-prepared,” added Sinner, who was playing his first official match since beating great rival Carlos Alcaraz for the 2025 ATP Finals crown
“We worked a lot physically (in pre-season). Also on the court too. I had one great match with Felix (Auger-Aliassime) even if it’s an exhibition, we went full.
“Official matches are always very different. Very happy how I started off today. Of course a bit of tension but now it’s time to enjoy. All the hard work is done. We practise for moments like this. I’m very happy to be back.”
Meanwhile, French entertainer Gael Monfils was bundled out of the first round in a brave farewell to a tournament he has lit up so many times.
The 39-year-old, one of the most colourful and popular players in men’s tennis, battled all the way but Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny prevailed 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 in an epic lasting nearly four hours.
There was an on-court presentation and standing ovation afterwards for Monfils, who said: “Somehow it is the finish line, but thank you so much for an amazing ride.
“I have a lot of great memories here.”
Monfils, who has won 13 ATP titles in a career stretching back to 2004, said in October that this year would be his last in tennis.
In another match, American eighth seed Ben Shelton relied on his power and tiebreak prowess to beat Ugo Humbert 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5) in an engrossing battle of left-handers to book a second-round clash against Sweeny.
Shelton, who lost to Sinner in this event’s semi-finals a year ago, blasted through the first set but the Frenchman fought back in the second and third sets to force tiebreaks.
But that was where the American prevailed, counting on his experience from last season when he was involved in eight tiebreaks in six matches at Melbourne Park.
“I thought that I just played two great tiebreakers. I’ve played a lot of tiebreakers here, a lot of experience, and I think that helped me a lot today,” said the world No. 7. AFP, REUTERS
