French Open: Sublime Sinner, raging Rublev – Times of India

No. 2 seed from Italy wins with ease; Russian falls to Arnaldi
PARIS: Jannik Sinner is aiming for two triumphs from a single strike — a second Grand Slam title that would pivot him to the world No.1 ranking by the end of the Roland Garros fortnight.

The 22-year-old Italian, the French Open’s second seed, is keeping it real though, returning as he is from a hip injury.

In his third-round clash against Russian Pavel Kotov, a sparkling ball striker, the Italian sealed a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win, his third successive straight-set result here.

Sinner faced just one break point in the two-hour 27-minute match and needed just one break in each set to move into the fourth round.

So convincing was Sinner, in court coverage and craft, showing no signs of the hip injury that had temporarily derailed his clay court schedule, that the conversation smudged lines, going beyond the rectangle.

Former pro Fabrice Santoro asked Sinner for fashion advice during the post-match interaction.

The world No.2, with flaming curls for a crown, has been gracing as many fashion magazines as sports’ covers.

“I am not good with fashion guys, they give me things to wear, and I wear it,” Sinner said. “I try to look good, sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not.”

Sinner has been quite the presence around the grounds this week between the chalked lines and in the stands, watching girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya’s matches.

On a rain-hit Thursday, the No.23rd seed went down in three sets to good-friend Bianca Andreescu. Sinner was at courtside to watch the fourth match on Court 5 which ended late in the evening.

On Friday, in the fourth round, Sinner, who was cheered by Kalinskaya, ripped 33 winners.

“Tennis-wise I felt quite good today on court. Physically I feel like I still have to improve a couple of things,” Sinner said.

“It’s very important to rest, especially tomorrow. I’m trying to be ready for the next round. It’s a very physical Grand Slam, so every single situation on the court, I try to judge it in a positive way. There are tough moments on the court, but you have to accept it and see the general side.”

Rublev self-destructs:
Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev bowed out in the third round of the French Open after another meltdown.

Italian Matteo Arnaldi, ranked No. 35, sealed a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, 6-4 win over the Russian.

Rublev, 26, who has anger issues, had an incident earlier in the year in February, when he was defaulted.

The world No.6 showed signs of agitation at the end of the first set, but in the fifth and sixth games of the second set, he erupted, and it wasn’t a pretty sight.

Rublev said he was disappointed with the way he had behaved.

“I had a lot of opportunities (in the match), but I didn’t make it,” the world No.6 said. “Then in one moment, I lost it when I had so many chances to come back, to lead again or to take the lead, and I didn’t make it, I didn’t make it, I didn’t make it.”

“I was keeping it all inside,” he said, “when I lose the break a second time in the second set, I lose it completely.”