(Paris) World No.2 Jannik Sinner, candidate for the title at Roland-Garros, but hampered in recent weeks by a hip injury, reassured himself by qualifying for the 2e round by easily beating 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 the American Christopher Eubanks (46e), Monday.
The 22-year-old Italian did not seem to feel any physical discomfort for his entry into the competition, returning to competition after almost a month of absence and his withdrawal in the quarter-final of the Masters 1000 in Madrid against the Canadian Félix Auger -Aliassime.
He went the distance during the rare rallies he had to do and was able to set the pace in the match, often outflanking his opponent who had no solution to annoy him, during the first two rounds. The third set was slightly closer, with Eubanks getting two break points at 5-4. But Sinner was able to quickly tighten things up, finally winning in 2 hours 08 minutes.
Irresistible on hard surface at the start of the year, with three titles won including a first major coronation at the Australian Open and the Masters 1000 in Miami, Sinner then reached the semi-final at the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas blocking his path before winning the tournament for the third time.
Injured in Madrid, the Italian was then forced to give up the Masters 1000 in Rome to receive treatment for Roland-Garros, where he has never yet made it past the quarter-finals.
His next opponent will be French veteran Richard Gasquet (124e), fifteen years his senior, winner the day before of the Croatian Borna Coric.