Jannik Sinner claimed his first Major victory as world no. 1 at Wimbledon, defeating Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 58 minutes on Court 1. Jannik reached the Wimbledon semi-final a year ago, falling to Novak Djokovic and hoping for an even better run in the next two weeks, especially after conquering the ATP 500 crown in Halle.
The Italian fired 16 aces and outplayed the German behind the first serve. Sinner faced issues in his games in sets two and three, playing against 11 break points and getting broken two times in the third set. Hanfmann claimed it but could not force a decider, offering Sinner five break points and hitting the exit door after losing serve four times.
Yannick fought well against the world’s best player, hitting 44 winners and 38 unforced errors. Jannik tamed his strokes more efficiently, notching 47 direct points and 30 unforced mistakes.
Sinner grabbed the first game of the encounter after a deuce with a powerful serve, and Hanfmann responded with a fine hold in the next one for 1-1.
The German forced another deuce on the return in game three before Jannik brought it home. Yannick denied a break point in the fourth game with a service winner and wrapped it up with a touchy volley winner that locked them at 2-2.
Sinner made another push on the return in the sixth game, generating two break points after the rival’s loose forehand. World no. 1 converted the first with a forehand crosscourt winner, opening a 4-2 advantage and landing a volley winner in the next one to cement it.
The Italian served for the opener at 5-3 and held at 15 after the German’s wayward forehand, wrapping up the first part of the duel after 38 minutes. They produced two fine holds at the beginning of the second set before Yannick netted a forehand at 1-1, offering Jannik a break chance.
Jannik Sinner is off to a winning start at Wimbledon.
Sinner attacked and fired a forehand winner, moving in front and building a massive advantage.
Suddenly, world no. 1 played a wayward drop shot in the next one, giving his rival three break points. Jannick erased them and brought the game home after two deuces for 3-1. Hanfmann grabbed the fifth game after deuces and played well on the return in the next one, eager to pull the break back.
Yannick generated two break chances, and Jannik saved them with fine hitting, keeping his composure and landing an ace for a hold and 4-2. Sinner clinched the eighth game with a crafty volley winner, and Hanfmann extended the set with an ace in the next one.
World no. 1 served for the set at 5-4 and landed a service winner for three set points. Sinner seized the first after Hanfmann’s forehand error, forging a 6-3, 6-4 advantage after an hour and 24 minutes and moving closer to the finish line.
Yannick raised his level at the beginning of the third set, breaking Jannik two times and building the advantage. Sinner sprayed a forehand error in the second game and got broken after placing another forehand wide.
The German cemented the lead with an ace in the third game and made another push on the return in the next one. Hanfmann fired a backhand winner, earning his second consecutive break and forging a 4-0 advantage. Sinner pulled one break back in the fifth game before facing more issues behind the initial shot at 1-4.
The Italian squandered game points and played against three break points. Jannik denied them and held with a winner at the net, remaining within one break deficit. Yannick held with a volley winner in the seventh game, sliding a bit but avoiding an injury.
Sinner extended the set with a hold in game eight before Hanfmann wrapped up the set with a volley winner at 5-3, reducing the overall deficit after two hours and eight minutes.
The Italian served well in the fourth set with a roof above them, keeping the pressure on the other side.
World no. 1 closed the first game with a service winner and opened a 2-1 advantage with an attractive smash. Hanfmann experienced a massive setback in the fourth game, squandering four game points and failing to follow the rival’s pace.
Jannik extended the game and created a break chance after the rival’s backhand mistake. Sinner drew Hanfmann’s mistake, securing a decisive break and opening a 3-1 advantage. World no. 1 held at love with a service winner in game five, moving closer to the finish line.
Yannick stayed in touch with a fine hold in game six but had no chance on the return in the next one, with Sinner holding at 15 and forging a 5-2 advantage. Hanfmann fired an ace in the eighth game, reducing the deficit and hoping for one last push on the return in the next one. Instead, Sinner painted a backhand winner, sealing the deal and moving into the second round.