Jannik Sinner showcases his strength at the Australian Open: Hugo Gaston retires after 2 sets.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner easily advanced to the second round after Hugo Gaston retired due to health issues, closing out the match quickly with a score of 6-2, 6-1.
Jannik Sinner's journey to defend his title at the Australian Open has started in the most favorable way possible. Despite facing some pressure in the early games, the world number one quickly established order before his opponent Hugo Gaston was forced to withdraw due to health reasons shortly after the second set.
The overwhelming strength of the reigning champion.
Jannik Sinner started cautiously and soon faced a challenge when Hugo Gaston created three break point opportunities in his very first service game. However, the champion's composure helped the Italian player successfully neutralize the danger. From that point on, the match was entirely in Sinner's favor thanks to his powerful shots from the baseline and consistent serve.
Notably, in the sixth game, Sinner executed a delicate drop shot, forcing Gaston to make a desperate attempt to save the ball and fall to the ground. Although Gaston was not injured after this incident, the French player's physical condition seemed to have reached its limit. After losing the first two sets 6-2 and 6-1, Gaston decided to retire after consulting with the medical team.
Overwhelming statistics from Jannik Sinner
The statistics clearly show the overwhelming dominance of the top seed. Sinner achieved an impressive 86% first-serve win rate and did not lose a single service game throughout the match.
| Match statistics | Jannik Sinner | Hugo Gaston |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | 6 | 0 |
| Double error | 0 | 0 |
| First serve percentage | 64% (29/45) | 49% (23/47) |
| First serve point | 86% (25/29) | 61% (14/23) |
| Take advantage of break points. | 57% (4/7) | 0% (0/3) |
| Total winning points | 58 | 34 |
Towards Novak Djokovic's historic milestone.
Speaking after the match, Jannik Sinner expressed his satisfaction: "I feel I prepared very well and I'm really happy with how I started today. Of course, there was still a little tension, but this is the time to enjoy the feeling of competing at the highest level. We train hard precisely for moments like these."
This victory not only propelled Sinner into the second round but also brought him closer to his goal of becoming only the second male player in history to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, a feat previously only achieved by Novak Djokovic. In the next round, the Italian player's opponent will be the winner of the match between James Duckworth and Dino Prizmic.
