Jannik Sinner continues winning run to reach Rotterdam final

Jannik Sinner downed home hope Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 6-4 to reach his second straight final at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam on Sunday.

The 22-year-old and top seed Sinner took control early of his clash with Griekspoor, a rematch of the pair’s last-four meeting at the same venue a year ago, and ultimately wrapped an 82-minute victory with some of his best tennis of the week so far under the roof at Rotterdam Ahoy.

“Today, in a practice session beforehand, we tried to keep the intensity quite high, trying to feel the court and get into the rhythm a little bit,” said Sinner in his post-match interview. “I knew that today I had to raise the level, which I have done, and obviously I’m glad that I can play once more here in the final in Rotterdam.”

“It’s just extra focus on important points, but obviously it is better not to get into the position to have to save the break points,” said Sinner when asked about how he had reacted under pressure against Griekspoor. “Today I served really well. I think I made first serves on all the break points, so it’s also part of the confidence. In another way, I felt much better on the court today and I think that helped me today.”

Sinner will now enter his 16th tour-level final, where his opponent will be fifth seed Alex de Minaur, on a 14-match winning streak.

The Italian who lifted his maiden Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open last month, has not lost since his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the championship match at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals.

De Minaur, who earlier eased past Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3 at the ATP 500 event has not won in six Lexus ATP Head2Head clashes with Sinner. Should the Italian extend that lead to 7-0 and lift the trophy, he will on Monday rise to a career-high No. 3 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.