Australian Open 2025 – 2nd round: Jannik Sinner loses a set but not his face

It would have been the surprise of the century. One of those we talk about again 20 or 30 years later. When Tristan Schoolkate took the first set from Jannik Sinner, who had not lost a single set in almost fifteen matches, the idea could have crossed the most daring minds. But for a world number 173 without references at this level to lead a zero set against the world number one is an achievement. That he won three and the match with it is frankly a miracle. There were none at Rod Laver Arena Thursday night.

Even if he sometimes showed signs of frustration or even annoyance, much more than usual, even if he appeared during a set and a half quite far from his best performance, Jannik Sinner never panicked. , finally winning in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2) and two hours and forty-five minutes of play. Almost to the economy, therefore. He didn’t have to strain, either physically or nervously, to get out of this mess. The bramble path quickly turned into a walk. As expected.

For an hour, there was a match. Schoolkate, with great audacity, desire and aggressiveness, rose to the occasion of both the event and his illustrious adversary, largely justifying the confidence of the organizers who had granted him an invitation in the main table. At 5-4 in his favor, he even really pulled out all the stops by pounced on the very first opportunity of the match in the form of a white break synonymous with winning the set. The public couldn’t believe it. Neither does Sinner.

Up to 6-4, 3-2 in his favor, Schoolkate was able to believe in it and maintain the illusion of a possible feat, even if he was still very far from it, of course. But the title holder was simply biding his time. His first break point of the evening, in the 7th game of the second set, served as the definitive break point. It almost had match point value. Once in charge, everything became very simple for him.

Jannik Sinner thus won 13 of the following 15 games, his opponent, without the slightest common thread, died out and the public with him. Despite everything, it’s hard to imagine that the world number one is fully satisfied with his copy of the day. Is he disturbed by something? A little physical problem? The general context around his situation with this sword of Damocles over his head with the upcoming appeal of his positive test before the CAS? Maybe none of that, but these little signs of frustration will still be something to watch out for in the coming days.