Superb Sinner cruises past Korda at Monte-Carlo Masters
The Italian needed just 74 minutes to dispatch Sebastian Korda 6-1, 6-2 for his first clay-court win of the season
Jannik Sinner beats Korda at 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Jannik Sinner has carried his scintillating form this season onto the clay, outclassing Sebastian Korda 6-1, 6-2 in just 74 minutes at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Sinner came into this match with a 22-1 win-loss record for the season, leading the ATP rankings race as the dominant force in men’s tennis for 2024.
The only asterisk that could be put against his season so far was that all these results had come on hard courts, with the big question being whether the Italian could replicate such impeccable form across the European clay-court stretch.
The early signs look promising.
Sinner was at his imperious best throughout this match, putting on a masterclass of clay-court movement that left the talented Korda floundering.
early break for sinner sets tone for the match
The world No 2 broke in the very first game of the match, an ominous omen for Korda that set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
There was a crucial juncture on Sinner’s opening service game that may have given the match a different complexion during which Korda earned himself three break point opportunities. But the American could not convert any of them as Sinner held onto a lengthy game to consolidate his early break.
From that point on, there was no stopping the Italian as he accelerated away from Korda, breaking twice more in the opener to commandingly move into a one-set lead.
Things didn’t improve for Korda in the second set, as Sinner’s relentless returning pressure earned him another break in the fourth game to put one foot firmly in the last 16.
The American fought valiantly, but it was clear that his most reliable weapons – a potent serve and excellent forehand – were blunted on a slow-playing clay court against an opponent in fine fettle.
Sinner broke serve again in the final game to seal a comprehensive victory in just one hour and 14 minutes.
He will face Sinner Jan-Lennard Struff in the next round.
“I think me and Sebi have similar game styles,” Sinner said in his on-court interview following the match.
“We aren’t like the classic clay specialists. We prefer to play quite flat. I think I moved quite well in these conditions.
“Every year it’s tough to come here and try to perform well. I’m very happy about the performance. Let’s see what’s coming in the next round. It’s always great to be back here. The atmosphere is amazing.”
frustrations continue for korda as sinner surges
Korda has suffered a frustrating season so far, a continuation of the struggles he endured last year after such a promising start to 2023.
His talent is too great for him to be down for long, and he will find himself at the business end of big tournaments once again. His best chance of this may be a few months down the line when the grass-court season comes into view, however.
Sinner, meanwhile, keeps the narrative very much the same. He is conquering almost everyone in his path, and he is doing so with extraordinary style and panache.
If hard courts were where he found his best form over the past six months, the manner of this result serves as a timely reminder that this is a player who thrives across all surfaces.
Ominous.
