Jannik Sinner moved smoothly into the second round of the Australian Open after his opening-round opponent was unable to continue due to injury. The two-time defending champion showed complete control of the match on Tuesday, dominating proceedings before the contest ended prematurely on Rod Laver Arena.
The Italian second seed had surged ahead with a commanding 6-2 6-1 lead when France’s Hugo Gaston retired after just over an hour of play. Gaston, who appeared troubled physically, struggled to maintain intensity, particularly on serve, as Sinner dictated rallies with precision and pace. Despite an early wobble in his opening service game, Sinner quickly settled into rhythm, firing aces and applying relentless pressure from the baseline.
Sinner’s aggressive shot-making and consistency left little room for resistance, and he wrapped up the opening set in just 37 minutes. After receiving medical attention between sets, Gaston attempted to continue but was unable to cope with the intensity, leading to an early conclusion.
Speaking after the match, Sinner acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances, noting that it is never ideal to progress in such a manner. He praised Gaston’s talent and emphasized the importance of maintaining a high level from the opening point. The Melbourne crowd once again welcomed the reigning champion warmly, with Sinner describing the venue as a special place in his career.
The world number two will now face either Australian wildcard James Duckworth or Croatian youngster Dino Prizmic in the next round as he continues his quest for a historic third consecutive Australian Open title. Should he achieve the feat, Sinner would join Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to secure three straight championships in Melbourne.
