All good things must come to an end. Jannik Sinner found that out on Thursday and so did his opponent Tomas Machac. In what was a captivating match of tennis, in his round-of-16 encounter against Machac, things could not have gotten off to a better start. He found himself racing through the first set in what has seemingly become routine for him now. He clinched the first set 6-1 in just 26 minutes, like a man in a hurry. By doing so, he extended his Master’s set-winning record to 37 consecutive sets, dating back to last year at the Paris Masters.
For most onlookers, it felt like another routine day for the Italian when, at the start of the second set, he fashioned two more consecutive break points, giving himself a chance to go two games up right from the start. However, the up-and-coming Czech, Machac, fought back impressively to level at 1-1. It was commendable of him, but at the time, it felt like a delay rather than a denial of the inevitable.
However, in what can only be described as a stunning twist of events, he powered on, breaking the Italian in the 5th game, and then again to race into a 5-2 lead. At that point, it looked certain that Sinner’s consecutive sets record had run its race and would be halted. But by now, the theme was one of surprises, and it wasn’t going to change now.
In what was a solid show of defiance, Sinner broke to keep his hopes alive. That seemed to infuse him with much-needed confidence as he won the following three games to take the lead at 6-5. Machac held his nerve to level at 6-6, forcing a tiebreak. At this point, Sinner was still expected to win the tiebreak given his outstanding record in such situations.
However, it was the Czech who was determined to make some headlines one way or the other as he played an impressive tiebreaker, and, coupled with some loose shots by Sinner, the streak that had stood for so long, across two years, was finally over. We were now into a decider, and with Sinner looking less than his imperious best, more headlines were beginning to write themselves.
The Italian world #2 must no doubt have been left feeling disappointed that his streak was now over. However, if it had any effects on him, going into the second set, he certainly did not show it. He quickly composed himself and set about his business as only he knows how to. He broke the Czech in only the third game and really didn’t look back from then on. Machac suffered a slight discomfort that required a medical time-out, but at that point the die had already been cast, and what bearing that had, if any, is difficult to ascertain now.
As for Jannik Sinner, he continues on his merry way as he now hopes to chase other records. He is hot on the heels of Carlos Alcaraz for the world #1 spot whilst also trying to become only the second man, after his spiritual predecessor, Djokovic, to win the Sunshine double and Monte Carlo in the same year. Machac may have halted one record, but for the man who seems to be chasing a new record every time he plays, it’s a case of all’s well that ends well.
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
