Australian Open in sight, Sinner warms up his muscles and beats Popyrin 2-0 in an exhibition

Technical tests for the Australian Open, where he will have to defend the title he won last year as number one in the world rankings. “The first Slam of the season can be full of tension, but I am aware of the work of these weeks and of all the efforts made and therefore I am confident”. The 23-year-old champion from San Candido commented thus on the victory against Alexei Popyrin, beaten 6-4 7-6(2) in an exhibition match for the Opening Week, the series of events held at the Australian Open in qualifying week.

Proceeds from this match will be donated to the Australian Tennis Foundation, foundation that deals with charitable projects and gives children opportunities for a better future through tennis. The Italian thus enjoyed his first unofficial victory in the first match on Rod Laver Arena since the 2024 Australian Open final, which crowned him the first Italian in the singles tournament’s roll of honour. “2024 was a fantastic season but that’s in the past,” Sinner said after the match, evidently happy to be back in Melbourne where his career began to accelerate towards glory.

“It’s a wonderful city, special things have happened to me on and off the pitch here. I’m happy to be back here to play these types of matches, even if it’s just an exhibition. It’s important for us to try to feel the pitch and the rhythm. We’ll see what happens at the Australian Open”, concluded the South Tyrolean champion. As regards the qualifications for the first Slam of the new year, in the men’s field Mattia Bellucci joins Francesco Passaro and Matteo Gigante in the second round. The 23-year-old tennis player from Lombardy, number 101 in the world ranking, he prevailed on his debut against the 18-year-old Australian Pavle Marinkov (806 ATP) with a score of 6-3 6-3.

Among the women, Sara Errani advances to the second round in the ‘cadet’ draw. The veteran from Romagna, number 107 in the world ranking, came from behind to eliminate the Russian Alina Korneeva, number 1 in the junior world in 2023 when she won the Australian Open and Roland Garros under 18 and current 177 WTA, by 2-6 6-3 6-3 . Immediately out was Nuria Brancaccio, 183rd in the world rankings, defeated 6-2 3-6 6-4 by the German Tamara Korpatsch (174).