Jannik Sinner Dominates in Vienna, Eyes Year-End No 1 Spot
Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, defeating Germany’s Daniel Altmaier with an impressive score of 6-0, 6-2. This victory, achieved in just 58 minutes, keeps Sinner’s hopes alive for securing the year-end No 1 ranking. As the top seed and reigning champion from 2023, Sinner showcased his strength on indoor hard courts, extending his winning streak to 17 matches.
Sinner’s rapid victory marked his quickest match of the 2025 season. “I feel like in the first set everything was working very well,” he remarked after the match. He acknowledged the importance of being cautious on indoor courts, stating, “If your opponent starts to serve well, it’s very difficult to break.” Sinner expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing the positive start to the tournament both in terms of gameplay and personal feeling.
Sinner’s Path Ahead
Next, Sinner is set to face fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli, who secured his place in the second round by overcoming Czech player Tomas Machac with a score of 7-6 (8-6), 6-2. In another match, Daniil Medvedev, the Almaty champion, triumphed over Nuno Borges, winning 6-4, 6-7 (9-7), 6-2. Medvedev’s victory keeps him in contention for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Sinner is competing for valuable points at the ATP 500 event, with a potential gain of 500 points if he wins the tournament. Currently, he trails Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz by 2,540 points. Should Sinner claim the Vienna trophy for the second time, he would reduce that gap to 2,040 points before heading to the Rolex Paris Masters, where he can further narrow the difference. Both players are also set to participate in the Nitto ATP Finals, where a maximum of 1,500 points is available.
Sinner’s upcoming matches are critical as he aims to accumulate as many points as possible in the remaining weeks of the season. He will need to perform at his best and hope that Alcaraz, who boasts a record of 67-7 in 2025, does not maintain his current form.
Other Notable Performances
In other matches at the Erste Bank Open, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini secured a straight-sets victory over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in one hour and 36 minutes. This win sets up a second-round clash against Britain’s Cameron Norrie on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Canadian tennis prodigy Victoria Mboko advanced to the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win over German qualifier Eva Lys. The 19-year-old, ranked No 23 in the world, dominated the match, winning 87 percent of her points on her first serve and delivering five aces. Mboko expressed her desire to play aggressively and remain positive on the court, stating, “I wanted to just be myself… I think I checked all the marks today, and it all worked out.”
Having made headlines earlier this year by winning the National Bank Open title in Montreal, Mboko is poised to face either compatriot Leylah Fernandez, fresh off a victory in Osaka, or former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the next round.
As the tournament progresses, Sinner and other top players will be looking to solidify their standings ahead of the season’s final events.
