The reigning champion, Jannik Sinner, showcased his prowess once again at Wimbledon on Friday, overpowering American player Jenson Brooksby with scores of 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a thrilling encounter on the bustling No. 1 Court, securing his spot in the fourth round for the fifth straight year.
As the world No. 1, Sinner made history last year by becoming the first Italian to clinch the Wimbledon singles title and maintained control throughout the two-hour, 14-minute match.
Brooksby is recognized for his crafty game and formidable competitiveness. His distinctive style and adeptness on grass echo the likes of a right-handed Adrian Mannarino.
Brooksby kicked off the match with a strong performance, holding serve at love thanks to an ace out wide. He remained toe-to-toe with Sinner, dazzling the crowd with a remarkable backhand drop shot at 2-all. With finesse, he gingerly touched the ball over the net, securing a lead at 3-2. Sinner responded robustly, stabilizing with an ace for a quick 3-all before pulling ahead with a powerful inside-out forehand winner that earned him a crucial break.
(AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
The second set mirrored the first, with both players holding serve until 3-all, when Sinner broke at love with a powerful baseline overhead, moving ahead to 4-3.
In the third set, Brooksby achieved his first break in the opening game, executing a stunning backhand down-the-line return. However, Sinner struck back immediately, breaking in the next game and again at 3-all. While Brooksby managed to break when Sinner served for the match, the Italian swiftly took back control, sealing the win at 6-4.
The match’s defining factor was Sinner’s serve, where he won many free points. The Italian launched 13 aces and claimed 87 percent of his first-serve points. In contrast, Brooksby managed just three aces and won 64 percent of his first serves.
Numerous extended rallies characterized the match, with Sinner blending powerful baseline shots with strategic net plays, triumphing in 17 of 20 net points (85 percent). He effectively converted six of his 13 break-point opportunities, dominated 45 percent of return points, and concluded with 29 winners.
Despite putting up a strong fight, Brooksby, ranked No. 81, struggled to consistently pressure Sinner’s serve, converting only two of his five break-point chances while limiting his unforced errors to 21.
With a total of 97 points compared to Brooksby’s 74, Sinner marked his straight-sets victory, improving to 2-0 against Brooksby. Their previous encounter was in the semifinals in Washington back in 2021, where Sinner triumphed as well.
The four-time Grand Slam champion now advances to the round of 16, pursuing his goal of defending his Wimbledon crown.
In the post-match interview, Sinner expressed, “Yeah, much better match from my side. Of course, happy to be through this one. Now, of course, let’s see what’s coming.
“But a very tricky opponent today, so I’m very happy.”
When asked about his celebration towards the end of the match, where he beckoned the crowd, Sinner remarked, “Yeah, it was important. You know, I was serving for it and couldn’t close. Then I had a couple of match points and couldn’t use them. I tried to get over the finish line, and the crowd helped me.
“It was crucial to finish, and I did it, so it was important.”
