08:06 – Sinner wins the second set 7-5
With an ace, the eighth of his match, Sinner closed the twelfth game to zero and with it the second set, won with a score of 7-5. Jannik’s change of pace in the decisive phases of the set was impressive. The South Tyrolean is ahead two sets to zero against a good version of Khachanov.
08.02 am – Sinner break
With a spectacular forehand down the line, at the end of a very long exchange, Sinner snatches the serve from Khachanov again. The blue will serve for the second set after the change of court. So far Jannik has converted all three break points that he has received in the match.
07.47am – Sinner cancels two delicate break points
Another complicated game for Sinner, who cancels two break points with his first serve that would have allowed Khachanov to serve for the set. We are balanced in the second set, now the Russian serves at 4-4.
07.38 am – Djokovic and Fritz in the quarterfinals
Meanwhile, these are the other results of the night in Melbourne: Novak Djokovic made just one bite of Mannarino, one of the surprises of the tournament: the Frenchman, 35 years old and having won three matches out of three in the fifth set, lost 6-0, 6- 0, 6-3. The Serbian number one in the world will challenge the American Fritz in the quarterfinals, who beat the Greek Tsitsipas, the outgoing finalist, in 4 sets (7-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3).
07:35 – Khachanov ahead 4-3 in the second set
Sinner holds a complicated serve, then Khachanov does the same and takes the lead 4-3 in the second set. Jannik is suffering from the severity of the Russian’s shots, who is playing an excellent match.
07:22 – Double break at the start of the second set
The start of the second set was two-faced: Sinner broke Khachanov’s serve in the first game, but then suffered on serve. He gets counter-broken in the second game of the set, then in the fourth game he goes down 15-40 and offers two more break points to the Russian, who doesn’t exploit them. We are 2-2 in the second set, but now we fight. Sinner is finding few points from his first serve.
07.13am – Sinner wins the first set
Sinner wins the first set. A break, obtained in the third game, is enough for the South Tyrolean to make him the first set. However, it wasn’t easy for Jannik, who at the moment of serving for the set offered two break points to the Russian: canceled out with a first winner and an oversized backhand from the Russian. Sinner wins the first set 6-4.
There are three precedents between the two in total: Khachanov came from behind to win the first at the 2020 US Open (3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0, 7-6), also thanks to Sinner’s injury , while the South Tyrolean triumphed in the subsequent ones, both in 2021. At the Melbourne tournament (in preparation for the Australian Open) and at the Masters 1000 in Miami.
06.45 am – Where to see Sinner-Khachanov
Sinner-Khachanov, the round of 16 of the Australian Open, is scheduled no earlier than 6am on Margaret Court Arena, after the legends’ doubles game between Dellacqua and Molik against Hantuchova and Li, and then the singles match between world number two Sabalenka and the American Anisimova.