Jannik Sinner marks top 20 debut with impressive win in Barcelona opener, but admits ‘the road is long’

Shahida Jacobs 21 Apr 2021 8:26 AM

Teenager Jannik Sinner celebrated his ATP Rankings top 20 breakthrough with a solid win over Egor Gerasimov at the Barcelona Open.

The Italian rose to a career-high of No 19 on Monday with many, including world No 1 Novak Djokovic, believing he is destined for the very top in tennis.

And he marked his achievement with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the second round of the ATP 500 event.

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Pick your spot and take your shot, @janniksin #BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/M2o4NW4OGY

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 20, 2021

“Obviously it’s a good number, but for me at the moment [it’s] not that important,” Sinner said. “Just trying to improve day after day with my team and trying to improve as a player and the ranking is what it is. I’m happy to be [a] Top 20 player but the road is long so [there’s] a lot of work to do.”

Up next is Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut after the fifth seed beat his compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-0.

British No 2 Cameron Norrie claimed the scalp of 12th seed Karen Khachanov as he upset the Russian 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to earn a third-round clash against eighth seed David Goffin, who had eliminated Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2, 6-4.

Meanwhile, seventh seed Denis Shapovalov marked his 2021 clay season debut with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jeremy Chardy.