Jannik Sinner successfully defended his 2020 Sofia Open title by beating Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday’s final.
Sinner struck only two aces and served at just 50 percent, but the rest of his game was outstanding. He won 93 percent of his first-serve points and saved both of the break points he faced, so two breaks of Monfils’ serve were enough to get the job done in mostly routine straight sets.
“The level was high today,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “We had long, long rallies and it was physical as well. I am happy to be the winner here in Sofia again. I think it is a very nice tournament. It was the best match [I have played this week] because I had to…. It is never easy playing against Gael, we’ve had many tough matches. I think in the crucial moments I was a bit luckier than him.”
Sinner is now 3-1 lifetime in ATP finals. Monfils is a horrendous 10-22 and sees a three-match final winning streak come to an end.
With 250 more points to his yearly total, Sinner moves up to No. 10 in the race to Turin–passing Felix Auger-Aliassime. The 20-year-old is effectively in ninth place because Rafael Nadal is out for the season.
Hubert Hurkacz, who triumphed last week in Metz, is 270 points ahead of Sinner for the all-important eighth and final spot. Hurkacz beat the Italian in the Miami Open final back in March.
nice one, Sinner