“I just try to adapt": Jannik Sinner, 18, scores first Top 10 win

On Thursday, 18-year-old Jannik Sinner added another first to his fast-growing resume: a Top 10 win. Sinner fended off world No. 10 David Goffin, 7-6 (7), 7-5, to book a spot in the Rotterdam quarterfinals.

“It [wasn’t] easy,” the 79th-ranked Sinner told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterwards. “He’s a very solid player.”

The Italian teen is the reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion, which saw him complete a dream run as a wild card by topping 20-year-old Alex de Minaur.

The youngest player in the ATP Top 100, Sinner, who was also handed a wild card into Rotterdam, came into the event with just one win this season.

“This year I didn’t [win] so many matches,” Sinner acknowledged. “I just won [one at] the Australian Open. And then after, I lost many first rounds.”

It’s not easy being the new kid on the block but, thankfully, the Italian teen seems to be on the right track.

“I just try to adapt,” he said. “Trying to play, practice with so many different players, which I think can help me a lot.”

For a spot in the semifinals, Sinner will take on Pablo Carreno Busta. The 28-year-old Spaniard dug deep to fight off compatriot and sixth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4).

Earlier on Thursday, two-time 2020 titlist Andrey Rublev extended his winning streak by routing Alexander Bublik, 7-5, 6-3. The 22-year-old Russian has won 11 of his 12 matches this season.