Sinner Brushes Norrie Aside in Madrid - and Questions 'Unusual' Early Start

World number one Jannik Sinner made a dominant start to his Madrid Open campaign with a clinical straight-sets victory over Britain's Cameron Norrie on Monday.

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The Italian tennis star secured a 6-2, 6-3 win in just under an hour on the Manolo Santana Stadium, showcasing the form that has helped him rise to the top of the rankings this season.

Sinner broke Norrie's serve twice in the opening set and never looked back as he raced to a comfortable victory. His aggressive baseline play and exceptional movement were too much for the British number two to handle throughout the encounter.

However, the reigning Australian Open champion raised concerns about the tournament's scheduling after being scheduled for an early afternoon start. "I think it's quite unusual to play at this time," Sinner said in his post-match press conference. "The conditions are completely different to what we usually experience. The ball is flying more, it's colder, and it's just not ideal preparation."

The 23-year-old added that he believes tournaments should consider moving matches to later slots to ensure players can perform at their best. "We train to play our best tennis, and when you're out here in these conditions, it's challenging. I think we need to look at making adjustments."

Sinner will face stiff competition in the coming rounds as he aims to capture his first Masters 1000 title on clay this season. The Madrid Open represents a crucial tournament in his build-up to the French Open, which begins later this month.

Meanwhile, Norrie will be disappointed with his early exit after a promising run at last week's Barcelona Open. The 28-year-old has been searching for consistency this season and will look to bounce back at upcoming events on the European clay-court circuit.