NEW YORK, SEPT 5 – Jannik Sinner edged closer to her second Grand Slam title in 2024 as she qualified for the US Open semi-finals for the first time while Jessica Pegula stunned Iga Swiatek to end a turbulent year for the world number one.
Top seed Sinner beat 2021 US Open champion and two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.
He will face 25th ranked Jack Draper for a place in the final after the British player reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam event for the first time with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win over Australian player Alex de Minaur.
Sinner, 23, the only player in the top 10 to qualify for the semi-finals along with number 12, Taylor Fritz will face her compatriot from the US, Frances Tiafoe, ranked 20, in another semi-final clash this Saturday morning.
Pegula, who is ranked sixth, booked a place in the semi-finals of the Grand Slam for the first time when he defeated Swiatek 6-2, 6-4.
Tomorrow, she will meet Karolina Muchova who edged out Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4.
US’s Emma Navarro will face world number two and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the other women’s semi-final.
“It was too difficult, I know it was a very physical fight,” said Sinner, who also beat Medvedev to win the Australian Open title.
“It was a bit strange in the first two sets, whoever did it break start losing.”
Draper is the first British male player to reach the semi-finals since Andy Murray won 12 years ago. – AFP
