Top favourite Jannik Sinner has passed the first real test at the US Open with nerves of steel and reached the quarter-finals. The world number one defeated the American Tommy Paul 7:6 (7:3), 7:6 (7:5), 6:1 and remained calm even in the heated evening atmosphere in New York.
Sinner is the only male tennis professional to make it into at least the top eight in all four Grand Slam tournaments of the year and will now face former US Open winner Daniil Medvedev from Russia. “It will be a difficult match. I hope I will be physically and mentally ready,” said the Italian.
The top seeded player, Iga Swiatek, also prevailed in the women’s singles. The 23-year-old Pole won 6:4, 6:1 against Russian Lyudmila Samsonova in the round of 16. Swiatek will face sixth seeded American Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.
Sinner allowed himself a false start
Paul got off to a brilliant start, but Sinner was having a hard time at the beginning. The South Tyrolean made some unusual mistakes. At one point Paul won eleven points in a row and was quickly ahead 4:1. The crowd cheered on their favorite with chants of “USA, USA”.
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The 23-year-old Sinner stayed cool and, cheered on by singer Seal in the stands, quickly managed two re-breaks. It was a close match. In the tie-breaks of the first two sets, Australian Open winner Sinner showed his extra class and ultimately dominated the third set.
After the elimination of the two co-favorites Carlos Alcaraz from Spain and Novak Djokovic from Serbia, Sinner is the hottest contender for the title ahead of Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. He is under special public scrutiny following his acquittal shortly before the tournament following two positive doping tests in the spring.
Swiatek was in top form for her second US Open title. She served flawlessly and didn’t allow her opponent a break point. When the score was 5:4 in the first set, she took Samsonova’s serve for the first time. After 1:30 hours, Swiatek converted the match point.
“At the beginning of the tournament, it was not easy to find my rhythm. But it feels like I am getting better day by day,” said the 2022 title winner after the victory. (dpa)
