Sublime Sinner sees off Paul challenge to make US Open quarter-finals

Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed, reached the quarter-finals of the US Open by beating American Tommy Paul, the No 14 seed, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1 in New York on Monday night.

The win means that Sinner is now the only player – male or female – to make the quarter-finals or better in all four Grand Slams in 2024.

He now improves to 52-5 this season, and 72-7 since losing at the US Open this time last year.

“I can be very proud today, it was a tough opponent, so I’m very happy to be in the next round,” Sinner declared after his victory over Paul.

Sinner starts slow, finishes strong

Sinner solidified his position as the favourite to win the US Open 2024, but after five games in Arthur Ashe Stadium, it seemed like yet another upset might be on the cards in New York.

Paul came out playing incredible tennis, breaking Sinner twice for a 4-1 lead to start the match. At one stage, he won 11 points in a row as he went after Sinner’s forehand, consistently breaking down the shot and forcing errors from the Italian.

However, in true world No 1 style, Sinner fought back, winning five games in a row to force a first set tiebreak.

“I didn’t start very well, I was double break down in the first set,” explained Sinner. “I tried to stay there mentally, and for sure, this was one of the keys today to win this match.”

The second set was a closer affair across the first 12 games, but ultimately ended in the same result: Sinner prevailing in a tiebreak.

Having played some of his best tennis, Paul found himself down two sets to love against the top seed.

Sinner maintained his advantage, finding his rhythm even more, to run away with the match 6-1 in the third.

“First off I felt I couldn’t play my best tennis, it was a bit windy, a bit breezy, so I tried to find my rhythm,” Sinner said. “I found it a little bit at the end of the match.”

Sinner looking forward to Medvedev rematch

Up next, Sinner will play Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No 5 seed.

Medvedev holds the most wins against Sinner of any player on the ATP Tour, leading their head-to-head 7-5. The two have met twice in Grand Slams in 2024, both times going to five sets, with Sinner winning in Melbourne and Medvedev in London.

Sinner shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash:

“Tough match. It’s going to be a lot of rallies. Hopefully I will be ready physically. It’s going to be physical match, mental match. I won in Australia, he won in Wimbledon, always five sets. So, hopefully it’s going to be a good match, we try to do our best on court.”

The Italian won against American Mackenzie McDonald (2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2), American Alex Michelsen (6-4, 6-0, 6-2) and Australian Christopher O’Connell (6-1, 6-4, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

In the previous rounds of the US Open, Paul, ranked No 14, won against Italian Lorenzo Sonego (6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2), Australian Max Purcell (7-5, 6-0, 1-0 ret.) and Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo (6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (3)).

New York (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 75.000.000, most recent results first):

• Alex De Minaur (10) beat Jordan Thompson: 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
• Daniil Medvedev beat Nuno Borges: 6-0, 6-1, 6-3
• Jack Draper (25) beat Tomas Machac: 6-3, 6-1, 6-2
• Frances Tiafoe (20) beat Alexei Popyrin (28): 6-4, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3
• Alexander Zverev (4) beat Brandon Nakashima: 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
• Taylor Fritz (12) beat Casper Ruud (8): 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
• Grigor Dimitrov (9) beat Andrey Rublev (6): 6-3, 7-6 (3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3