Sinner Survives Tiebreaker Thriller, Sets Up Medvedev Rematch
Jannik Sinner, seeded for the first time as No. 1, got through to the quarterfinals from two sets, the fifth and last performed in the tiebreakers before getting past No. 14 Tommy Paul 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1 on Monday night.
Two weeks after the relief of a doping case stemming from two positive tests in March, Jannik Sinner was installed in a tilt with 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, the sole survivor of past victors at Flushing Meadows in the men’s draw.
Jannik Sinner is a 23-year-old Italian who clinched his first major trophy at the Australian Open this year, overcoming Medvedev in a highly dramatic final in which the latter seemed to control the first two sets. They also faced each other during the Wimbledon championship quarter-final in July, and Medvedev emerged as the winner.
“It’s going to be a lot of running,” Sinner added, “so hopefully [I’ll] be ready physically.“
At Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sinner was not at his best against Paul immediately, trailing 4-1 after 20 minutes due to a double-break. Paul answered, “That’s where you want to be.” It’s unquestionably distinct from any other environment. It’s electrical.”
There were several cries of “U-S-A!” and “Let’s go, Tommy!” as the game progressed. “Let’s go!” echoed.
Sinner’s Resilience Shines Through in US Open Victory Over Paul
It also elicited several clapping instances following faults from Jannik Sinner to which the chair umpire constantly called for silence between the first and second serve.
Sinner would commit 15 unforced errors in that last set using his forehand only, however, he was able to improve that in the match where he only committed 6 in the rest of the game.
“Very difficult,” Sinner remarked. “Obviously, I think I can play a few better points occasionally, but he’s a formidable opponent. You have to admit that he can change the game because of how wonderfully he moves. I’m thus pleased with the victory.
It all depended on the tiebreakers. The first set went to 3-All before Sinner took the final four points. Paul was 5-4 ahead in the second set but lost 3-6 to Sinner.
That means Sinner has claimed victory in 14 of the last 15 tiebreaks starting back at Halle, Germany in June. The only tournament he could lose against Medvedev was at Wimbledon.
Sinner proved himself a true winner after losing the first set at the US Open and then proceeding to win the next 12.
Paul was attempting to get his third career quarterfinal and first at Flushing Meadows. He was determined to make history by becoming the first American champion to defeat a top-ranked opponent at the US Open since Andre Agassi’s victory over Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
Instead of that, Paul had a cumulative record of ninety-six. He became the first player in fifteen years to start a record of six straight losses at majors against the players ranked in the top 10.
“I had opportunities there in the first set, obviously, and then opportunities in the second,” Paul remarked. “However, I failed to make the necessary progress when he did. That was the match’s sort of narrative.“
US Open 2024: Sinner and Nadal Dominate, Medvedev Advances Amidst Fire Alarm
Sinner won four hard-court titles in 2024. Nadal reached the last eight in all four Grand Slams this year.
The No. 5 seed Medvedev won 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 against Nuno Borges. A fire alarm interrupted the electronic line-calling system at the start of the third set.
The other quarterfinal match in the top half of the men’s bracket will be between Alex de Minaur (No. 10) and Jack Draper (No. 25). De Minaur beat Thompson in four sets, while Draper defeated Machac in three sets. Draper is the first British man in the US Open quarterfinals since 2016.
Alexander Zverev vs. Taylor Fritz and Grigor Dimitrov vs. Frances Tiafo are the men’s quarterfinal matches on Tuesday at the US Open.
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