Sinner Surges to Quarter-Finals with Victory Over Tommy Paul; Medvedev Awaits
In the midst of a high-octane fourth-round clash at the US Open on Monday night, Jannik Sinner and Tommy Paul were locked in a gripping contest, with the second set still undecided after two hours of relentless play. Following the heart-wrenching defeat in the first set, Paul demonstrated remarkable resilience, rallying back with audacious shot-making and assertive net play to force a second tiebreaker. With the score at 5-4, Paul stood just two points away from leveling the match.
It is during these pivotal moments that the elite players distinguish themselves, and Arthur Ashe Stadium witnessed the critical turning points that set them apart. As Paul faltered with two consecutive backhand returns during the tiebreak, Sinner seized the opportunity. With unerring precision, he dispatched a scintillating forehand return to clinch the set, propelling himself to a two-set advantage.
Sinner’s dominance in these crucial junctures underscored a performance befitting a world No. 1, propelling him into the quarter-finals with a commanding 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1 victory over Paul. Reflecting on his clutch performance, Sinner remarked, “I thrive on pivotal points and moments. It’s precisely these situations that our practice aims to prepare us for. The repetition and adjustments on the practice court are designed to make us feel secure and adaptable, enabling us to execute strategically when it matters most. Although my serving wasn’t optimal in the second-set tiebreak, I endeavored to find a solution.”
As the draw has been reshuffled with the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, the second and third seeds, Sinner has solidified his position as a formidable contender for his second Grand Slam title of the year. Yet, the remaining draw presents a pronounced imbalance. Sinner is set to face Daniil Medvedev, the only other Grand Slam champion remaining and the sole former US Open victor still in contention. Medvedev exhibited formidable prowess earlier on Monday, dispatching Nuno Borges with a decisive 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 scoreline.
Sinner’s 2024 campaign has been marked by an exceptional consistency rivaling that of tennis legends such as Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray. With a 52-5 (91%) record this year and a 32-2 (94%) tally on hard courts, Sinner stands as the second youngest player ever to reach the quarter-finals in each of his first 12 tournaments of the year, according to Opta.
This impressive run follows a recent controversy involving the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which disclosed Sinner’s two anti-doping tests positive for clostebol. However, an independent tribunal exonerated Sinner of fault or negligence, concluding that the positive results were due to contamination from his physiotherapist’s use of an over-the-counter spray. Consequently, Sinner’s automatic provisional ban was lifted, allowing him to continue competing while the positive test remained undisclosed for five months.
In their fourth-round encounter, Paul initially set the tone with his versatile game, swiftly establishing a 4-1 lead in the first set with two breaks. Despite a sluggish start, Sinner intensified his level, overpowering Paul with his superior pace and shot depth to secure the first set in a tiebreak.
Paul, undeterred by the first set loss, held his serve steadfastly throughout the second set. As they reached the second-set tiebreak, Paul showcased some of his best tennis of the night to reach 5-4. Yet, three crucial service returns shifted the match’s trajectory: Paul missed two backhand returns, and Sinner capitalized on a set point with a formidable forehand return, sealing the set.
With a two-set lead, Sinner effortlessly navigated the third set, advancing to the quarter-finals for the third time in his career. “The margins were extremely narrow,” Paul noted. “For me, that’s motivation. There are still two Americans left in the tournament, but it feels more open than ever.”
In the top half of the draw, Iga Świątek continued her momentum, returning to the quarter-finals with a decisive 6-4, 6-0 triumph over the 16th seed Ludmilla Samsonova. The women’s world No. 1 is set to face Jessica Pegula in an exciting quarter-final. Pegula, fresh off a summer resurgence, secured her place with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Diana Shnaider. Despite reaching seven Grand Slam quarter-finals, Pegula is still in pursuit of her first major semi-final, and overcoming the world’s best will be pivotal for her progress.
