Sensational Jannik Sinner storms past Alexander Bublik, sets historic US Open QF

ATP Tour

Sensational Sinner storms past Bublik, sets historic US Open QF

World No. 1 needs just one hour, 21 minutes to advance

Corinne Dubreuil Jannik Sinner eases past Alexander Bublik in straight sets Monday at the US Open. By ATP Staff

It has been rare this major season that Jannik Sinner has shown signs of vulnerability. For a moment during his third-round US Open match, the Italian appeared at risk against the free-swinging Denis Shapovalov, who won the first set and led 3-0 in the third set.

After battling through that encounter, the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings bounced back in a big way Monday, producing a flawless performance to oust entertaining 23rd seed Alexander Bublik for a place in the quarter-finals. A sensational Sinner stymied the Kazakhstani 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 to keep his title defence alive in emphatic fashion.

“Overall I’m very, very happy,” Sinner said. “[It was] the first time this year that I can play the night match here and it makes [such] a big difference. I wanted to say thanks everyone for coming, for cheering. This is a very special occasion for us players, so thank you so much.

Bublik walked on the court inside Arthur Ashe Stadium having not lost a service game through three rounds. But Sinner immediately won his first two return games of the match and never looked back.

The top seed broke his opponent’s serve eight times while facing only one break point himself to advance in one hour and 21 minutes. It was the second-shortest completed men's singles match of the tournament.

“We know each other very well. We had some tough battles, especially this year, so we know each other a little bit better now how we play,” Sinner said. “He just said congrats and wished me all the best. He had a very tough match the last match playing five sets, finishing very late. Today he didn’t serve as good as he usually serves, so I broke him very early in every set, which then gave me the confidence to serve a little bit better.”

There will be an all-Italian men’s singles quarter-final at a major for the first time when Sinner takes on 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti. The World No. 1 will carry a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head advantage into their showdown.

“It’s great to see. Italian tennis is in great form now. We have so many players, so many different game styles,” Sinner said. “Lorenzo is maybe one of the biggest talents we have in our sport, so I’m looking forward for this one. From an Italian point of view it’s great to have for sure one Italian player in the semis.”

Sinner will take plenty of momentum into the clash following a statement performance against a foe who had troubled him in the past. The Italian now leads their series 5-2, but had lost two of their past three meetings entering Monday, including a three-set defeat this year in Halle.

Bublik showed both his skill and toughness in a five-set win Saturday evening against Tommy Paul. In that match, he combined his big serving and deft touch with his drop shot to great effect. Those tools have helped the 28-year-old lift three ATP Tour trophies this season.

But nothing he tried against Sinner worked except for an underarm serve in the last game of the match. The four-time major champion was proactive with his aggression and consistent at the same time to prevent his opponent from gaining any momentum.

Bublik enjoyed a celebration when he held serve in the third set and could not help but walk off the court laughing at what had just transpired.

Sinner became the youngest man to earn 24 wins at the majors in a season since 22-year-old Rafael Nadal in 2008 according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

“I’m very happy to be again in the quarters. It’s a great result. We try to play as good as we can and then we’ll see what we can achieve this year. But overall I’m very, very happy to be in the quarters.”

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