NEW YORK -- Top-seeded Jannik Sinner advanced to the US Open quarterfinals by overcoming a slow start and prevailing in crucial tiebreakers to defeat No. 14 Tommy Paul 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1 on Monday night.
Just two weeks after being cleared in a doping case related to positive tests from March, Sinner now faces a showdown with 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, the only former Flushing Meadows winner still remaining in the men’s draw.
The 23-year-old Italian claimed his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, where he defeated Medvedev in a five-set final after losing the first two sets. They also faced off in the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July, with Medvedev emerging victorious.
"It’s going to be a lot of running," Sinner said. "So hopefully I’ll be ready physically."
Against Tommy Paul, Jannik Sinner struggled at the beginning, falling behind 4-1 with a double-break deficit within the first 20 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"That's where you want to be," Paul said of his early lead. "... It's definitely different than any other setting. It's electric."
As the match progressed, the crowd's chants of "U-S-A!" and "Let's go, Tommy! Let's go!" filled the air. There were also several moments where spectators clapped after Sinner's faults, prompting repeated warnings from the chair umpire to maintain silence between first and second serves.
Sinner, who had 15 unforced forehand errors in the first set, quickly corrected his mistakes and finished the match with only six unforced errors the rest of the way.
"A tough match," Sinner said. "I believe I could have played a few points better, but he’s a tough opponent. He moves very well and mixes up the game, so I’m happy with the win."
The match was decided by tiebreakers. Sinner, who won the first tiebreaker 7-3 after being tied 3-all, also took the second tiebreaker 7-5 after trailing 5-4. This victory extended his record to 14 wins in his last 15 tiebreakers, with the only loss coming against Medvedev at Wimbledon.
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