In a high-stakes fourth-round match at the US Open on Monday night, Jannik Sinner and Tommy Paul were locked in a competitive battle. After narrowly losing the first set, Paul rallied impressively, showcasing bold shots and confident net play, taking a 5-4 lead in the second set tie-break and coming close to leveling the match.
However, the crucial moments are where top players shine, and that distinction played out on Arthur Ashe Stadium. After Paul faltered with two backhand returns, Sinner seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful forehand return to clinch the second set and take a commanding lead.
Sinner excelled in critical situations, ultimately winning the match 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1 and advancing to the quarter-finals.
“I thrive on important points,” Sinner reflected on his performance. “This is what we train for, and you have to be adaptable and strategic. In the second-set tie-break, my serve wasn’t great, but I found a way to adjust.”
With a wide-open draw following the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner has solidified his position as a top contender for his second Grand Slam title this year. He will next face Daniil Medvedev, the only other Grand Slam champion left in the draw, who easily defeated Nuno Borges 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 earlier in the day.
Sinner has showcased remarkable consistency this year, boasting a record of 52-5 (91%) and 32-2 (94%) on hard courts. According to Opta, he is the second youngest player ever to reach the quarter-finals in each of his first 12 tournaments of the year.
This success comes shortly after Sinner dealt with controversy surrounding two positive anti-doping tests for clostebol. An independent tribunal cleared him of fault, determining the positives were due to contamination from his physiotherapist’s treatment for a cut, allowing Sinner to continue competing without a public ban.
Early in the match, Paul set a strong tone, quickly building a 4-1 lead in the first set. Despite a sluggish start, Sinner raised his game, dominating exchanges and eventually winning the tie-break.
Paul quickly regrouped after the first set loss, holding serve effectively in the second. However, the turning point came in the second-set tie-break, where Sinner’s decisive forehand return sealed the set for him.
Once ahead two sets, Sinner cruised through the third to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in his career. “The margins were slim,” Paul noted. “That motivates me. It feels like the tournament is wide open.”
In other news, Iga Swiatek advanced efficiently to the quarter-finals, defeating Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-0, setting up a clash with Jessica Pegula, who continued her resurgence with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Diana Shnaider. Pegula aims for her first major semi-final against the world No. 1.