Swiatek “better every day”: Sinner passes nerve test and makes showdown perfect

Swiatek “better every day”
Sinner passes nerve test and makes showdown perfect

03.09.2024, 06:30 a.m.

Against the local hero twice in a tiebreak – Jannik Sinner wins a tennis thriller. At the US Open, the world number one reached the quarterfinals after a tough fight. The favorite in the women’s competition makes it much easier for herself.

Top favorite Jannik Sinner held his nerve to pass his first real test at the US Open and reached the quarterfinals. The world number one defeated the American Tommy Paul 7:6 (7:3), 7:6 (7:5), 6:1 and remained calm even in the heated evening atmosphere in New York.

Sinner is the only male tennis professional to make it into at least the top eight in all four Grand Slam tournaments of the year and will now face former US Open winner Daniil Medvedev from Russia. “It will be a difficult match. I hope I will be physically and mentally ready,” said the Italian. It will be a repeat of the Australian Open final. Sinner turned a 0-2 set deficit against the Russians in Melbourne in January and won his first Grand Slam title. He was knocked out by Medvedev in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon around two months ago.

The top seeded player, Iga Swiatek, also prevailed in the women’s singles. The 23-year-old Pole won 6:4, 6:1 against Russian Lyudmila Samsonova in the round of 16. Swiatek will face sixth seeded American Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. In New York, Swiatek won her sixth Grand Slam title.

Swiatek remains flawless

Paul got off to a brilliant start, but Sinner was having a hard time at the beginning. The South Tyrolean made some unusual mistakes. At times Paul won eleven points in the series and was quickly ahead 4:1. The crowd cheered on their favorite with chants of “USA, USA”. The 23-year-old Sinner stayed cool and, cheered on by singer Seal in the stands, quickly managed two re-breaks. It was a close match. In the tiebreaks of the first two sets, the Australian Open winner Sinner showed his extra class and ultimately dominated the third round.

After the elimination of the two favorites Carlos Alcaraz from Spain and Novak Djokovic from Serbia, Sinner is the hottest contender for the title ahead of Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. He is under special public scrutiny following his acquittal shortly before the tournament following two positive doping tests in the spring.

Before the Italian, world number ten Alex de Minaur from Australia reached the quarterfinals on Monday evening with a 6:0, 3:6, 6:3, 7:5 win against his compatriot Jordan Thompson. The young Briton Jack Draper is waiting there.

Swiatek was in top form for her second US Open title. She remained flawless on her own serve and did not allow her opponents a break point. At 5:4 in the first set, she took Samsonowa’s serve for the first time. After 1:30 hours, Swiatek converted the match point. “At the beginning of the tournament, it was not easy to find my rhythm. But it feels like I am getting better every day,” said the 2022 title winner after the win.