(New York) Italian world number 1 Jannik Sinner has overcome Tommy Paul (14)e), for a 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory and qualification for the quarter-finals of the US Open on Monday in New York.
Sinner will face Russian Daniil Medvedev, winner of the tournament in 2021, in the quarter-finals, a clash between two big favourites for the title, especially since the eliminations of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Sinner, winner of the Australian Open in January, has never done better than a quarter-final at Flushing Meadows (2022).
Facing the American Tommy Paul, the Italian was able to deal with the combativeness of a player pushed by his fans on the immense Arthur-Ashe court (nearly 24,000 spectators), the two putting on a great show.
PHOTO ADAM HUNGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Tommy Paul
More accustomed to the summits of tennis despite his young age (23 years old), Sinner handled the tie breaks of the first two sets like a boss, before breaking at the start of the third sleeve on a passing at the end of the sublime race.
“Mentally I didn’t start very well in the first set (two breaks behind), but I stayed in the game. There were some ups and downs, but I found my rhythm at the end of the game,” commented Sinner.
The Italian had started the tournament with controversy following the revelation of his whitewashing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after two positive tests in March, with several players denouncing the opacity of the process and the feeling of a two-speed anti-doping justice system depending on the status of the players.
Jack Draper qualifies for his first Grand Slam quarter-final
British Jack Draper, 25e world number one, qualified for his first Grand Slam quarter-final on Monday by beating Czech Tomas Machac (39)e) 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.
“The last few times we played against each other [3 victoires en 3 matchs pour Machac, NDLR]”We had a lot of battles. Today I played at a decent level and he wasn’t at his best. But I had to stay focused on every point,” Draper said.
PHOTO TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jack Draper is the first Briton to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s draw at Flushing Meadows since Andy Murray in 2016.
Aged 22, he will face Australian Alex De Minaur (10) on Wednesday for a place in the last four.e) or his compatriot Jordan Thompson (32e).
Draper left no chance for Machac, just as he had left none for his other opponents at Flushing Meadows: in four matches to reach the quarter-finals, the Briton only conceded once, against the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round.
Draper is the first Briton to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s draw in New York since Andy Murray in 2016.
Last year at the US Open, he reached the round of 16, which was his best Grand Slam result to date.
“It’s amazing to play on Louis Armstrong Court. Last year, that’s where I lost at this stage of the tournament, so it’s good to come back and get a better result this year,” Draper said.