New York: World number one Jannik Sinner decisively defeated 23rd seed Alexander Bublik to secure his place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing US Open, maintaining his title defense and ensuring he remains unbeaten in Melbourne or New York since 2023.
After overcoming an unexpected challenge from Denis Shapovalov in the previous round, the Italian star returned to his dominant form. He easily dispatched Bublik with a score of 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in a match that lasted one hour and 21 minutes.
"Overall, I'm very, very happy. [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 to everyone for coming, for cheering. This is a very special occasion for us players, so thank you so much," Sinner stated, as reported by ATP.com.
Bublik entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium having not lost a single service game in three rounds. However, Sinner presented a significantly different challenge. He quickly won the first two games and maintained his momentum throughout the match.
Sinner broke his Kazakhstani opponent's serve eight times, faced only one break point, and was the key player in the second-shortest completed men's singles match of the tournament, continuing his journey in the US. Every tactic Bublik attempted against Sinner, including his most effective drop shot, was effectively neutralized.
"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. 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 well as he usually does, so I broke him very early in every set, which then gave me the confidence to serve a little bit better," Sinner added.
It will be an all-Italian showdown in the final eight, with Sinner prepared to face off against the 10th seed, Lorenzo Musetti. The world number one has not yet been defeated by any fellow Italian, and Musetti is regarded as one of the "greatest talents" in the tennis world.
"It's wonderful to witness. Italian tennis is currently thriving. We have numerous players with a variety of playing styles. Lorenzo might be one of the most significant talents in our sport, so I am eagerly anticipating this match. From an Italian perspective, it's certainly fantastic to have at least one Italian player in the semifinals," he remarked.
