Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev set up US Open quarter-final clash

NEW YORK – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev on Sept 2 set up a quarter-final showdown, as both men look to exploit the hole left by the shock exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Australian Open champion Sinner made the last eight for the second time by seeing off American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

Medvedev, the 2021 champion and runner-up to Djokovic in 2023, outclassed Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals for the fifth time in six years.

Women’s world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, stayed on course for a sixth Grand Slam title with a straight-set win over Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.

Sinner recovered from 4-1 down in the first set to see off Paul, who had been hoping to join compatriots Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-finals.

“It will be another tough match with Daniil. There will be a lot of rallies so I have to be ready physically,” said Sinner.

The Italian, who fired 10 aces against Paul at a rocking Arthur Ashe Stadium, became the only man to reach the last eight at all four Slams in 2024.

“I served very well in the beginning of the match and yes there are some ups and downs, obviously,” added the 23-year-old.

“Finding my rhythm at the end of the match hopefully helps for the next match.”

Russia’s Medvedev, 28, is the only former champion left after the first-week defeats of four-time winner Djokovic and 2022 champion Alcaraz.

The world No. 5 easily downed the 34th-ranked Borges, whose challenge fizzled out under the weight of 51 unforced errors while Medvedev broke serve eight times.

Sinner and Medvedev will be meeting for the fourth time this season on Sept 4, with the Italian having won two of their three earlier encounters.

He came back from two sets to love down to defeat the Russian in the Australian Open final and came out on top in the Miami semi-finals. Medvedev then triumphed at Wimbledon in a five-set quarter-final.

“I will try to think more about Wimbledon than the Australian Open,” said Medvedev.

“With Jannik, I feel like we know our games, what we will try to bring to the table.

“Hopefully we can have a great match. I know if I want to beat him, I need to be at my best. It’s going to be a great match.”

Jack Draper became the first British man since Andy Murray in 2016 to reach the quarter-finals by seeing off Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

The 22-year-old left-hander has dropped serve just once over four matches on his way to a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final, winning 47 of 48 service games and saving 20 of 21 break points.

The 25th seed goes on to face 10th seed Alex de Minaur, who won an all-Australian battle with Jordan Thompson 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

In the women’s draw, four-time French Open winner Swiatek, the 2022 champion in New York, celebrated her 100th Grand Slam match by cantering to a 6-4, 6-1 win over the 16th-ranked Samsonova.

The Pole will take on American sixth seed Jessica Pegula for a place in the semi-finals.

“There will be some long rallies and intense hitting,” said Swiatek of facing Pegula, whom she also beat in the Grand Slam’s quarter-finals in 2022.

Pegula made the last eight for the second time with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russia’s Diana Shnaider.

Beatriz Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian woman to reach the last eight since Maria Bueno in 1968 when she defeated 2014 runner-up Caroline Wozniacki.

The 21st-ranked left-hander converted a third match point to oust the former world No. 1 Dane 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

She will next face 2023 semi-finalist Karolina Muchova, the Czech who knocked out French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, the fifth seed, 6-3, 6-3. AFP, REUTERS