World No. 1 Jannik Sinner overcame a slow start to defeat Tommy Paul 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1 in the fourth round of the 2024 US Open on Monday evening. The victory sets up an intriguing quarterfinal clash with 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev.
Sinner, who won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year, trailed Paul by a quick double break in the opening set. However, the Italian regrouped and won four straight games to take the momentum. He ultimately advanced into his second quarterfinal in Flushing Meadows after two hours and X minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Paul, seeded 14th, proved to be a major challenge for Sinner. The American had reached the second week of the US Open for the second consecutive year and had posted impressive results at other major tournaments, including quarterfinal finishes at Wimbledon and the Summer Olympic Games.
In the second set, Sinner and Paul traded holds of serve to reach another tiebreaker. Paul brought the crowd to its feet when he edged ahead by a mini-break, but Sinner broke back and benefitted from a pair of return misses from Paul to claim the second set in just over two hours.
Sinner parlayed that advantage into a commanding 3-0 lead in the third set. Paul fought back, but Sinner remained focused and closed out the match in straight sets.
“I’m really happy with the way I played today,” Sinner said. “Tommy is a great player, and he made me work for it. But I’m glad I was able to come through in the end.”
Medvedev, who lost to Sinner in the Australian Open final but won their most recent meeting at Wimbledon, will be a formidable opponent in the quarterfinals.
“I will try to think more about Wimbledon than Australian Open,” Medvedev joked. “But against Jannik…I feel like in a way we know our game, what we will try to bring on the table.
“Hopefully we can have a great match. I know if I want to beat him, I need to be at my best, which I managed to do couple of times. It’s going to be a great match.”
