IMAGE: Defending champion Jannik Sinner extended his hardcourt winning streak to 26 matches. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Jannik Sinner stormed into the semi-finals of the US Open after outclassing compatriot Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in straight sets on Wednesday in the first all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarter-final.
The World No 1, who extended his hardcourt winning streak to 26 matches, will play against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals.
Sinner came out attacking as he raced into a comfortable 5-0 lead in the first set before Musetti managed to get on the board.
The next set also went the same way as Musetti threated in the early games to break Sinner’s serve but the defending champion proved too strong to take a two-set lead.
A ruthless Sinner wrapped up the match comfortably in exactly after he claimed the third set 6-2.
Sinner became the second-youngest man in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams in a single season, behind a 22-year-old Rafael Nadal in 2008.
“It was a good performance, I was very solid, I started well … it’s nearly midnight, so thank you all for staying,” Sinner said after the match.
“Obviously we know each other well,” he said of Musetti. “We’re from the same country, there are so many Italians in the draw. Many Italians here so it’s nice to play here. Playing Davis Cup together and stuff but you have to take the friendship away for the match. When we shake hands, everything is fine. It’s amazing, I’m sure that back home some Italians are not sleeping. It’s a special country and we have amazing support.”
Auger-Aliassime enjoys a superior head-to-head record against Sinner, having won three out of the four matches played between them.
IMAGE: Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime sent down 22 aces and 51 winners to topple eighth seed Alex De Minaur and enter his second major semi-final at the US Open on Wednesday. Photograph: Robert Deutsch/Reuters
Felix Auger-Aliassime staged a grand recovery after losing the first set to beat Australian eighth seed Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-6(4) and enter the US Open semi-finals at the Arthur Ashe stadium on Wednesday.
Four years after entering his first major semi-final at the US Open in 2021, the 25th seeded Canadian sent down 22 aces and 51 winners to topple De Minaur after four hours, 10 minutes.
Auger-Aliassime, in his second major semi-final, will meet either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Lorenzo Musetti.
“It was just a lot of nerves today during the whole match; it wasn’t pretty at all times, but that’s what Grand Slam matches are,” said Auger-Aliassime, after his second victory over a top-10 player at the tournament, having knocked out third seed Alexander Zverev in the last 32.
“Somedays you won’t feel your best but I was willing to dig deep and do everything I can to stand here right now.
“It feels amazing. Four years ago… It feels like more. It was a tough couple of years but it feels great to be back in the semi-finals.”
De Minaur, 26, has now lost all six of his Grand Slam quarter-finals. His dream of reaching a maiden major semi-final will have to wait until 2026. He struggled with his serve, hitting just 42 per cent of his first, with 11 double faults and made 43 unforced errors.
On the verge of falling two sets back, the Canadian won an absorbing 85-minute second set to draw level, and then held his nerve under pressure.
Both players hit two double faults in a tense fourth-set tie-break, but it was Auger-Aliassime who held firm to emerge triumphant.
