Jannik Sinner Advances to Fourth Round of US Open
In an intense match on Saturday, Jannik Sinner, the tournament’s top seed, showcased remarkable tenacity, advancing to the round of 16 at the US Open by defeating No. 27 Denis Shapovalov with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. This contest marked a significant turning point for Sinner as it was the first time he experienced a break of serve in this year’s tournament and also the first set he has dropped since the quarterfinals last year.
Match Highlights
The 24-year-old Italian demonstrated resilience after falling behind early in the match, where Shapovalov, a left-handed player from Canada and a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2021, quickly took control, winning 14 of 17 points to jump to a 3-0 lead in the third set. Despite the rocky start, Sinner rebounded strongly, claiming nine consecutive games to regain control of the match.
“Denis started off very well,” remarked Sinner, referencing his opponent’s strong start, “and I just tried to stay there mentally.”
This victory is notable for Sinner as it extends his impressive hard-court Grand Slam win streak to 24 matches, an unbeaten run that began after he lifted the trophy at the US Open in 2024, followed by wins at the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025, and more recently at Wimbledon in July. With this win, he has also reached the round of 16 in his last ten major tournaments, underscoring his consistent performance on the big stage.
Upcoming Challenges
Sinner’s journey at Flushing Meadows this year has seen him not only drop a set but also double-fault to conclude the first set—a rare misstep for the top-seeded player. Earlier in the match, both competitors displayed extraordinary skill, highlighted by a thrilling rally that featured a remarkable 30-stroke exchange, which Sinner ultimately won with a clever lob shot that narrowly evaded Shapovalov.
As he heads into the fourth round on Monday, Sinner is set to face either 14th-seeded American Tommy Paul or No. 23 Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan, who will compete on Saturday night. With both No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz positioned in the opposite half of the draw, Sinner’s path appears favorable as he looks to become the first player to defend his title at the US Open since Roger Federer achieved this feat between 2004 and 2008.
Historic Achievements
In a separate match on Saturday, Swiss player Leandro Riedi, ranked No. 435 in the world, made history by becoming the lowest-ranked man to reach the round of 16 at a Grand Slam since 2002. Riedi benefited when his opponent, Kamil Majchrzak from Poland, retired after just eight games due to injury. Remarkably, Riedi is also the first player to advance to the second week of the US Open without having secured a major match win prior to this tournament since Denis Shapovalov did so in 2017.
Italian players Jaume Munar and No. 10 seed Lorenzo Musetti also progressed on Saturday, the latter advancing after his match against No. 23 Flavio Cobolli was halted due to arm pain suffered by Cobolli while trailing.
