Jannik Sinner’s Dominant Start at the US Open
Defending champion Jannik Sinner, currently ranked first in the world, commenced his title defense at the US Open with an impressive performance, barely breaking a sweat against Vit Kopriva. Competing on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, Sinner triumphed with a commanding score of 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
Match Highlights
Throughout the match, he displayed exceptional skill, not losing any of his 11 service games, while winning an impressive 83% of his first serves. He faced two break points, both of which he successfully fended off against Kopriva, who was playing in the main draw of the US Open for the first time at age 28.
Although Sinner had a protective tape on his right ring finger, indicating a blister, it did not seem to hinder his performance. His loss of only four games matched his second-best outcome in a Grand Slam match, having previously allowed just three games to Jiri Lehecka at the French Open’s third round.
Sinner’s 2024 Performance
Since the beginning of 2024, Sinner has emerged as a formidable force on hard courts, boasting a remarkable 66 wins against just 4 losses, the highest number of victories among male players in that timeframe. His only defeats this year have been to the second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, including the finals of the recent Cincinnati Open, from which Sinner withdrew due to illness, and earlier matches in Indian Wells and Beijing.
Potential Showdown
It’s worth noting that Sinner and Alcaraz, who have shared the last seven men’s major titles between them, are positioned on opposite sides of the tournament’s draw, raising the prospect of a third consecutive Grand Slam final showdown between the two.
Historic Streak
Sinner, currently on a remarkable 22-match winning streak at hard-court Grand Slams, is now tied for the sixth-longest such streak in history. Interestingly, the US Open first introduced hard courts in 1978.
Other Notable Competitors
Also advancing from the opening round was Sinner’s fellow Italian, the No. 10 seed Lorenzo Musetti, who triumphed over France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in four sets, finishing 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Other notable competitors included No. 27 Denis Shapovalov, who won in straight sets against Marton Fucsovics, and No. 19 Francisco Cerundolo, who staged a remarkable comeback after losing the first two sets to win against Matteo Arnaldi, finishing 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
