Defending champion Jannik Sinner isn’t underestimating the challenge he faces in the semi-finals of the US Open despite going in as the heavy favourite.
The world No.1 moved into the last four after easing to a comprehensive 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, win over Lorenzo Musetti in what was the first all-Italian Grand Slam quarter-final to take place in the Open Era of men’s tennis. Sinner saved all seven break points he faced in his latest match and hit 28 winners against 17 unforced errors. He has now won 25 Grand Slam hard-court matches in a row which is the longest streak since 2016 when Novak Djokovic won 26 in a row.
“Finding myself again in the semis of a Grand Slam, it’s a great achievement. I’m very happy about that,” the defending champion said during his press conference.
“We (Sinner and his team) try to always prepare in the best possible way to be in this position.
“I love to go deep in a tournament and try to raise my level.
“I feel like since two years ago in Grand Slams, I really like playing best-of-five. I know my body a little bit better, so I’m very happy and pleased to be again in the semis.”
The 24-year-old has dropped just one set so far in the tournament, which was in the third round against Denis Shapovalov. In his two most recent matches against Musetti and Alexander Bublik, he has only dropped just 10 games.
Hoping to stop the Sinner in his tracks will be Felix Auger-Aliassime, who ousted Alex de Minaur in a roller-coaster encounter. The Canadian entered the draw having never defeated a top 10 player at a major tournament. He broke that run by upsetting third seed Alexander Zverev before going on to score wins over Andrey Rublev and then de Minaur.
“It’s going to be completely different because conditions here are different. He had some big wins, so a big confidence boost for him,” Sinner said of his next opponent.
“We see what’s going to happen. I feel like anything can happen. From my point of view, I always try to look at myself, and I’m very happy to be in the semis of a Grand Slam again.
“I feel like he has improved a lot. Even in one week time, you can make big adjustments, and I feel like he did that. It’s going to be a very, very difficult match for both of us.”
Sinner thrashed Auger-Aliassime 6-0, 6-2, in their meeting at the Cincinnati Masters earlier this year in what was their first Tour-level meeting since 2022. Although, he does trail the head-to-head 1-2.
“In the next match I’m not really going to focus on my opponent more than myself. I need to play good tennis,” Auger-Aliassime told reporters.
“I need to play even better than I did (against de Minaur) regardless of tactically what I want to do. I need to play at a high level. There is no other way.”
Sinner is aiming to become the first man since Roger Federer to win back-to-back US Open titles.
