Sinner’s brutal consistency: at least in the quarterfinals at every major in 2024 | ATP Tour

Match report

Sinner’s brutal consistency: at least in the quarterfinals of each Grand Slam of the year

His next opponent will be Daniil Medvedev at the US Open

September 03, 2024

Jannik Sinner became the eighth player this century to reach the quarter-finals of every Grand Slam in a single season, joining the ranks of true legends of the sport. The Italian completed the quartet in 2024 by beating local Tommy Paul 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-1 in the round of 16 of the US Open.

In the quarterfinals of every Grand Slam of the year (since this century)

The list of players who have achieved this feat during the Open Era is longer. It now stands at 16 players, including Sinner. But when it comes to players aged 23 or younger who have achieved it, the group shrinks dramatically.

This is now made up of Novak Djokovic (2010), Rafael Nadal (2008), Pete Sampras (1993), Ivan Lendl (1983) and Sinner, who was champion this season in Australia, semi-finalist at Roland Garros and now quarter-finalist at both Wimbledon and the US Open.

The only quarterfinal spot he was missing was secured by his best mental level of the fortnight in New York. Despite having a Tommy Paul playing like never before at the US Open, with almost the entire Arthur Ashe Stadium against him, the 23-year-old right-hander was unshakeable.

Although he had a difficult time in the opening set due to a 1-4 disadvantage and then wasting a set point on return at 5-4, Sinner continued to fight at every turn and began to distance himself on the scoreboard with a brilliant tie-break in which he also knew how to capitalize on two unforced errors from Paul, including a smash.

“I definitely didn’t start off very well mentally. I was down by two breaks in the first set. I tried to stay that way mentally and today’s result was definitely one of the keys to winning this match,” Sinner said. “I served very well at the beginning of the match. Obviously, in a best-of-five there are some ups and downs, that’s normal. But I hope that finding my rhythm at the end of the match will help me for the next match. We’ll see.”

The second set was more of a struggle. Although he did not face break points on serve, he was unable to capitalise on the only one he generated on the return and had to resort to a tie-break which also went his way. Breaking the return of the third in his first game already began to decide everything in the last match of the round of 16 of the men’s tournament.

The rest tried to hold on. He did, crossing the finish line after two hours and 42 minutes to establish himself as the tennis player with the most victories of the year on hard courts. On Monday he achieved his 32nd in these conditions, five more than his pursuer, the German Alexander Zverev.

“It’s a great honour to play on this court. The evening session is always very, very nice. Thank you all for the support, it’s amazing,” Sinner said. “I don’t think either of us played our best tennis. It was a bit windy so we tried to find our rhythm a bit. I found it a bit at the end of the match but I can be very proud. He was a tough opponent today so I’m very happy to be in the next round.”

That result puts him in the next round with Daniil Medvedev, who leads the Lexus ATP HeadToHead between the two 7-5. The No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings won their most recent meeting at Wimbledon a few weeks ago. But Sinner, who is seeking his first US Open semifinal, has won five of the last six meetings in the rivalry.

On Wednesday, the first duel between members of the Top 5 will take place in the tournament. If Sinner wins, there will be a new champion in the history of the US Open.