An Italian derby in the US Open quarterfinals . Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti will face off in a first for Italian tennis.
The world number one secured his place in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows with a comfortable 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik . The Italian, wearing a blue suit and cap (he had sported a maroon one in the first week of the US Open), needed just one hour and 21 minutes to overcome his opponent, the only one to have beaten him, along with Carlos Alcaraz in 2025.
In a match without difficulty - he won the first two sets in just 51 minutes - Sinner also benefited from Bublik's repeated errors which paved the way for him to success.
" I'm very happy. Thank you all ," Sinner said immediately after the meeting with Bublik. "We know each other well; he congratulated me and wished me all the best," he said of the brief exchange with the Kazakh as they left the court.
The microphones captured Bublik saying, "I'm not bad, but you're 'the goat,'" the greatest of all time. A compliment that made Sinner break into a big smile.
" Italian tennis is in great shape and Lorenzo is one of the best ," commented the world number one. "From an Italian point of view, it's nice to know that there will be an Italian in the semifinals."
Musetti himself, having emerged victorious from his match against Spaniard Jaume Munar, had also hoped to face Sinner. "I'd like to play more against Jannik," the Tuscan said, "because, in terms of ambition, I'd like to try to beat the world number one," before Sinner took the court. Musetti called the South Tyrolean "the best player in the world: a champion." But, he noted, the pressure will be on him first and foremost, and the Carrara native could benefit from this in the quarterfinals of the US Grand Slam.
(Unioneonline/vl)
