Tennis
Sinner works hard to make US Open fourth round─── ILSE SMALBERGER 10:47 Sun, 31 Aug 2025
Four-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner had to dig deep, but finally made it through to the fourth round of the US Open after beating the 27th seeded Denis Shapovalov 5-7, 6-4, 6-,3 6-3 on Saturday, 30 August.
World number one Sinner had only lost eleven games across his previous two matches, but was far from his best against the Canadian. He struggled with his serve, produced five double faults and 36 unforced errors, while his first-serve percentage was just 58%.
However, the victory extends the 24-year-old Italian’s unbeaten run at hardcourt Grand Slams to 24 matches. After the match, Sinner said he tried to stay in the match mentally.
“I’m not a machine, you know. I also struggle sometimes. Today, I felt like I didn’t struggle. I was playing great tennis, and he also. Every match is so difficult. The scoreline was a bit against me today, but I just tried to stay there mentally.”
In their only previous encounter in the opening round of the 2021 Australian Open, Shapovalov triumphed.
In other matches in round three, World number three Alexander Zverev’s tournament was ended by Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime (4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4), while 14th seed Tommy Paul crashed out after a 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 defeat by Alexander Bublik.
The 23rd-seeded Bublik will face Sinner in the fourth round of the championship.
OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg
