NEW YORK, USA — Defending champion and top seed Jannik Sinner continued his march toward a second consecutive US Open title, defeating fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in the first-ever all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarterfinal. The world No. 1 showcased his metronomic consistency, saving all seven break points he faced during the two-hour match.
A Masterclass in Consistency
Sinner was in command from the very start, taking the first five games of the match and closing out the opening set in just 27 minutes. He used his deep, powerful shots to keep Musetti on the defensive. While Musetti showed flashes of brilliance with elegant winners, his efforts were ultimately undone by a high number of errors. The second and third sets were tighter, but Sinner’s composure never wavered, even with a restless crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium. He secured a key break in the second set after a double fault from Musetti and broke his opponent in the opening game of the third, maintaining an iron grip on the match.
Statistical Dominance
The statistics of the match highlight the one-way traffic. Sinner was nearly perfect on his first serve, winning 42 of 46 points (91%). He finished with 28 winners to just 17 unforced errors and never lost his serve. Musetti, in contrast, was undone by 22 errors and his failure to convert any of his break-point opportunities. The victory marks Sinner’s 26th consecutive win at a major on a hard court, a streak that now ranks alongside Novak Djokovic and Ivan Lendl as the third-longest in history. It was also his 86th Grand Slam win, tying him with Nicola Pietrangeli for the most by an Italian man.
After the match, Sinner acknowledged the unique challenge of facing a countryman. “We have to take the friendship away for the match and then when we shake hands it’s everything fine,” he said. “From my point of view, it was a great performance, very solid, especially starting very well in the match.”
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
Sinner, who is bidding to become the first man to defend the US Open title since Roger Federer in 2008, will next face Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian 25th seed advanced earlier in the day after rallying past Alex de Minaur. Despite a tough history with Auger-Aliassime, Sinner is confident heading into the matchup. “It’s going to be completely different,” Sinner said in the post-match press conference. “He’s had some big wins, so big confidence for him. From my point of view, I always try to look at myself. It’s going to be a very, very difficult match for both of us.”
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