Jannik Sinner returned to the U.S. Open semifinals by beating No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti.
Jannik Sinner kept his US Open title defence alive with a commanding victory over Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday night. The world No. 1 dismissed his fellow Italian 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in just two hours. It was the first-ever all-Italian men’s quarterfinal at a Grand Slam, and Sinner proved untouchable.
The victory sends Sinner back into the semifinals in New York, where he will face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday. Auger-Aliassime, seeded 25th, outlasted Alex de Minaur in four tight sets earlier in the day.
Sinner Extends Hard-Court Streak
Sinner’s win marked his fifth straight Grand Slam semifinal appearance. If he beats Auger-Aliassime, he will reach the final of all four majors this year. The Italian has now won 26 consecutive matches on hard courts in Grand Slams. That streak includes back-to-back Australian Open titles and his US Open crown in 2023.
“These are very special occasions,” Sinner reflected after the win. “Finding myself again in the semis of a Grand Slam is a great achievement.”
Ruthless From Start To Finish
The match began with Sinner racing out to a 5-0 lead in the opening set. Musetti, the No. 10 seed, managed just nine points in that stretch. Sinner closed the set in 27 minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.
The 22-year-old didn’t allow Musetti to settle. He faced seven break points across the match but saved them all with calm precision. His serve was nearly unplayable—winning 42 of 46 first-serve points, an impressive 91% success rate.
Sinner has now strung together 31 consecutive service games without being broken. In his five matches at this year’s US Open, he has dropped only 38 games—the second-fewest by a semifinalist since 2020.
Musetti Struggles To Find Answers
Musetti entered the clash hoping to reach his first US Open semifinal. Earlier this year, he had impressed with deep runs at both the French Open and Wimbledon. But against Sinner, he found himself overwhelmed from the start.
“I never played someone who put me on this kind of rush in the rally,” Musetti admitted. “I didn’t have many chances. He was always leading the points. It was a bad feeling.”
Although Musetti improved slightly in the second and third sets, he failed to convert opportunities against Sinner’s serve. Without a breakthrough, his hopes of turning the tide quickly faded.
Friendship Put Aside
The matchup carried extra weight as both players are Davis Cup teammates and close friends off the court. But on Wednesday night, the bond was set aside.
“We have to take the friendship away for the match,” Sinner said. “When we shake hands, everything’s fine again.”
Next Challenge Awaits
With Musetti dispatched, Sinner now turns his attention to Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian survived a grueling four-set battle against de Minaur, showing resilience under pressure. Sinner, however, heads into the semifinal as the clear favorite.
Should he win on Friday, the Italian will continue his quest for back-to-back US Open titles and a chance to complete a remarkable year by contesting all four major finals.
For now, Sinner’s dominant form makes one thing clear—his US Open title defence is alive and stronger than ever.
