Sinner battles past Paul into US Open quarter-finals
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He became the only man to reach the last eight at all four majors this year
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top seed Jannik Sinner survived a hard-fought battle against Tommy Paul to beat the American 7-6(3) 7-6(5) 6-1 and reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Monday.
Sinner, who fired down 10 aces at a rocking Arthur Ashe Stadium, became the only man to reach the last eight at all four majors this year.
"I served very well in the beginning of the match and yes there are some ups and downs, obviously," said Sinner.
"Finding my rhythm at the end of the match hopefully helps for the next match."
Paul, backed by a boisterous home crowd, produced moments of brilliance as he defended 10 of the 14 break points he faced, but his hopes of ending a 21-year U.S. drought in the men's Grand Slams were snuffed out by Sinner's precision play.
"We have two Americans (Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz) still left in the tournament, but, you know, it's never really felt this open, in a way," said Paul. "So I believe that one of us can do it at some point."
Paul raised American hopes when he won 11 consecutive points to go up 4-1 in the first set but Sinner retaliated quickly, converting a break point chance in the sixth game and again in the eighth with a wicked forehand winner down the line.
Sinner had a chance to close out the set in the 10th game but could not convert a break point and the crowd broke into chants of "USA!" during a tense tiebreak, where the Italian forced Paul into a backhand error on set point.
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Sinner let a break point chance slip through his fingers late in the second set and the umpire had to calm the crowd repeatedly in the tiebreak, as the Italian subdued his opponent from the baseline.
Paul survived a 21-shot rally to save break point in the second game of the third set but a double fault gave Sinner another chance and the world number one converted, whipping a forehand winner past the American.
Sinner pumped his fist with satisfaction after Paul sent a shot long on match point.
"You have to accept he's moving very well, he can mix up the game. I'm happy about the win today," said Sinner.
He next plays 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in a rematch of their Australian Open final this year, which the Italian won in a five-set thriller .
"Tough match. It's going to be a lot of rallies so hopefully I'll be ready physically," said Sinner.
