Jannik Sinner takes down crowd-favorite Tommy Paul at the 2024 US Open

Jannik Sinner takes down crowd-favorite Tommy Paul

In a thrilling fourth-round clash at the 2024 US Open, Jannik Sinner outlasted home favorite Tommy Paul in a spectacular display of athleticism and skill. The match, held on Arthur Ashe Stadium, featured intense shot-making and dramatic moments that had the crowd on their feet.

Paul, backed by a boisterous American audience, pushed the top-seeded Sinner to the limit for the first two sets. Despite the fervent support, it was Sinner who emerged victorious with a 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-1 win after two hours and 42 minutes of high-octane tennis.

The highlight of the match came during a gripping 18-shot rally in the second-set tiebreak. Sinner's decisive backhand passing shot after a fierce exchange tied the breaker at 4-4, a moment that even Paul's staunchest supporters couldn't help but applaud. Sinner went on to take the second set with a pair of powerful returns on set point.

With a commanding 3-0 lead in the third set, Sinner swiftly finished off the match in just 39 minutes, closing out the final set after two grueling sets that had stretched well over an hour each.

Post-match, Sinner expressed his gratitude for the support and the opportunity to play on such a prestigious stage. “It’s a huge honor to play on this court here. The evening session is always very, very nice. Thanks to everyone for the support; it’s amazing,” he said.

Tommy Paul began the match with impressive momentum, breaking Jannik Sinner twice to establish a 4-1 lead. However, Sinner responded with resilience, winning four consecutive games to take control. He then clinched the opening set by winning four straight points in the tiebreak after it had reached 3-3.

Reflecting on the match, Sinner admitted, “Mentally, I didn’t start very well. I was down by a double break in the first set. I had to stay focused, and that was definitely one of the keys to winning today.” He also acknowledged the challenging conditions, noting that the wind affected both players' ability to play consistently. “There are always ups and downs in best-of-five matches. Finding my rhythm towards the end hopefully sets me up well for the next match.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Jannik Sinner has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the only player this year to advance to the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments. The 23-year-old claimed his first major title at the Australian Open, made it to the semifinals at Roland Garros, and reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Currently riding an eight-match winning streak that began with his Cincinnati title, Sinner has matched his best US Open performance from 2022, when he reached the quarterfinals before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in a historic five-set match that concluded at 2:50 a.m.

Sinner’s next challenge will be a showdown with Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion and two-time runner-up. Medvedev holds a 7-5 lead in their head-to-head record, with the two players splitting their Grand Slam encounters this year—Sinner winning at the Australian Open and Medvedev prevailing at Wimbledon.

“It’s going to be a tough match with a lot of rallies, so I need to be physically ready,” Sinner said. “It will be both a physical and mental battle. We each won a Grand Slam match against each other this year, so I’m looking forward to another exciting contest. We’ll give our best on court, and I hope everyone enjoys it. We’ll see how it goes.”

MATCH POINT: Jannik Sinner has become the eighth male player since 2000 to reach the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single season. He joins a prestigious group that includes Novak Djokovic (8 times), Roger Federer (8), Rafael Nadal (5), Andy Murray (4), David Ferrer (2), Stan Wawrinka (1), and Andre Agassi (1).