Top-seeded Jannik Sinner is staying on even footing with rival and second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in the early stages of the U.S. Open.
On paper, the 2025 two-time major champion had a biggest test on Wednesday, but Sinner passed it easily, defeating Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just one minute over the two-hour mark.
Popyrin enjoyed a brilliant 2024 season which included an ATP 1000 title in Montreal and a third-round win over Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open. He has not been nearly as sharp this year, but surely a threat when his powerful serve in on.
But the Italian managed to earn nine break points on Popyrin’s serve and came through on five of those opportunities. And he saved all five break points against him to improve to 41-9 at the U.S. Open, tying Roger Federer for the best record after 50 matches.
“I try to play the best tennis I can,” Sinner said in the post-match interview. “First-round match is always different. I’m very happy I managed those matches as good as I could. When you’re up two sets and a break I try to serve the best I can. I felt like we both didn’t serve great. I returned very well, especially the second serve. I’m very happy about today. I’m obviously aiming to improve the serve. But honestly, the rest I feel quite comfortable.”
Both Sinner and Alcaraz have breezed through the first two rounds, neither dropping serve and triumphing in straight sets.
Two seeded players dropped five-setters in the ideal conditions in Flushing. No. 9 Russian Karen Khachanov led Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak two sets to love, but succumbed 2-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (5) in four hours, 31 minutes.
No. 19 Argentine Francisco Cerundolo experienced a similar fate, letting a 2-0 lead get away from him in a 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 loss to Switzerland’s Leandro Riedi, who is ranked No. 435 in the world and won three matches just to qualify for the event.
The last match of the night went until early Friday morning before No. 14 Tommy Paul of the United States survived with a 7-6 (6), 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 7-5 win over Portugal’s Nuno Borges. Paul broke serve in the final game to seal the victory in 4 hours, 25 minutes.
Third-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany motored past Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Other seeded players to win were Australian No. 8 Alex de Minaur, Italian No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti, Russian No. 15 Andrey Rublev, Kazakh No. 23 Alexander Bublik, Italian No. 24 Flavio Cobolli, Canadian No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime and Canadian No. 27 Denis Shapovalov.
Shapovalov is next up for Sinner in the third round.
Germany’s Daniel Altmaier rallied for a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over No. 26 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, and Spain’s Jaume Munar ousted No. 31 Gabriel Diallo of Canada 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.
Cobolli’s match with Jenson Brooksby went the distance. The native of Sacramento evened the match with a 6-2 fourth set decision, but Cobolli prevailed 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (3).
In a battle of unseeded players, Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong defeated Australian Adam Walton 7-6 (5), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
–Field Level Media
