Sinner battles past Paul to set up US Open showdown with Medvedev - ESPN

NEW YORK — Top-seeded Jannik Sinner reached the US Open quarterfinals by shaking off a slow start and coming through in the clutch at the end of tiebreakers that decided the first two sets, then pulling away to get past No. 14 Tommy Paul 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-1 on Monday night.

Two weeks removed from being cleared in a doping case stemming from two positive tests in March, Sinner moved into a showdown against 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, the only past winner at Flushing Meadows still in the men's field.

Sinner, a 23-year-old from Italy, claimed his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January by defeating Medvedev in five sets in the final after dropping the first two. They also met in the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July, and Medvedev won that one.

«It's going to be a lot of running,» Sinner said, «so hopefully [I'll] be ready physically.»

Against Paul, Sinner was not at his best at the outset, falling behind by a double-break at 4-1 after 20 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

«That's where you want to be,» Paul said. "… It's definitely different than any other setting. It's electric."

As the match went on, plenty of chants of «U-S-A!» or «Let's go, Tommy! Let's go!» rang out. There also were several moments where spectators clapped after faults by Sinner, which drew repeated admonishments from the chair umpire, who pleaded for no noise between first and second serves.

Sinner finished the initial set with 15 unforced errors on the forehand side alone, but he cleaned that up quickly and closed the match with just six the rest of the way.

«A tough match,» Sinner said. «Obviously, I do believe that I can play a couple of better points at times… but he's a tough opponent. You have to accept he's moving very well, he