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MEN'S WRAP DAY 7: No panic for Sinner as he battles past Shapovalov at US Open

football31 August 2025 04:33| © Reuters
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Jannik Sinner © Getty Images

Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame stiff resistance to power into the US Open fourth round with a 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over 27th seed Denis Shapovalov on Saturday that extended his unbeaten run at hardcourt Grand Slams to 24 matches.

Order of Play

The 24-year-old Italian has not lost on his dominant surface at the majors since 2023, capturing two Australian Open titles as well as last year's trophy at Flushing Meadows.

"Very tough match today. I know Denis a long time. The last time that we played was some years ago," Sinner said, referring to his defeat by the Canadian in the opening round of the Australian Open in 2021.

"We both have improved so much. I knew I had to play at a very high level. I'm happy that I managed to win. He started off very well.

"I tried to stay there mentally, trying to see what's coming. Thank you so much for the support. It's been amazing since so many years. I'm very happy."

There was a hint of concern from Sinner's team when he made a double fault to go 0-30 down at 2-5 in the first set, but the world No 1 held serve and raised his fist to loud roars after hitting a spectacular lob en route to breaking back.

A rattled Shapovalov remonstrated with the chair umpire during the changeover, protesting an automated foot fault, but composed himself and snatched the set after a fourth double fault from Sinner drew gasps at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

As shadows engulfed the main showcourt, the ice-cool Sinner breezed through the next set with minimum fuss to go level, and dug himself out of a hole from 0-3 in the next to claim six straight games and lead the match for the first time.

Sinner broke again in the following set and a frustrated Shapovalov sarcastically pumped his fists and glared at his team before the world No 1 put him out of his misery to set up a clash with Tommy Paul or Alexander Bublik.

"Week two is completely different," Sinner added.

"You'll see less people behind the scenes. It's a great sign that I'm still here. I'm looking forward to the next match. It's getting tougher physically and mentally, it's all different.

"It's a special place for me for many years. The first time that I played the main draw of a slam was here. And I won last year. It's an amazing place to be. Let's see what's coming."

AUGER-ALIASSIME STUNS ZVEREV

Felix Auger-Aliassime rallied from a set down to stun world No 3 Alexander Zverev 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4 6-4 and reach the last 16 at the US Open on Saturday.

Auger-Aliassime battled to pull off one of the biggest wins of his career, returning to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since his 2021 semifinal run.

"I'm still young but it's been a few years and I'm working my way... Some of you might be the first time you’re watching me tonight, but this feels really good," said the 25-year-old.

"The job's not done. Tournament is still going. But this means a lot to me. A lot of hard work. Many years of it."

Zverev edged a tight opener, the German third seed striking early with a break in the opening game.

Though the Canadian clawed it back Zverev immediately pushed again to reclaim the lead and then slammed the door shut to win the set, rattling off three routine holds without facing a break.

The second set turned into a serving showcase with neither player facing a break point as it went to a tiebreak.

Zverev, still searching for his first Grand Slam title, looked poised to pull away after a double fault gave him the edge at 4-4, but Auger-Aliassime again fought back with fearless shotmaking.

Both let set points slip before the Canadian finally snatched it 9-7, a fortuitous net cord sealing the set and squaring the match.

The 25th seed raised his game in the third, breaking early and hitting sharp winners that rattled the German, who slammed his racket as he grew increasingly frustrated as the set steadily slipped away.

Auger-Aliassime took full control in the fourth set as he went on to break to love, seizing a decisive advantage and closing out the set on serve to secure the win in front of a raucous crowd at the Louis Armstrong stadium.

The Canadian will face Russian Andrey Rublev in the next round.

WONG'S DREAM OVER AFTER RUBLEV THRILLER 

Coleman Wong's fairytale US Open campaign came to a halt in the third round on Saturday as the Hong Kong player exited after a five-set thriller against Russian 15th seed Andrey Rublev.

Wong – the first player from Hong Kong ever to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open era – bowed out in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 defeat on the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre's Grandstand court.

The experienced Rublev was pushed all the way by the 21-year-old, who trains at Rafael Nadal's tennis academy in Spain and who had fought his way into the main draw via the qualifiers.

Wong, ranked 173rd in the world, delighted a packed crowd with some superb shots, his signature disguised drop shot repeatedly leaving Rublev scrambling at the net.

After his success in New York, Wong has now set his sights on breaking into the top 100. He returns to Hong Kong to play in a Davis Cup match against Uzbekistan next month, before joining the ATP Tour's Asian swing.

"I'm getting closer, and I've proved to myself that I can do it," Wong said of his rankings goal. "I need to keep believing. I can see that I have the potential and I can scare the big guys.

"I believe in myself more now. I was still in Challengers, and now I'm in US Open third round, almost beating a tough top 20 player, going five sets with them. It means I'm capable of pushing them all the way," added Wong.

A relieved Rublev described the 3hr 10min battle as a "tough, tough match."

"He was playing with no fear, really aggressive. I didn't start well and he was all over me. I had to fight for every ball to turn around the match."

Rublev revealed he had been expecting a tough challenge after practicing against Wong in Cincinnati recently.

"He destroyed me on the practice court and he beat me," he said. "That gave him the confidence today to play super-good."

Rublev will now face either third seed Alexander Zverev or Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last 16 on Monday as he attempts to reach the quarterfinals for the fifth time.

"I feel great," Rublev said. "Maybe I didn't enjoy today that much. Today was a bit more drama than enjoyable."

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