Flushing Meadows,( New York ) August 29(HS): Jannik Sinner, the world number one and defending US Open champion, kept his quest to secure back-to-back titles emphatically alive with a dominant straight-sets victory over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the second round of the US Open on Thursday. The 24-year-old Italian dispatched Popyrin 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just two hours and one minute at Arthur Ashe Stadium, showcasing a blend of precision, power, and tactical prowess.
Sinner’s performance was clinical from the outset. He broke Popyrin’s serve early across all three sets, barely allowing the 36th-ranked Australian to mount any significant resistance. After a brief physio break to tend to a bandaged foot, Sinner returned to efficiently dismantle his opponent’s game with a powerful blend of groundstrokes and deft drop shots, underscoring his versatility on the hard courts.
This marked Sinner’s 23rd consecutive hard-court Grand Slam victory, extending an impressive streak that began with his triumphant Australian Open title defense earlier in the year. The reigning champion likened his serve—landing just 51% of his first serves on the day—as an area for improvement despite the decisive win, stating, “I’m very pleased with today’s performance. Clearly, I want to improve my serve, but I feel quite comfortable with the rest of my game.”
Looking ahead, Sinner’s next challenge is a high-stakes third-round encounter against Canadian Denis Shapovalov, the 27th seed. The two last met at the 2021 Australian Open in a grueling five-set match that saw Shapovalov prevail. Acknowledging the challenge, Sinner said, “He is a very talented player with huge potential… it’s going to be a very tough match, and I’m looking forward to it.”
This season, Sinner has been nothing short of spectacular, having reached the final of all three Grand Slam tournaments prior to the US Open, clinching titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while finishing runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open. He is now poised to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2008 to successfully defend the US Open crown.
Sinner’s command on the court has been matched by other top seeds this tournament, with notable victories by Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka in the women’s draw, each setting up enticing matches in the third round.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Sinner, who aims to continue his winning streak and solidify his status as the dominant force in men’s tennis.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
