US Open: Sinner beats Paul to set up QF against Medvedev

New York: Top-seeded Jannik Sinner reached the U.S. 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.

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 on Monday night, 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. ... It’s definitely different than any other setting,” Paul said. “It’s electric.”

A loud crowd was backing the American, to no one’s surprise.

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 — considered poor etiquette in tennis, that 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.

“There are some ups and downs, obviously, in best-of-five. That’s normal to have,” Sinner said. “But finding my rhythm in the end of the match hopefully helps ... in the next match.”