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World No 1 wins all-Italian quarter-final in straights
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Sinner saves seven break points in 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win
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Sets up semi-final with Canada’s Auger-Aliassime
Jannik Sinner continued his march toward a second consecutive US Open title on Wednesday night, dispatching the 10th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours flat in the first ever all-Italian men’s quarter-final at a grand slam tournament. The world No 1 and top seed in New York was tested only in flickers but proved unmovable, saving all seven break points he faced while converting five of his six opportunities. The result laid bare once again the gulf between Sinner’s metronomic consistency and the rest of the field, even when confronted with a compatriot armed with one of the most elegant backhands in the sport.
Sinner burst from the gate, taking the first five games from an unsettled Musetti and pocketing the opening set in just 27 minutes. His depth and weight of shot locked his fellow Italian into defensive exchanges, and while Musetti produced stylish winners in spurts, they were outweighed by errors both unforced and otherwise. The second set was tighter. At 1-2, Sinner erased the only early danger with a 129mph unreturnable serve out wide before holding with a thunderous ace. Musetti went break point down in the fifth game after succumbing in an 18-shot rally only to escape with the hold to stay on serve. But serving at 4-4, 30-40, he double-faulted to gift the advantage to Sinner, who calmly served it out after the change of ends for a two-set lead.
