Sinner Sinks Sonego To Reach US Open R3

Jannik Sinner improved to a perfect 10 wins from 10 meetings against fellow Italians with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Lorenzo Sonego to reach the third round of the US Open Thursday.

The World No. 6 was rock solid on serve, dropping just 10 points on serve and not offering up any break point chances. He also continued to back himself at net, winning 21 from 24 net approaches. He has found himself at net 50 times in two matches this fortnight.

“We work a lot, me and my team, trying to push myself forward and I feel like my game has improved a little bit," Sinner said. "I feel more comfortable at the net and this is a new thing of mine. Hopefully I can also show this in the future."

Many fans are looking ahead to a quarter-final re-match between Sinner and top seed Carlos Alcaraz, who last year saved a match point to deny the Italian in the last eight en route to his maiden Grand Slam title.

But the 22-year-old knows that much works is still to be done in the next two rounds to book a date with the World No. 1. Sinner next faces the winner of Stan Wawrinka and Yoshihito Nishioka and could face 12th seed Alexander Zverev in the fourth round.

Sinner is strengthening his claim to qualify for the first time for the Nitto ATP Finals on home soil in Turin. The 2021 tournament alternate has a commanding hold on fourth place in the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin, where he holds a 705-point lead over fifth-placed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who fell in the second round at Flushing Meadows.

Sinner continued to show a willingness to come forward, losing just three of 24 net points after winning 17 of 26 net approaches in the opening round against Yannick Hanfmann. He hit 27 winners to just 15 unforced errors.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]