World No.1 Jannik Sinner is playing in cruise mode. The Italian brushed aside compatriot Lorenzo Musetti in the US Open quarterfinals by 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday. The number one seed took a 4-0 lead in the opening set, breaking his countryman twice.
The second set was fought better between the two Italians but Sinner was able to get a crucial break. Furthermore, Sinner defended seven break points against Musetti and didn’t let his serve break for even once.
Sinner was delighted with his solid performance and shed light on the bond he shares with Musetti.
“We know each other very well,” Sinner said of Musetti following his two-hour victory. “We are from the same country. We have so many Italian players every time in the draw. I know here, there are many Italians, so it’s nice to play here. Obviously playing Davis Cup together and stuff like this, we have to take the friendship away for the match and then obviously when we shake hands, everything is fine.
“From my point of view, it was a great performance, very solid. Especially starting very, very well in the match.”
On the other hand, Musetti said Sinner played at a different level altogether and admitted he wasn’t at his best in the opening set.
“I feel like the first set I was a little bit too much in a rush,” reflected Musetti in his post-match press conference. “I think it was not easy for me to find the right feelings with the ball at the beginning, because I never played on night session so far. So I think it was kind of different from what I’ve played in the past matches during the day.
“But, of course, I felt that Jannik was on another level, I would say, on many, many occasions. The second set is the set where I served better and where I had more chances. I had one break point that I didn’t take it. I think with an opponent like him you have to take the few chances that he gives you, and I was not able to do it.”
Sinner will face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals of the New York Major on Friday night.
