On Tuesday, September 8th, the tennis world was stunned as 18-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner defeated fellow countryman Lorenzo Musetti in four sets to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open. This is the first time that Sinner has reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament and he is the youngest player to do so since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
The match was a thrilling affair, with both players displaying impressive skill and determination. Sinner took the first set 6-4, but Musetti responded by taking the second set 6-3. The third set was a tight affair, with Sinner eventually prevailing 7-5. The fourth set saw Sinner take control of the match, winning 6-3 to secure his place in the quarterfinals.
Sinner’s victory is a remarkable achievement for such a young player. He is only the fourth Italian to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open Era, following Adriano Panatta, Corrado Barazzutti and Fabio Fognini. He is also the first Italian to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament since Fognini at the 2018 French Open.
Sinner’s victory is also a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has been steadily improving over the past year, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 25 in August 2020. He has also won three ATP titles in 2020, including the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan last November.
Sinner will now face off against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. It will be a tough match for Sinner, but he will no doubt be looking to cause an upset and make history by becoming the first Italian to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament since Panatta at the 1976 French Open.
