Musetti

Top-seed Jannik Sinner cruised through the semifinals, losing only seven games to Italian compatriot Lorenzo Musetti.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his ruthless run at the US Open by beating 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-1 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday in the first all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarterfinal.

The world number one, who also holds the Australian Open trophy, extended his hardcourt winning streak to 26 matches and will take on Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinal on Friday.

“It was a good performance, I was very solid, I started well … It’s nearly midnight, so thank you all for staying,” Sinner told the crowd.

“Obviously, we know each other well,” he said of Musetti.

“We’re from the same country, there are so many Italians in the draw. Many Italians here so it’s nice to play here. Playing Davis Cup together and stuff but you have to take the friendship away for the match. When we shake hands, everything is fine.

“It’s amazing, I’m sure that back home some Italians are not sleeping. It’s a special country and we have amazing support.”

Sinner’s thunderous hitting from the word go helped him take a 5-0 lead, and while the loudest applause of the evening came when Musetti got on the board, that was the only joy he had in the opening set.

Musetti briefly threatened to break early in the second, but Sinner staved off his challenge to double his advantage, before easing through the next set and finishing it with a clean hold.

“Every player in the semifinals of a Grand Slam is playing amazing tennis,” Sinner added.

“It’s a very special tournament. The last Grand Slam of the year. There’s no better place to play a night match here, on the biggest stadium we have, with an amazing crowd.

“It means a lot to me.”

Jannik Sinner continued his US Open title defence in dominant fashion as he swept past fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semi-finals in New York.

Labelled an “artificial intelligence” player by Alexander Bublik in the last round, Sinner’s scintillating form carried on as he won 6-1 6-4 6-2.

Musetti, ranked 10th, was unable to convert any of his seven break points, while he hit just 12 winners to his compatriot’s 28 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“We know each other very well. We’re from the same country, there’s so many Italian players in the draw, so it’s nice to play here,” Sinner said.

“Obviously playing Davis Cup together and stuff like this you have to take the friendship away, but when you shake hands everything is fine.”

In a ruthless first set, Sinner rattled through the first five games and conceded just five points before Musetti eventually held serve to get himself on the board for 5-1.

Sinner closed out the opener after just 27 minutes, but his momentum slowed in the second set as Musetti stepped up his level.

But the top seed managed to grab the decisive break at 4-4 and served it out comfortably before breaking twice in the third to secure the win just before midnight at Flushing Meadows.

“From my point of view it was a great performance, very solid,” Sinner added.

He has now won 26 consecutive matches at hard-court Grand Slam tournaments.

The 24-year-old will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in Friday’s semi-final after the Canadian defeated Alex de Minaur of Australia.

Jack Draper booked his spot in the Madrid Open final with a hard-fought 6-3 7-6 (7-4) victory against Lorenzo Musetti.

The British number one will contest his third ATP final of the year against Norway’s Casper Ruud on Sunday.

Draper, 23, was broken in the opening set but claimed a double break of his own to come through comfortably.

It is the first time the 2024 US Open semi-finalist has reached the final of a clay-court event.

He is the first Englishman to reach the final of the Madrid Open and the second Briton after Scotland’s Andy Murray, who appeared in three finals and won two titles.

Draper is aiming for his second ATP title of the year after beating Holger Rune at Indian Wells in March.

He has won all four meetings with Musetti as a professional and his perfect record even extends back to their days in the juniors.

That might have been playing on Musetti’s mind in the opening stages when he dropped his first service game.

The Italian struck back immediately but was unable to force his way into the first set after a second break as Draper’s forehand once again proved to be a key factor.

Musetti was much improved in the second set and it made for a more competitive spectacle.

The Madrid crowd were firmly behind Musetti and chanted his name in the fifth game after a perfectly placed drop shot left Draper scrambling.

Both players refused to budge on serve – each saving one break point – before heading to a tie-break.

Again, it proved to be a tense battle but Draper earned a break on the fifth point to steal control and went on to serve out for victory – finishing with an authoritative cross-court backhand.