World number one Jannik Sinner powered into the US Open quarter-finals with a ruthless 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 win over Alexander Bublik in just 81 minutes.
The defending champion broke Bublik eight times as the Kazakh’s serve crumbled, ending a streak of 55 consecutive holds from earlier rounds.
Bublik, who had described Sinner as “like an AI-generated player,” joked with his opponent at the net, telling him: “You’re so good, this is insane.”
Sinner said fatigue from Bublik’s five-set battle in the previous round may have played a part. “He didn’t serve as well as he usually serves, and I broke him early,” he noted.
The Italian will now face 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti in an all-Italian quarter-final as he continues his pursuit of a third Grand Slam title of the season.
Victory in New York would also make him the first man to defend the US Open crown since Roger Federer in 2008.
