Round of 16: Jannik Sinner vs. Tommy Paul
Arthur Ashe Stadium – Day Session – First Match
- No. 1 men’s seed Jannik Sinner of Italy faces American hope Tommy Paul, the No. 14 seed, on Monday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with both men seeking to advance to the US Open quarterfinals. Sinner has now advanced to the fourth round or better at all Grand Slam events in a season for the second time (which he also achieved in 2022) in his career. The 23-year-old is the youngest to do so since Novak Djokovic achieved the feat at age 20 in 2007.
- Sinner, the 2024 Australian Open champion, continues his quest to become the fourth man to win both hard-court Grand Slams in the same season since both events switched to hard courts. After relinquishing the first set he played in this year’s US Open, Sinner steamrolled first-round opponent Mackenzie McDonald, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, followed by Alex Michelsen, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2, and Christopher O'Connell, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
- Paul has followed a rockier path to the Round of 16, with his only straight-sets victory coming at the expense of Max Purcell, who retired down 7-5, 6-0, 1-0 in the second round. Paul survived four-set tussles in both of the other rounds: a first-rounder over Lorenzo Sonego, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, and a third-round comeback over Gabriel Diallo, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(3).
- Sinner leads the duo’s rivalry 2-1, with his most recent win in the semifinals of the ATP Masters 1000 Canada, 6-4, 6-4, in 2023. They split victories in 2022, with Sinner edging Paul, 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-3, in the Round of 64 at the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid before Paul returned the favor, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in the Round of 16 at Eastbourne.
- Sinner is the first Italian No. 1 seed in US Open history. He is making his sixth US Open main-draw appearance, highlighted by a run to the 2022 quarterfinals. He has now reached the US Open fourth round for the fourth consecutive season.
- Paul, the No. 3 American, is making his seventh US Open main-draw appearance, having debuted as a No. 437-ranked qualifier at age 18 in 2015. He has now equaled his best result at the US Open, a fourth-round appearance in 2023. In addition, Paul has advanced to the second week in back-to-back Grand Slam tournaments for the first time in his career.
- Paul is a former world No. 3 junior and 2015 US Open boys’ singles finalist. He achieved a career-high No. 12 in October 2023 on the strength of having reached the Australian Open semifinals—the first American man to do so since Andy Roddick in 2009.
- Paul defeated junior rivals Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe en route to his first ATP Tour final and title at Stockholm in 2021. Earlier this season, he captured his second ATP Tour title at Dallas and reached ATP Masters 1000 semifinals at Indian Wells and Rome (defeating Daniil Medvedev along the way).
- On Day 6 at the US Open, a reporter asked Paul in his press conference if he has felt extra pressure to make a run following upsets of Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and other top seeds. “Well, I mean, I play the No. 1 in the world, so I don't know if I'm thinking, like, ‘opportunity’ too much. But it's definitely an opportunity to play in Arthur Ashe Stadium, so I'm looking forward to that,” Paul said. “Different parts of the draws have opened up, but mine has not. I have a tough match ahead of me, but I'm excited for it.”
