5/09/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | SEPT 5, 2025

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/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

Italian joins Djokovic, Alcaraz and Auger-Aliassime in last four Sinner swats aside Musetti

D EFENDING champion Jannik Sinner continued his ruthless run at the US Open by beating 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6–1, 6–4, 6–2 yes terday in the first all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarterfinal. The world No. 1, 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 next. “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.” 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.

two years and said Sinner pushed him to his limit. “A lot of things changed from our last meeting. “We grew up, but of course him, he became probably the… I never played,

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. “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

honestly, someone who put me on this kind of rush in the rally. “I didn’t have many chances on the rally, and he was always leading the rally. So that was kind of a bad feeling, of course, when I was playing against him. “Of course, pretty impressed by Jannik’s performance today. “I think he served really well, and he was pushing me to my limit. “Of course, he’s better than me, and he showed. “But I’m happy that I played against him to understand even the things that I have to improve. “So hopefully soon I can have a test again.” –

stadium we have, with an amazing crowd. It means a lot to me.” Musetti said he has never played an opponent who has made him rush as much as Sinner did yesterday. Musetti had not played his fellow Italian in

Jannik Sinner returns a shot against Lorenzo Musetti during the US Open. – AFPPIC

Reuters/Agencies

Auger-Aliassime suits up for shot at final

Naomi declares love for the game NAOMI OSAKA said she had learned to love tennis more than ever after returning to the US Open semifinals yesterday with a 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over Karolina Muchova that underlined her resurgence on the sport’s biggest stage. Four years after winning the last of her four major titles, the 23rd seed, who returned to the tour last season after a lengthy maternity break, stretched her unbeaten run in major quarterfinals to 5 0 and booked a clash with Amanda Anisimova. “I learned I loved tennis way more than I thought I did and I learned that I actually love challenges,” said the Japanese player, who was watching the semifinals from the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium two years ago. “It’s like a video game. You pick it up, and even if you lose a level you just restart and keep going until you eventually win. “I think it’s a little tough at some times, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Muchova, who had been on court for more than 10 hours over four draining rounds, needed treatment in the locker room for what looked like a left leg issue after dropping a tight opening set, but came out firing to break at the start of the next. With heavy strapping on her thigh, her movement was hampered at times but she continued to frustrate Osaka with her inventive brand of tennis to break for a 5-4 lead, only for her opponent to wrest back the initiative and go through after the tiebreak. “It was an incredibly difficult match,” Osaka added. “She is one of the best players in the world. Every time I play against her it’s so difficult. “Last year she beat me when I had one of my best outfits. I was really upset. I’m just grateful to be here.” – Reuters

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME admits he will likely have to shelve next week’s wedding suit fitting after moving to within one win of the US Open final yesterday.

turnaround,” he said of Monday’s scheduled appointment to find his wedding suit. Asked whether playing a US Open semifinal or getting married was more nerve-wracking, Auger-Aliassime said it was hard to know. “I was in the semifinals before. Walking down the aisle, I have never done,” he said.

“To lose 6-0, 6-0 in a Grand Slam final was a lot to experience,” Anisimova said. “I’m just really proud of myself. “I feel like I really made a point to myself and maybe to other people that if you really put on a positive mindset … you can have a positive outcome.” Standing in her way of a second straight major final is Japan’s Osaka. The four-times Grand Slam champion is steadily rebuilding her ranking and confidence, booking her fifth major semifinal with a 6-4, 7-6(3) win over 11th seed Karolina Muchova, a year after the Czech beat her in the second round. “I’m just really grateful to be here,” Osaka said after reaching her first Grand Slam semifinal since 2021. “I was sitting up there watching (in 2023) hoping I would have the opportunity to play on this court again, so my dream is coming true.” – Reuters third seed Alexander Zverev in the last 32. He saved a set point against De Minaur in the second-tie tiebreak and rallied from 5-2 down in the fourth set. “Some days you won’t feel your best but I was willing to dig really deep and do everything I can,” said Auger-Aliassime. “It feels amazing. Four years ago, it feels like more. It was a tough couple of years but it feels even better now to be in the semifinals.” Despite just one win on his past three visits to Flushing Meadows during a disappointing run of results at the biggest tournaments, Auger Aliassime never doubted his ability to contend. “I think it helps that, like, I had those moments pretty young in my career,” he said. “If I was 35 now, maybe I would doubt if it would ever come again, like if I was losing first round back end of my career. “I think even those last few years I was young enough to think, OK, not that, like, will I be there, but I wasn’t even thinking about that far away. I was more, like, what do I need to improve.” – AFP

The 25-year-old Canadian is in the last four of a Grand Slam for only the second time after matching his run from four years ago at Flushing Meadows. Auger-Aliassime overcame eighth seed Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in a 4hr 10min slog to stay in the hunt for a first major title. His resurgence in New York has left him little time for wedding planning with

Auger-Aliassime, the 25th seed, will play reigning champion Jannik Sinner who continued his ruthless run at the US Open by beating 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6–1, 6– 4, 6–2 in the first all-Italian quarterfinal.

“The biggest challenges are yet to come, but that’s what I live for, that’s what I train for,” he said. Auger-Aliassime earned his second win over a top-10 player at this tournament, having knocked out

fiancee Nina Ghaibi ahead of their forthcoming nuptials. “Obviously we’re probably going to have to postpone it. It’s a quick

Felix Auger Aliassime. – REUTERSPIC

Pegula, Sabalenka meet again, Osaka faces Anisimova REVENGE will be at the forefront of Jessica Pegula’s mind when she takes on Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open semifinals today in a rematch of last year’s final, while Naomi Osaka faces Amanda Anisimova for a place in the title decider. the sternest test possible against Sabalenka, who denied her a first Grand Slam title in last year’s Flushing Meadows final. “I think it would be cool to get revenge, obviously,” Pegula told reporters.

“Last year I walked off court thinking about everything I could have done better, but now I see how incredible that run really was. “I’m playing the best player in the world, and that’s exciting.” Sabalenka holds a 7–2 lead in their head-to head record and has won their last three meetings on North American hard courts. American Anisimova has already savoured revenge at the tournament by stunning second seed Iga Swiatek 6–4, 6–3 yesterday, a win that comes two months after suffering a double-bagel loss to the Pole in the Wimbledon final. Backed by a buzzing home crowd, the 24-year old has underlined her return to top form after taking a mental health break last year.

World No. 1 Sabalenka advanced via walkover after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew injured and is aiming to reach her sixth consecutive hardcourt Grand Slam final. The Belarusian has made the semis at all four majors this season but has yet to win a title, losing in the Melbourne Park and French Open finals, and to Anisimova in the last four at Wimbledon. Pegula arrives in peak form. Her 6–3, 6–3 win over Barbora Krejcikova made her the first American woman since Serena Williams (2011– 14) to reach back-to-back US Open semifinals without dropping a set. The Buffalo native has not faced a top-50 opponent in the tournament so far but now gets