Jannik Sinner takes advantage of Djokovic, Alcaraz slips to reach last 16

Jannik Sinner ensured his fate at the US Open won’t end like his rivals Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz this week.

The world no. 1 and top seeded Italian easily defeated Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to Flushing Meadows’ fourth round. He has progressed that far in New York for the fourth year in a row.

“Everything can happen in this sport, so I try to stay on my side of the net and I’m trying to take [the tournament] day by day,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “Each opponent is a very tough challenge and [I am] also enjoying every moment on the court. There have been already a couple of upsets, so let’s see what’s coming.

“But I’m very happy to still be here and hopefully I can play as many matches as possible. But as I said, we go day by day and then we’ll see how it goes.”

Sinner’s opponent in the round of 16 will either be 14th seed Tommy Paul or Gabriel Diallo. The 23-year-old won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and has reached at least the final sixteen of every major this season.

Elsewhere, Jack Draper defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday to make it to the US Open fourth round for the second consecutive year.

After defeating Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round, the Dutchman faced elimination from the tournament when the British player converted five of his eight break points to win.

Next up for Draper is an encounter with Tomas Machac. In one hour and thirty-four minutes, Machac defeated previous Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 to make her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinals match.