Jannik Sinner avenges Andrey Rublev defeat, reaches Cincinnati SFs | ATP Tour

Matching Report

Sinner avenges Rublev’s defeat, reaches Cincinnati SFs

The top seed is chasing a third Masters 1000 title

August 17, 2024

Jannik Sinner overcame brutal wind conditions and Andrey Rublev on Saturday at the Cincinnati Open, where he earned a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory to reach the semifinals and exact revenge on the sixth seed.

The Italian fell to Rublev in three sets in the quarter-finals in Montreal last week and big time in Ohio, World No. 1 looked at the problem again. In windy conditions, Sinner was pushed downwind at times but dug deep and improved as the match progressed to secure a hard-fought win. He saved two break points at 3-4 in the second set before holding off a slight revival from Rublev in the decider to advance 6-3 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“It took a lot of mental strength today,” said Sinner, who committed 44 unforced errors, mostly due to the wind. “The conditions were very difficult, there was a lot of wind. In the first set you started very well and I didn’t play my best ball but in the second, I felt I had more chances. I waited for my chance. I’m very happy to make the semis.”

Sinner is chasing his third ATP Masters 1000 title and first trophy since winning the ATP 500 in Halle on grass in June. Now 46-5 this season, the top seed will face either Alexander Zverev or Ben Shelton in his ninth Masters 1000 semi-final and first in Cincinnati.

In a tight contest, Rublev was the most consistent in the first set, breaking Sinner’s serve twice to take the lead. However, the 23-year-old turned the tables in the second set, hitting 17 winners compared to just two from Rublev, who also committed 20 unforced errors in the set, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Sinner also produced a moment of brilliance at 4-4 in the second set, when he fell, rolled, got back to his feet and won a brutal 26-point rally. The seniors then got an early break in the third set and served out the match for the second time to claim the lead after two hours and 25 minutes.

Last week, Sinner became the first player to qualify for November’s Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. He lost in the championship match to Novak Djokovic at the 2023 year-end event.

Rublev, who reached the final in Montreal last week, is sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and is aiming for a fifth straight appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 26-year-old picked up his second Masters 1000 trophy in Madrid earlier this season.