Musetti

Top-seed Jannik Sinner cruised through the semifinals, losing only seven games to Italian compatriot Lorenzo Musetti.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his ruthless run at the US Open by beating 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-1 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday in the first all-Italian men’s Grand Slam quarterfinal.

The world number one, 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 in the semifinal on Friday.

“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.”

Sinner’s thunderous hitting from the word go helped him take a 5-0 lead, and while the loudest applause of the evening came when Musetti got on the board, that was the only joy he had in the opening set.

Musetti briefly threatened to break early in the second, but Sinner staved off his challenge to double his advantage, before easing through the next set and finishing it with a clean hold.

“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 stadium we have, with an amazing crowd.

“It means a lot to me.”

Jannik Sinner continued his US Open title defence in dominant fashion as he swept past fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semi-finals in New York.

Labelled an “artificial intelligence” player by Alexander Bublik in the last round, Sinner’s scintillating form carried on as he won 6-1 6-4 6-2.

Musetti, ranked 10th, was unable to convert any of his seven break points, while he hit just 12 winners to his compatriot’s 28 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“We know each other very well. We’re from the same country, there’s so many Italian players in the draw, so it’s nice to play here,” Sinner said.

“Obviously playing Davis Cup together and stuff like this you have to take the friendship away, but when you shake hands everything is fine.”

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.

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.

He has now won 26 consecutive matches at hard-court Grand Slam tournaments.

The 24-year-old will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in Friday’s semi-final after the Canadian defeated Alex de Minaur of Australia.