Jannik Sinner v Alexander Bublik live: US Open latest score and updates from fourth-round match – UK Times

Jannik Sinner on facing Alexander Bublik, who beat him in their last meeting at Halle a couple of weeks after the World No 1 triumphed against Bublik in the French Open quarter-finals:

“He won the last encounter against me on grass. So let’s see what’s coming. Obviously a big, big server and very unpredictable.”

Sinner leads the overall head-to-head 4-2.

Jannik Sinner faces the unpredictable Alexander Bublik at the US Open later tonight as the defending champion aims to return to the quarter-finals in New York.

World No 1 Sinner recovered from a set down to defeat Denis Shapovalov in the previous round while Bublik shocked home favourite Tommy Paul.

The entertaining Bublik has a win over Sinner this season, winning on the grass in Halle after the Italian knocked him out of the French Open quarter-finals.

Sinner and Bublik will be out on court just after 7pm local time, so just over an hour to go.

Naomi Osaka said she felt grateful to be back on the big stage at the US Open and is not putting any pressure on herself to win the title after reaching the quarter-finals.

“What I want to take away from this tournament is just smiling and having fun,” Osaka said. “I know in my first round I was too nervous to smile, and my match against [Daria] Kasatkina was just really not smiley at all.

“Going into this match, I just wanted to be grateful. I have the most fun when I play against the best players. I love when they hit amazing shots or they hit aces, because you know, that’s how they won the tournaments that they won.

“I think for me, you know, this is kind of unchartered territory at this point of my career. I’m just enjoying it. I’m having fun. I’m being able to play against the best players in the world.”

Coco Gauff said she is approach her US Open exit with perspective and is taking a long-term view as the two-time grand slam champion looks to improve her overall game.

“It’s been a tough I think post-French Open for me for sure. I know the improvements that I need to make, and I feel like I’m making the right decision by making them. I wish I had more time between this tournament and Cincinnati, but that’s the cards that I was given.

“I feel like I put so much pressure on myself at my age at 21, and I realise how much the girls on tour are being successful at 25, 26, at those ages. For me it just gets me excited to realise if I have four more years of just working as hard as I am right now and actually doing the right things, like where my game could be.

“It has obviously improved in the last four years from four years ago to now. So I think if I can make that same jump of improvement, it’s a lot to be excited for the future for.”

Karolina Muchova is back in the US Open quarter-finals for a third straight year, defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-3 6-7 6-3 to set up a clash with two-time champion Naomi Osaka.

Muchova has reached the semi-finals in New York in the previous two years and the 11th seed puts her hands to her head as she continues her excellent recent record here.

Lorenzo Musetti is through to the US Open quarter-finals for the first time, with the Italian 10th seed crushing Jaume Munar 6-3 6-0 6-1.

The French Open semi-finalist is now into the quarter-finals of a hard-court grand slam for the first time, and will play the winner of Jannik Sinner’s match with Alexander Bublik later.

This was Naomi Osaka’s biggest win since returning to tennis after giving birth to her daughter Shai in July 2023. She went to watch Coco Gauff a couple of months later, as the American went on to win the title.

“I was in the stands like two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play,” Osaka said during her on-court interview.

“This is my favourite court in the world, and it means so much for me to be back here.”

Before this year’s US Open, Naomi Osaka had reached the quarter-finals of a grand slam on four occasions, and went on to win the title every time.

She did it twice at the Australian Open and twice at the US Open. It’s a pretty decent omen for Osaka to have and she will play either Karolina Muchova or Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Coco Gauff won just six points against Naomi Osaka’s serve, and just one against an Osaka first serve. That’s astonishing.

Gauff had really struggled with her serve throughout the US Open, but it was her return and the Osaka serve that settled the match today.

There were also 33 unforced errors from Gauff, with Osaka’s power taking over the rallies.

An emotional Naomi Osaka admits she is finding it hard not to cry – but says she had “fun out there” in defeating Coco Gauff to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

“I want to say thank you to my team, they’ve been through a lot and it hasn’t been easy.

“It’s special to play Coco again. To be such an amazing role model at her age is a special gift to have.”