Sinner avoids US Open trapdoor as Medvedev eyes last 16

NEW YORK, United States — Jannik Sinner avoided falling through the US Open trapdoor which claimed Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz when he stormed into the last 16 on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) as Daniil Medvedev, the only former champion left, eyed another step closer to a second title.

World number one and Australian Open winner Sinner raced past 87th-ranked Christopher O'Connell of Australia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

The 23-year-old Italian's win came a day after four-time champion Djokovic was sent spinning to his earliest loss in New York in 18 years by Alexei Popyrin.

One day earlier, 2022 winner Alcaraz was defeated in the second round by Dutch journeyman Botic van de Zandschulp.

"Today was great match. I knew I had to play very solid. My serve worked well so I am happy with my performance," said Sinner after firing 15 aces in his 46 winners past the outclassed O'Connell.

Sinner did not face a single break point in his one-hour 53-minute victory which took him into the last 16 for a fourth successive year.

"There have been some upsets in the tournament so let's see what's coming. I'm happy to still be here and play as many matches as possible," added Sinner whose comfortable afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium saw tennis legend Serena Williams amongst the spectators.

Sinner will take on 14th seed Tommy Paul for a quarterfinal place after the American defeated Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo in four sets.

There were 14 breaks of serve in that tie with Diallo, ranked a lowly 143 in the world, undone by 77 unforced errors.

With Djokovic and Alcaraz heading home to Europe, Medvedev finds himself as the only former champion left in the men's tournament.

The eccentric Russian, seeded five, faces Flavio Cobolli, the world number 31, one of three Italians in third round action.

Medvedev famously shattered Djokovic's bid for a rare calendar Grand Slam when he captured the 2021 title in New York.

This year he was runner-up to Sinner at the Australian Open and made the semis-finals of Wimbledon but is without a tour title since winning the Rome Masters in May last year.

Britain's Jack Draper made the last 16 for a second successive year by defeating Alcaraz's conqueror