Jannik Sinner Advances US Open Third Round Defending Title

Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 and defending US Open champion, advanced to the third round with a commanding straight-sets victory over Alexei Popyrin, who had previously upset Novak Djokovic in the 2024 tournament. Sinner broke Popyrin’s serve early in each set and maintained his composure, saving crucial break points to secure a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win in just over two hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium. With this win, Sinner remains on a 23-match winning streak at hard-court majors and is aiming to become the first player to defend the US Open title successfully since Roger Federer in 2008. Popyrin, buoyed by his past success against Djokovic, approached the match with confidence but was unable to replicate that performance against the top-seeded Italian. Sinner will next face Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in the third round, while Popyrin looks to build on his experiences from last year’s tournament despite falling short this time. The tournament continues to highlight the challenges and opportunities for rising players, underscored by the ongoing mentorship efforts of tennis legend Billie Jean King.