World No. 1 Jannik Sinner showcased his relentless form at the 2025 US Open, defeating Australia's Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in a second-round encounter that lasted just over two hours. The defending champion, who has not tasted defeat in hard-court majors since the 2023 US Open, emphasized his focus on refining his serve despite maintaining a spotless record on his own delivery through two matches.
Sinner's dominance was evident as he secured early breaks in each set and neutralized potential threats, including saving three break points during a pivotal game in the second set. His ability to capitalize on Popyrin's second serves—returning aggressively to snuff out resistance—underscored the clinical performance. "I felt we both struggled with serving, but my returning kept me in control," Sinner remarked post-match. "Improving the first serve is key, but overall, I’m satisfied with my execution."
The Italian’s 23-match hard-court Grand Slam winning streak, which began after his loss to Alexander Zverev at the 2023 US Open, keeps him on track for a third major title this year. His next challenge comes against Canada’s 27th seed Denis Shapovalov, who Sinner aims to overcome as he defends his Flushing Meadows crown.
Other Standout Performances
In a dramatic second-round clash, Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak staged a remarkable comeback against Russian ninth seed Karen Khachanov. Trailing two sets to love and facing a 5-2 deficit in the fifth set, Majchrzak saved five match points to clinch victory 2-6, 6-7(4-7), 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(10-5) in a match lasting over four hours.
Russian 15th seed Andrey Rublev edged past American qualifier Tristan Boyer (ranked 113th) 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(7-4). Boyer, however, earned praise for pushing Rublev to a tie-break in the fourth set after securing a gritty third-set win. Rublev will next face Coleman Wong, who made history as the first male Hong Kong player to claim a Grand Slam singles victory in the Open era. Wong followed his first-round upset of Aleksandar Kovacevic with a four-set win over Australia’s Adam Walton.
Italian Rivals Set for Intra-National Clash
Italian 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti advanced comfortably with a 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 triumph over Belgium’s David Goffin. His next opponent is compatriot Flavio Cobolli, who survived a grueling 4.5-hour battle against American Jenson Brooksby. Cobolli secured the win via a match tie-break after splitting the first four sets, demonstrating his endurance in a marathon contest.
The tournament continues to deliver thrilling narratives, with Sinner’s pursuit of perfection adding tension to his quest for a third Grand Slam title in 2025. Meanwhile, underdogs like Majchrzak and Wong are rewriting records, proving the US Open remains a stage for both dominance and historic breakthroughs.
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