Jannik Sinner managed to keep his title defence alive at the US Open after defeating Denis Shapovalov, but the victory did not come without its difficulties.
The Canadian got off to a hot start, securing an early break and clinching the first set, before the world number one replied by taking the second.
Despite a slow start in set three, the momentum eventually swung his way, and Sinner advanced into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
The tournament so far has been a largely comfortable one for the Italian, having cruised through the opening two rounds against Vit Kopriva and Alexei Popyrin.
However, after a tough test against Shapovalov, things are about to get even more difficult for Sinner in New York.
Jannik Sinner’s big test in the fourth round of the US Open
When the draw was made for the men’s singles event, Sinner found himself on a collision course with the only man not named Carlos Alcaraz to beat him in 2025.
That man is Alexander Bublik, who emerged victorious over the four-time Grand Slam champion at the Halle Open earlier this season, and will face him again in round four at the US Open.
Bublik defeated Sinner on the grass courts of Halle in three sets en route to the title, just weeks before his opponent would go on to win Wimbledon.
The Kazakh has beaten him in their last two tour-level matchups, with the Roland Garros finalist winning their quarterfinal clash in Paris, which marked their only meeting at a Grand Slam.
| Match | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 Halle Open Round of 16 | Bublik |
| 2025 Roland Garros Quarterfinals | Sinner |
| 2023 Halle Open Quarterfinals | Bublik |
| 2023 Rosmalen Grass Court Championships Round of 16 | Sinner |
| 2021 Miami Open Quarterfinals | Sinner |
| 2021 Dubai Tennis Championships Round of 32 | Sinner |
At the US Open so far, Bublik has picked up two straightforward victories over 2014 champion Marin Cilic and Tristan Schoolkate, before coming out on top in a five-set thriller against 14th seed Tommy Paul.
With a record of 20 wins and just two losses since the French Open, the 28-year-old is in red-hot form and is capable of delivering a huge upset against the defending champion.
Alexander Bublik’s incredible run of form since Roland Garros
Following his fourth-round finish in the French capital, Bublik won his first title of the 2025 season after triumphing in Halle.
Despite an early exit at Wimbledon, he immediately bounced back and went on to win two titles in a row, capturing crowns in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel.
Bublik’s run since Roland Garros:
- Halle Open: Champion
- Wimbledon: First Round
- Swiss Open: Champion
- Austrian Open: Champion
Bublik did not feature at any US Open tune-up event, opting to miss both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open.
Though his decision could have backfired in the Big Apple, results have since proved otherwise, with the world number 24 securing his best career finish at the competition already.
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