Jannik Sinner has battled into the fourth round of the US Open after overcoming Denis Shapovalov in round three.
Shapovalov was looking forward to playing Sinner, having beaten him in their only previous meeting on the ATP Tour.
The duo met in the very early stages of the Australian Open in 2021, with Shapovalov defeating Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
But it was the Italian who emerged victorious in their US Open rematch, claiming a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win in New York.
Sinner, who is defending his title at Flushing Meadows, battled to the victory after three hours and 12 minutes.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesWhat Martina Navratilova finds amazing and unusual about Jannik Sinner
The top seed now turns his attention to 23rd seed Alexander Bublik in the round of 16, having left tennis legend Martina Navratilova really impressed with his efforts thus far.
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She said on Sky Sports Tennis: “It’s really amazing for someone that tall, that lanky and long-limbed to be that well balanced but he has to be. If he’s not he gets in more trouble, as he’s so much bigger to recover.”
Martina Navratilova says what Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz would never do to their box
Shapovalov certainly threatened another defeat against Sinner, which would have represented a huge upset.
But the 27th seed started to lose his way as the match progressed, and was seen carrying out negative interactions with his box, including a sarcastic thumbs up.
Sharing her verdict on his complaints, Navratilova said: “You never see Carlos or Sinner doing sarcastically to the box cheer me on more or cheer less. There’s a reason for that.
“They can figure out themselves number one and they just wouldn’t do that because they know it’s not helpful.”
Shapovalov’s clear frustration on the court may just have given Sinner a slight mental boost, as well as negatively impacting his opponent.
The world number one now turns his focus to Bublik, who intriguingly represents the only player to have beaten Sinner in 2025 other than Carlos Alcaraz.