Jannik Sinner, the World No. 1 in men’s singles, delivered a masterclass under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night, dismantling Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in just 81 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open 2025. The clinical display left fans stunned- and his opponent half-jokingly convinced he had just faced something not quite human.
“You’re so good, this is insane. I’m not bad- like, what the f***,” Bublik told Sinner with a laugh at the net. Moments later, he posted just two letters- “AI” – on the US Open’s official Instagram, summing up the surreal ease with which Sinner overpowered him.
The Italian, now on a 25-match winning streak at hard-court majors, never gave Bublik a foothold in the match. Breaking serve in the very first game, Sinner set the tone early and never relented, converting eight break points, while facing just one himself.
“We know each other very well. We had some tough battles this year,” Sinner said after the match. “But today I broke him very early in every set, which gave me a lot of confidence. Overall, I’m very happy with the performance.”
No Room for Flair Against Machine-Like Precision
Bublik, seeded 23rd, had entered the match with momentum, having not dropped a service game in his first three rounds. But after a five-set battle against Tommy Paul that ended in the early hours of Sunday morning, the Kazakh never found his rhythm. Despite flashes of his usual flair- underarm serves, drop shots, and smirking antics- Bublik couldn’t disrupt Sinner’s relentless pace and consistency.
The 13 double faults he racked up told the story. So did the sight of Bublik celebrating mock-triumphantly after finally holding serve to make it 4-1 in the final set- a moment met with laughter and sympathy from a crowd that appreciated his showmanship but recognized Sinner’s dominance.
Sinner’s Season of Supremacy Continues
With this win, Sinner advances to his eighth straight Grand Slam quarter-final and continues what has been a career-defining season. The 24-year-old has already claimed the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles this year, with his only loss at a major coming in a five-set Roland-Garros final against Carlos Alcaraz.
He is now bidding to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2008 to defend the US Open title- and based on current form, few would bet against him.
“This is a special tournament for me,” Sinner said. “Playing the night session in New York is always special. The atmosphere, the crowd- I just tried to enjoy every moment.”
Also Read: Jannik Sinner Equals Roger Federer’s Hard-Court Record
An All-Italian Quarter-Final Clash
Next up for Sinner is a high-stakes showdown with fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the 10th seed, who is into his first US Open quarter-final. It will mark the first all-Italian men’s singles quarter-final in US Open history, a milestone that reflects the surge in Italian tennis.
“Lorenzo is one of the biggest talents we have,” Sinner said. “It’s amazing to have two Italians here at this stage. For sure, one of us will be in the semi-finals- that’s a great thing for Italian tennis.”
Sinner leads their head-to-head 2-0 and will enter the match as the clear favorite. But Musetti’s variety and shot-making could pose a different challenge than Bublik’s power-based game.
The Verdict: More Than a Number One
Monday night’s performance felt like more than just a routine win. It felt like a statement. Whether you call it mechanical, robotic, or- as Bublik did -“AI-generated,” Sinner’s level right now is simply untouchable.
He’s not just defending his title in New York. He’s elevating the standard of modern tennis.
