Defending champion Jannik Sinner raced to victory at the Australian Open on Saturday to sweep into the last 16 as Iga Swiatek demolished Emma Raducanu. Also into the second week is 38-year-old Gael Monfils after he stunned fourth seed Taylor Fritz — with the veteran’s wife Elina Svitolina also enjoying a shock win immediately after on the same court. “It’s really a great day for us today, beating top-four players and playing great tennis,” said Ukraine’s Svitolina.

American qualifier Learner Tien, 19, won in straight sets to extend his fairytale run on his debut in Melbourne.

But Danielle Collins, the pantomime villain after thanking hecklers for “paying my bills” in the previous round, lost and was booed.

Italian world number one Sinner dropped a set for the first time in 14 matches in the second round.

But there were no such wobble against the unseeded Marcos Giron on Rod Laver Arena as he sprinted home 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in 2hr 1min, slamming 35 winners and eight aces.

Awaiting him next is either Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic or Danish 13th seed Holger Rune.

“If I want to go on in this tournament I have to improve,” said the 23-year-old Sinner.

French showman Monfils rolled back the years to storm back and defeat the American Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.

The unseeded Monfils, who hit a career-high ranking of six in 2016 but is now 41st, is enjoying a late-career flourish.

A week ago he became the oldest singles champion in ATP Tour history when he swept to victory at the Auckland Classic.

Monfils faces another American in 21st seed Ben Shelton, who is a big fan.

“I think that any time he’s on the court, it’s a box-office match,” said Shelton.

Monfils is married to Svitolina, who emulated his giant-killing efforts when she defeated world number four Jasmine Paolini, also on Margaret Court Arena. Svitolina came though 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.

“I warmed up the court for her,” joked Monfils.

Tien became the youngest man to reach the fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005 when he overcame injured Frenchman Corentin Moutet.

The gifted teenager won 7-6 (12/10), 6-3, 6-3 with Moutet collapsing clutching his leg in the third set before gamely carrying on.

“Honestly it feels pretty crazy to be in the second week,” he said.

Tien stunned three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a five-set epic in the previous round.

Home hope Alex de Minaur, the eighth seed, went through in four sets against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and will face American Alex Michelsen for a place in the quarter-finals.

Rampant Swiatek

In a one-sided battle of former US Open champions, Swiatek romped to a 6-1, 6-0 triumph in a statement victory over Raducanu as she pursues a first Melbourne crown.

Emma Navarro, the eighth seed from the United States, joined the Pole in the next round with a gritty three-set win over Ons Jabeur.

Sixth seed Elena Rybakina also advanced despite a back problem.

“I felt like the ball is listening to me,” Swiatek said after rattling off 11 straight games in a brutal display against Britain’s Raducanu on Rod Laver Arena.

The 23-year-old Swiatek is a five-time major winner but she has never gone beyond the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

She faces world number 128 German Eva Lys next.

Lys beat Jaqueline Cristian of Romania in three sets to become the first women’s singles “lucky loser” to reach the fourth round since the event moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina of Kazakhstan needed a medical timeout to treat a back spasm before winning 6-3, 6-4 against Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine.

Asked if her back would be OK, she replied: “Not really. So I will see my physio and hopefully he does some magic.”

Rybakina will face Madison Keys after she swatted aside fellow American Collins 6-4, 6-4, with Collins getting booed in and out of the arena.

Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are all in action on Sunday.

Gael Monfils said he was ready to “do some damage” after stunning fourth seed Taylor Fritz on Saturday to reach the last 16 at the Australian Open. The 38-year-old Frenchman fought back 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 to make the fourth round for a sixth time in his 19th Australian Open. He is the second-oldest man to reach the last 16 at Melbourne Park after Roger Federer. Fritz had been in sizzling form before he met Monfils, dropping just eight games in his two previous matches. But the unseeded Frenchman was a different beast, unrelenting with his precision groundstrokes and booming serve to wear down the world number four. Monfils, ranked 41, fired a warning ahead of the tournament when he won the Auckland Classic to become the oldest singles champion in ATP Tour history.

“The strategy was to hold the baseline and definitely change the tempo. Hit some big shots down the line and used some shape with my forehand, some slice with my backhand and served well,” he said.

“I have a strong belief in myself, a strong belief I can still do some damage and with a little bit of luck we are in the second week of the Australian Open.”

He will meet another American, Ben Shelton, or Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti for a quarter-final berth.

Monfils has never been beyond the semi-finals of a major in his long career.

The pair went toe-to-toe at the start with some big baseline rallies, one stretching to 29 shots and another to 24.

A Monfils double fault handed Fritz a break for 5-3, with the American holding serve to secure the first set.

The baseline battle continued in the next set with neither player able to work a break-point opening until Fritz was serving to level up at 5-5.

He lost his focus and the wily Monfils — who won a remarkable 95 percent of first-serve points — enticed a series of errors and broke to love for the set.

Fritz needed a medical timeout at the changeover for treatment on his right foot, then saved two break points to stay on serve at 3-3.

The third set went to a tiebreak, where the Frenchman destroyed an increasingly frustrated Fritz, racing 6-0 clear with a series of sizzling shots and winning the set.

Monfils dug deep to win an 18-point fourth game in the fourth set, saving two break points, then pounced on the Fritz serve to break for a 5-4 lead before completing the upset. 

Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek will battle for United Cup glory after the USA and Poland won their respective semi-finals on Saturday in Sydney amid bizarre circumstances. Swiatek beat Elena Rybakina to help last year’s runners-up Poland see off Kazakhstan and they were joined in Sunday’s final of the mixed-teams tournament by the Gauff-led United States. The Americans defeated the Czech Republic, with Gauff beating Karolina Muchova and then an increasingly irate Tomas Machac retiring from his match against Taylor Fritz in an abrupt and bewildering ending. 

“I woke up so late today,” said Gauff, 20, after she dismissed Muchova 6-1, 6-4 to underline what a threat she will be at the Australian Open starting next week.

Gauff, the world number three, added: “The whole match I was intense and focused, that made the difference today.”

Big-serving Fritz, ranked fourth in the world, lost the first set on a tie break but fought back in the second and looked poised to level up their men’s singles match when a hot and bothered Machac shook hands, sending the Americans through.

“Not the way I want to win in the end, but I think we’re all happy to be through to the final,” said Fritz.

He said that his opponent, who had ranted at the Czech bench and squandered chances to seal the match, told him afterwards he had cramp.

“I didn’t expect it to end so abruptly. I did not notice at the time that he was cramping,” said Fritz.

‘Perfect’

Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek played a starring role for Poland in their semi-final against Kazakhstan as she beat Rybakina 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

“This win makes me really proud,” Swiatek said after giving Poland an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie.

“It is perfect preparation for the Australian Open,” said the world number two.

Swiatek again played with strapping on her right thigh, having been troubled in her tough three-set win over Britain’s Katie Boulter in the quarter-finals.

That clash lasted nearly three hours and Swiatek was slow out of the blocks against Rybakina, who is ranked sixth in the world.

They went to a first-set tie break after Rybakina saved two set points, before the 23-year-old Pole pulled away to take her country into the final.

“I for sure did not start well and had the handbrake on a bit. I knew I had to do something and change the momentum,” said Swiatek, who made light of any injury concerns.

She is relishing the prospect of a meeting with Gauff.

“I think at this stage she’s developing every month and it’s going to be also a nice challenge,” she said.

Hubert Hurkacz put Poland on the way when he beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 in the men’s singles.

The 16th-ranked Hurkacz lost both his singles matches in group play but defeated Britain’s Billy Harris in the quarter-finals and took that momentum into the meeting with Shevchenko.

Jannik Sinner has his first ATP Finals crown firmly in his sights after crushing Casper Ruud 6-1, 6-2 on Saturday to set up a title decider with Taylor Fritz, the man he beat to win the US Open two months ago. Roared on by a partisan home crowd in Turin, Sinner extended his winning streak to 10 matches with another dominating display which showed why he is the first Italian to top the ATP’s end-of-season world rankings. The 23-year-old has reacted to losing last year’s final to Novak Djokovic by displacing the Serbian tennis icon at the top of the game, winning seven tournaments this season including his debut Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open before triumphing in New York in September.

Sinner barely gave Ruud time to breathe as he rattled off the first three games and took the first set in half an hour, before sweeping to a comprehensive victory.

“It’s a great, great feeling. It’s really special playing here,” said Sinner. 

“It’s a really important tournament, last year we lost the final, this year we’ve got a chance to try again and do better than we did last season.

“But regardless of how it goes tomorrow it’s been an emotional week with some great moments.”

Ruud, who hadn’t played Sinner for three years before Saturday, compared the shots he faced to “rockets” and was struck by how much he has improved.

“You feel like unless you hit a ball with really good depth or close to the sidelines, and even if you hit close to the sidelines but not fast enough, he’s going to rip it back at you,” Ruud told reporters.

“I got to practice with him here earlier leading up to the tournament. He also kicked my ass there. In a way I knew what I was facing today.”

Fritz’s revenge chance

Fritz has a task on his hands to become the first American Finals winner since Pete Sampras 25 years ago as he has been comfortably beaten both times he has faced Sinner this year, with straight sets victories in the US Open final and the group stage in Turin. 

The world number five is the first US man to make the final since James Blake in 2006 after a thrilling 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3) triumph over Zverev.

Fritz has a chance for revenge on Sinner for the US Open final defeat, following a gruelling match in northern Italy.

Both players had chances to take control in a topsy-turvy third set, but failed to capitalise on a host of break points before Fritz held his nerve better in the tie-break to claim a spot in the final.

Fritz managed to save three break points in game five of the third set, just when it looked like Zverev was set to take control of the match.

“That was probably the biggest turning point, I lose one of those points and that’s probably it. That’s kind of how it goes with playing Sascha,” said Fritz, who got to the semis two years ago.

Zverev was aiming for a tour-leading 70th win of the season but his winning streak was snapped at eight matches after coming into Saturday’s clash having not dropped a single set or service game in Turin.

The 27-year-old admitted that he failed to take his chances when it counted after playing arguably the better tennis in the closing two sets of the match.

“It was one of those days where everything, it takes times to get going,” said Zverev.

“It’s like it’s not a natural flow to movement patterns, to your shots as well, to just how you wake up in the morning. Everything is a little bit more tiring. I felt that way today.”

On Friday night Zverev described the men’s tennis calendar as “crazy”, saying that he had not spent more than three consecutive days at home all year. 

Taylor Fritz after his victory against Alexander Zverev.© AFP

Taylor Fritz in action© AFP

A tearful Jannik Sinner dedicated his US Open title victory on Sunday to his aunt, who he revealed is battling serious ill health, admitting: “I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life”. World number one Sinner, 23, clinched his second Grand Slam title of the season when he swept aside Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 before fighting back tears on the trophy podium. “I love tennis, I practice a lot for these stages but I realise that there is also a life away from the tennis courts and I would like to dedicate this to my aunt who is not feeling well,” said Sinner.

“I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life. It’s nice I can still share these moments with her. She is an important person in my life and still is. 

Jannik Sinner dedicates his US Open title to his aunt pic.twitter.com/E2YTjGSRUf

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2024

“If there was a wish I could make I would wish good health on everyone but unfortunately it’s not possible.”

Sinner had arrived in New York under a cloud after it was revealed he had failed two drug tests but escaped sanction.

He was cleared of all wrong-doing although some fellow players questioned the decision, suggesting that Sinner may have benefitted from preferential treatment due to his high-profile status in the sport.

“This title means so much because the last period of my career was not easy. My team have supported me every day and thank you to the people who are close to me,” said Sinner.

“I’m happy and proud to spend this moment with my team. I’ve had so many big wins this season, starting in Australia and playing well to give me confidence for now.”

He added: “The work never stops. I know I can still improve but you have to be proud of what you have and then work for the rest.”

Sinner’s win shattered American hopes of a first home male champion at the majors in 21 years.

Andy Roddick was the last US man to win a Grand Slam title in New York in 2003.

Fritz, the first American man in a Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, said he was determined to bounce back and claim a maiden major.

“It has been an amazing two weeks and first off congrats to Jannik, he played a great match. It’s really impressive. He was too good,” said the world number 12.

“Being an American at the US Open is just incredible, feeling the love all week.

“I know we have been waiting for a champion for a long time so I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done this time but I’m going to keep working and hopefully I’ll get it done next time so thank you.”

Jannik Sinner won his second Grand Slam title of 2024 on Sunday when he swept aside Taylor Fritz in the US Open final, shattering American hopes of a first male champion at the majors in 21 years. World number one Sinner, who won his maiden Slam at the Australian Open in January, became the first Italian man to triumph in New York with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 victory. For 23-year-old Sinner, it was a 55th match win of the season and sixth title. After his 21-year-old rival Carlos Alcaraz pocketed the French Open and Wimbledon titles to take his majors collection to four, the two men have cemented their places as the powerhouses of tennis’s new era.

“This title means so much,” said Sinner who arrived in New York under a cloud after it was revealed he had failed two drug tests but escaped sanction.

“The last period of my career has not been easy but I have my team and family who support me. 

“I love tennis but off court there is a life also and I want to dedicate this trophy to my aunt because she is not well and I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life.

“She was a very important part of my life and still is. It’s nice to share this with her.”

World number 12 Fritz was bidding to be the first American man since Andy Roddick in New York in 2003 to win a major.

He was backed by A-list celebrity support amongst the 23,000-strong crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Pop queen Taylor Swift watched alongside boyfriend and NFL star Travis Kelce while Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey was hard to miss as he donned a Stars and Stripes headband.

“It has been an amazing two weeks. Congratulations to Jannik, he played a great match. He was very impressive and was too good today,” said Fritz.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done but I will keep working and I feel I will get it the next time.” 

Sinner raced to a 2-0 lead in the first set before Fritz settled and levelled for 2-2.

The 26-year-old American saved a break point on the back of an exhausting 23-shot rally in the fifth game but soon slipped 4-3 down.

Sinner pounced again with a third break to claim the opening set as Fritz fired a backhand long.

The two players had only dropped serve a combined 20 times over six rounds each at the tournament before Sunday’s final.

That strength shone through in the second set with the first nine games all service holds until the 10th.

Sinner then carved out two set points but only needed one, a deep forehand forcing Fritz into a desperate scramble before he buried his return limply in the net.

By that stage of the final, Sinner had committed just nine unforced errors to the 19 of Fritz in an a illustration of his control of the court.

Fritz, the first American man in any Grand Slam final since Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009, saw three break points come and go in the first game of the third set.

But Sinner served up his fourth double fault of the final to hand Fritz a 4-3 lead.

With his back to the wall, the Italian top seed then broke back in the 10th game as Fritz served for the set and held for 6-5.

He went to two championship points when a disheartened Fritz ballooned a running forehand and sealed victory when the American netted.

US Open 2024 Men’s Final, Jannik Sinner vs Taylor Fritz LIVE: Sinner (left) and Fritz.© AFP

Taylor Fritz has a 1-1 head-to-head record against world no. 1 Jannik Sinner.© AFP