Jannik Sinner showcased his formidable skills on Wednesday at the Rod Laver Arena, swiftly defeating Alex de Minaur in a commanding straight-sets victory, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. In a bid to defend his Grand Slam title for the first time, Sinner not only demonstrated resilience but also made a powerful statement as he aims to become the first Italian man to secure three Grand Slam crowns. Despite feeling unwell during his previous match, Sinner appeared in peak form during this quarterfinal clash.
The cooler conditions played to Sinner's advantage as he moved with ease and displayed no signs of discomfort or illness that had previously affected him. De Minaur, who hoped for an opportunity following Sinner's recent health issues, struggled to create significant openings against the Italian powerhouse. He managed only four winners in the opening set, as Sinner's dominance was evident. In the third set, Sinner capitalized on a series of errors from De Minaur, breaking him twice to seal the victory.
“Yesterday was a very easy day. I played just half an hour, 40 minutes with my coaches,” said Jannik Sinner.
Sinner's victory over De Minaur marks his tenth consecutive win against the Australian and extends his winning streak to 21 matches against Australian opponents. This impressive track record underscores his dominance on the court. Reflecting on his physical condition, Sinner affirmed his swift recovery and readiness to compete at the highest level.
“Talking about general physical (condition), you know, I feel like, especially when you are young, you recover very fast,” Sinner remarked.
De Minaur, who had glimpsed a chance following Sinner's admission of dizziness in hot weather during the last-16 clash, found himself unable to match the Italian's intensity and precision. Sinner's ability to break early in each set significantly eased his path to victory.
“Days like this and you break quite early in each set, it’s a little bit easier,” Sinner commented.
Sinner now advances to face Ben Shelton in the semifinals after Shelton's hard-fought four-set triumph over Lorenzo Sonego. As Sinner continues his pursuit of another Grand Slam title, his performance against De Minaur serves as a reminder of his exceptional talent and determination.
“Today I felt like I was feeling everything,” Sinner concluded.
