Sinner into semis, as errors undo Iga

NEW YORK — Jannik Sinner closed in on his second Grand Slam title of 2024 on Wednesday, reaching his maiden US Open semifinal, while Jessica Pegula stunned Iga Swiatek to complete a roller-coaster Grand Slam year for the world No 1.

Top seed Sinner defeated 2021 US Open champion and two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev 6-2,1-6, 6-1, 6-4.

He will take on 25th-ranked Jack Draper for a place in the final after the Briton made his first semifinal at the Slams with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 win over Australia's Alex de Minaur.

Sinner, 23, is the only top-10 man to make the semifinals, with No 12 Taylor Fritz due to face US compatriot Frances Tiafoe, ranked 20, in Friday's other last-four duel.

Sixth-ranked Pegula booked a place in the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time by sweeping past Swiatek 6-2, 6-4.

On Thursday, she will tackle Karolina Muchova who saw off Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil 6-1, 6-4.

Emma Navarro of the US tackles world No 2 and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the other women's semifinal.

'Very physical'

"It was very tough, I knew it would be very physical," said Sinner, who had also beaten Medvedev to capture the Australian Open.

"It was strange in the first two sets, whoever got the break started to roll."

Medvedev had to save 10 of 15 break points, while his dream of making a 10th Slam semifinal was undermined by 57 unforced errors.

The Russian has now played his 23-year-old rival four times this year, also losing in the semifinals of the Miami Masters, but triumphing in the last eight at Wimbledon.

"A tough one for me, but compared to some matches I played with him last year, when he started to beat me, I felt like I was doing the right things. I just didn't manage to execute them well," Medvedev, the world No 5, said.

"I like it. You know, to have big rivalries like this always pushes me to be better, and sometimes I lose, sometimes I win. I will try to be better next time, and that's the only thing I can do."

Medvedev still leads their head-to-head 7-6, although the Italian Sinner has won six of their last seven meetings.

Draper pulled off the victory over 10th-ranked De Minaur despite taking a medical timeout early in the second set to have his right thigh bandaged.

"It's amazing. My first time in Arthur Ashe Stadium, it means the world to me," said Draper, who, before Wednesday, had lost all three previous meetings with De Minaur.

"I played a solid match and I feel the best, fitness-wise, that I have felt in a long time."

Draper is the first British man to make the last four since Andy Murray won the title 12 years ago.

He has made the semifinals without dropping a set as he continues an impressive summer run, which has seen him capture his first ATP title in Stuttgart and then defeat Carlos Alcaraz at Queen's Club.

Draper sent down 11 aces among his 40 winners, while forcing De Minaur to fend off 14 of 20 break points.

The British player enjoys a 1-0 lead over Sinner in the pair's head-to-head record, although that win at Queen's came three years ago.

Uneven season

Pegula has now won 14 times in 15 matches on US hard courts this summer.

Yet, before Wednesday, she had lost six times at the quarterfinal stage at the majors.

"There have been so many freaking times, and I just kept losing," said Pegula.

"I know everyone keeps asking me about it, but I was like, 'I don't know what else to do. I just need to get there again and, like, win the match.' So, thank God I was able to do it. And finally! Finally, I can say, 'semifinalist.'

"Thanks to the crowd. I sent over a 105 km/h second serve (on a third match point) because I was so tight."

Swiatek was undone by 41 unforced errors, and was left to ponder an uneven season at the Grand Slams.

There was the high of a fourth French Open triumph, but that was sandwiched by third-round exits at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

At the Paris Olympics, played on her favorite Roland Garros courts, she had to settle for the bronze medal.

"It's hard to have low expectations when everybody is expecting something from you," said Swiatek.

Muchova's win over Haddad Maia came despite having to sprint to the bathroom early in the second set, a dash which caught everyone on the hop.

"I had a problem that I wouldn't like to comment on," said the 28-year-old. "I really didn't have any other choice."

After losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff in the 2023 semifinals, Muchova suffered a serious wrist injury which sidelined her until June this year.

A former world No 8, now ranked at 52, Muchova has yet to drop a set, knocking out two-time champion Naomi Osaka and this year's French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.

Agencies