World No. 1 Jannik Sinner showed another dominating performance in the New York lights, dismissing Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to charge into the third round of the US Open 2025 on Friday evening.
The Italian superstar, just 24 years old, keeps adding to what has turned out to be the most conclusive stretch of play at a Grand Slam in recent memory. Since winning the Australian Open 2024, Sinner has not lost once on hard-court majors, taking his perfect streak to 23 matches.
Matching Federer’s Benchmark
With this recent victory, Sinner’s record in his first 50 hard-court Grand Slam matches is now 41-9, which places him on the same level as Swiss great Roger Federer, who achieved the same mark during his prime years.
Federer, the “King of Grass,” was a force to be reckoned with on hard courts, too, claiming 11 titles on that surface and five consecutive US Opens from 2004 through 2008.
By comparison, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both achieved 40 victories in their first 50 hard-court Slam matches.
Most Consecutive Hard-Court Grand Slam Match Wins
| Player | Consecutive Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Federer | 40 | 2005–08 |
| Novak Djokovic | 27 | 2011–12 |
| Ivan Lendl | 26 | 1985–88 |
| Novak Djokovic | 26 | 2015–16 |
| John McEnroe | 25 | 1979–82 |
| Jannik Sinner | 23* | 2024–25 |
Focused and Hungry
For all his record-breaking achievements, Sinner is still down to earth.
“I try to play the best tennis I can,” he said. “When you’re up two sets and a break, you just think about serving well and remaining sharp. I’m comfortable with my overall game but will seek to improve the serve.”
He will then play Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in what shapes up as another intense battle.
Off the Court – A New York Taste
The Italian also gave some insight into the lighter side of his tournament regimen, stating he has a few “safe spot” restaurants that he goes to during his time in New York.
“I’m not supersticious, but I do know some very fine Italian here. I got three or four restaurants where we rotate around a little bit,” he chuckled. “New York has incredible food and wonderful people.”
Records Still in Sight
If Sinner persists in his relentless manner, he may become part of the select band of Open Era champions who won consecutive US Open titles shortly after their initial – a group featuring John McEnroe, Pat Rafter, Stefan Edberg, and Roger Federer himself.
For the moment, at least, the young Italian is concentrated on his next assignment as he chases a second consecutive Grand Slam title in 2025 and possibly the beginning of his own historic streak at Flushing Meadows.
Also Read: Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20I Tri-Series 2025: When and Where To Watch Live Streaming
