Sinner survives stress test against Khachanov

Jannik Sinner was forced to disconnect cruise control on his Australian Open campaign Sunday, but his gritty straight-sets win over Karen Khachanov only further confirmed that he is a serious title contender at Melbourne Park.

After dropping just nine games in the second and third rounds, Sinner saw his game stress tested by the Olympic silver medallist, who held his own in extended, heavy-hitting side-to-side baseline exchanges with the World No. 4.

After largely clean performances through the first three rounds, Khachanov drew 15 unforced errors from Sinner in the second set alone, but the fourth seed’s ability to defend nine of 10 break points faced throughout the match while converting five of eight proved decisive in the 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 win.

“It was for sure a different match today,” Sinner said. “I felt like we both were hitting the ball really well from the back of the court. Every match is obviously different. It's a pleasure to be here [in the quarter-finals]. Obviously happy with the outcome of the match.”

Most Grand Slam QFs by Italian Men

Sinner will next play the winner of Andrey Rublev (whom he leads 4-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series) and Alex de Minaur (6-0).

The 22-year-old moved into a tie for second for the most quarter-final appearances at the majors by an Italian man. He trails only Nicola Pietrangeli, who made 10 Grand Slam quarter-finals.

Sinner reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in 2022 and last year fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round. He has reached the quarter-finals or better in five of the past nine majors.

Since last year's US Open, Sinner has won 24 of 26 matches played, losing only to Ben Shelton in a third-set tie-break in Shanghai and to Novak Djokovic in the Nitto ATP Finals title match, either side of victories over Djokovic in group play in Turin and in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

We see it but we don't believe it 🤯@karenkhachanov | @AustralianOpen | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YzXb4mK1z8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 21, 2024

After converting an early lead in the first set, Sinner looked in command when he broke in the opening game of the second set. But the Italian surrendered his serve in the next game and was forced to fend off break points in his following service game as Khachanov turned up the heat and pressured Sinner into error.

The set took an unexpected turn in the 11th game. Khachanov had been largely untroubled on serve after the initial game of the set and went ahead 40/15 after ending a 29-shot rally with a crushing running forehand winner. But Sinner won four straight points against the grain to steal a break with a down-the-line forehand winner of his own at the end of an 18-shot rally. He then held to love to win go ahead two sets to love, sealing the set with an ace.