Jannik Sinner played Alexander Bublik off the court during their fourth-round match at the US Open, and it might have been due to their past history.
Sinner is looking to keep his World No. 1 spot at the US Open by progressing further at Flushing Meadows than Carlos Alcaraz.
The Italian breezed into the quarter-finals by dropping just three games against an Alexander Bublik who had not had his serve broken all tournament.
Sinner had sent Bublik a warning hours prior to their meeting on Arthur Ashe, where he hinted he was out for ‘revenge’.
Jannik Sinner wanted ‘revenge’ against Alexander Bublik for Halle defeat
Sinner was captured speaking to Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Hollywood actor Rami Malek on the practice courts ahead of his match with Bublik.
The star told the two celebrities that he had lost to Bublik in their last match, before adding: “Time to revenge.”
The World No. 1 crashed out of the round of 16 to Bublik at Halle in June as the Kazakh star won the whole tournament.
Sinner had clearly remembered their last encounter and went on to the US Open stage to avenge that loss.
The World No. 1 does not lose very often so they clearly play on his mind. For that reason, Alcaraz should be wary of Sinner’s revenge on him at the tournament.
The Italian will play his compatriot Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals as the star looks to retain his title from 2024.
What Alexander Bublik said to Jannik Sinner after crushing defeat
Thankfully, Bublik could see the lighter side of being dismantled on the court in just 18 minutes by the World No. 1.
Bublik embraced the Italian at the net after his humbling defeat, but he also left him with some very high praise.
“That was good,” laughed the World No. 24 after his defeat. “I’m not bad, but you’re the GOAT!”, claimed Bublik.
The star had also described Sinner as an ‘A.I.’ tennis player, before and after he collided with the dominant Italian.