The world #1 on the ATP Tour, Jannik Sinner, served up Italian breadsticks in his round of 16 match against Alexander Bublik on Monday at the 2025 US Open.
Sinner won 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in just an hour and 23 minutes, looking unbeatable against an opponent who was in his first-ever US Open round of 16 and had put together one of the best weeks of his career and hadn’t had his serve broken for 55 consecutive service games prior to the match.
At the post-match handshake, Bublik told Sinner, “You’re so good, this is insane, I’m not bad, like what the f**k.” Bublik also told the media before the match that Sinner is “like an AI-generated player.”
Known for his honesty, Bublik actually has a better record against Sinner than most players on the ATP Tour, having defeated him twice on grass in Halle this year. His 2-5 record against Sinner is respectable, given that the 24-year-old Italian has not lost before the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam since the 2023 US Open.
Sinner’s Dominance Since 2024
Sinner’s dominance is undeniable: four Grand Slam titles over the last two seasons, a place in every Grand Slam final this year, and only five defeats in 2025 (most to rival Carlos Alcaraz). He has won nearly 90% of his matches since 2024, a machine-like performance that rivals the peaks of Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal.
What sets Sinner apart is his baseline power, pinpoint accuracy, complete court coverage, mental composure, and elite return game. On court, facing him feel more like an anime or video game boss than a human opponent, leaving even seasoned players like Bublik stunned. He creates a sense of fear in the opposition the moment he steps on court and begins warming up.
Next up for Sinner is a clash with fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who is seeking his third career Grand Slam semifinal. Musetti will need to hope that Sinner’s seemingly AI-like game has a rare glitch if he hopes to engineer a monumental upset.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images LARRYxMARANO
