Canadian Open: Andrey Rublev enjoys 'special' win over Jannik Sinner, Jessica Pegula powers past Peyton Stearns
By James Hilsum
Published 11/08/2024 at 10:41 GMT+1
Jannik Sinner's US Open preparations took a hit after clearly battling with a hip injury in his three-set defeat to Andrey Rublev. Sinner showed signs of his undoubted quality after sealing a dominant second set to take the match into a decider, which the Russian won in commanding fashion. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula is into the last four in Toronto after a straight-sets win over Peyton Stearns.
World No. 1 Sinner stunned by Rublev in Montreal Masters quarter-finals
Video credit: SNTV
Jannik Sinner bowed out of the Canadian Open after a gruelling quarter-final defeat to Andrey Rublev, who prevailed with a 6-3 1-6 6-2 victory.
Perhaps more worryingly for Sinner, aside from the defeat, was what looked like a recurrence of a hip injury - something which the Italian has had to contend with for much of this year.
Both players faced their second matches in a matter of hours, with rain wreaking havoc on the schedule in Montreal.
Following a straight-sets 6-4 6-3 win over Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, Sinner was back out on the court to face the world No. 8.
Meanwhile, Rublev overcame Brandon Nakashima with a 6-2 6-2 win earlier on Saturday to set up this clash with the world No.1.
"It was a really great match of mine. I was playing really well today and I'm happy that I was able to win," said Rublev in quotes published by the ATP.
"I don't know, not much to say, because I still for the moment... really I don't understand what's happening, because Jannik is an amazing player and he's playing unbelievable for the past two years.
"I was just hoping that I would be able to fight with him, to show great tennis. In the end, I think we had a lot of great rallies, a lot of long rallies.
"To be able to win this kind of match, of course, it's always special, and of course I needed those matches, especially after some bad moments this year. So, of course I'm happy."
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Murray reveals special tribute he received from Borg after final match
Video credit: TNT Sports
Rublev drew first blood in the contest after breaking Sinner in the fourth game to move 3-1 ahead, and sealed the opener on his second set point.
The rain returned at that point, resulting in a 30-minute rain delay which appeared to benefit Sinner.
He fought back admirably to take the second set in dominant fashion, twice breaking the Russian and restoring parity after his first set point.
Sinner was clearly struggling with that hip problem, and was prompted by coach Darren Cahill to ask for the trainer if needed, ahead of the decider.
Despite his struggles, Sinner came within a whisker of breaking Rublev in the opening game, but agonisingly saw five break point opportunities come and go.
Rublev followed up that hard-fought hold with a comprehensive break to 15 on route to a 3-0 lead.
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Sinner fought off two match points from Rublev in the deciding eighth game, before he eventually succumbed to defeat on the third.
Rublev will now face another Italian in the semi-finals when he takes on Matteo Arnaldi.
Sinner - who was the defending champion at the Canadian Open - now has a fortnight to recover before the final grand slam of the year, the US Open.
Pegula powers past Stearns
Elsewhere, Jessica Pegula advanced to the semi-finals in Toronto with a 6-4 7-5 win over fellow American Peyton Stearns.
The world No. 6 won the match in 91 minutes, and can now look forward to a last-four clash against Dina Shnaider, who overcame world No.2 Coco Gauff in the last-16.
Stearns acquitted herself well in the opener, but was broken in the fifth game before Pegula won the 10th with an emphatic hold to love at 6-4.
The 22-year-old began the second set with a keenly-contested hold of her own, swatting away three break points in the process.
She mustered two of her own in the next game, but Pegula would bat those away too to draw level in the third set.
It looked like the match may have been heading to a decider when Stearns finally managed to break Pegula for the first time to take a 3-1 lead.
But Pegula broke her compatriot's serve twice more and sealed the match on her own serve at 7-5.
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