NEW YORK — World number one Jannik Sinner has been labelled an "artificial intelligence" player by a baffled Alexander Bublik after the Italian produced a near-flawless performance to race into the US Open quarter-finals with a commanding 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory on Monday.
The match, which lasted a mere one hour and 44 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, was a masterclass in ruthless efficiency from the top seed. Sinner’s relentless precision and unerring consistency left the 25th-seeded Kazakhstani with no answers, prompting the colorful Bublik to offer a unique assessment of his opponent's machine-like prowess.
"He's like artificial intelligence, you know," Bublik stated in his post-match press conference. "He's just a machine. He doesn't have bad days. He's just playing. He doesn't do anything extraordinary, but he just makes you suffer."
A Clinic in Controlled Aggression
From the first ball, Sinner imposed his will with a brand of tennis that was both explosive and impeccably controlled. His game was built on a foundation of formidable strengths executed with chilling consistency.
- Serve: He fired 10 aces and won 86% of points behind his first serve.
- Return: He relentlessly attacked Bublik's second serve, breaking him five times.
- Errors: He committed a remarkably low 18 unforced errors across three sets.
This statistical dominance translated into a match with virtually no drama. Sinner faced zero break points on his own serve, never allowing Bublik a glimpse of an opportunity or a chance to engage the lively New York crowd. "He doesn't give you any free points," Bublik lamented.
The Path to the Quarterfinals
Sinner’s journey to the last eight has been characterized by the same formidable form. He has yet to drop a set in the tournament, dispatching opponents with a quiet, focused intensity that has become his trademark.
Previous Round Results
- 1st Round: def. Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
- 2nd Round: def. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 7-6(7), 7-6(3), 6-3
- 3rd Round: def. Pavel Kotov (RUS) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
- 4th Round: def. Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 6-3, 6-3, 6-4
This run solidifies his status as a firm favorite for the title, especially in a bottom half of the draw that has now opened up following the early exits of other top contenders like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev.
Sinner's Reaction to the "AI" Label
"It's a nice compliment, I guess," he said with a slight smile. "But I prefer to be a human, to be honest. I just try to play my game, be solid, and make the right choices."
He went on to explain the method behind what appears to be machine-like perfection, emphasizing the work done behind the scenes. "It looks easy sometimes, but it's not. It's a lot of practice, a lot of sacrifices. I'm happy to be in this position, but the tournament is not over."
A Clash of Titans Awaits
"Jannik is probably the best player in the world right now," Medvedev said. "To beat him, you need to play 11 out of 10. There is no other way."
The Pursuit of History
"I feel good physically, which is very important," Sinner noted. "Now it's just about recovering and preparing for the next match. It will be a tough one, and I look forward to it."
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