Sinner, Swiatek move into US Open third round

World No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy continued his hard-court dominance at the US Open with a straight sets victory over Australia's Alexei Popyrin to reach the third round on Thursday.

The defending champion was in total control and won the first set 6-3. Sinner is bidding to become the first player to successfully defend the men's singles title since Roger Federer in 2008. The 24-year-old Italian claimed the second set 6-2 with a smart drop shot. And he kept it going to break for a 5-2 lead in the third set with another forehand winner.

The World No. 1 closed the contest 6-2 with an ace. Following his triumphs at the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025, and the US Open last year, Sinner is now on a 23-match winning streak at hard-court majors. By levelling his head-to-head series with Popyrin at 1-1, Sinner also keeps alive his chances of remaining World No. 1 after the US Open. Next up for the four-time major champion is Canadian Denis Shapovalov. 

"Today, I felt we both didn't serve great, you know, but I was returning very well, especially in the second serve. So, I'm very happy about today. Obviously, I am aiming to improve the serve, but honestly, the rest, I feel quite comfortable," said Sinner.

On the women's side, Poland's second seed Iga Swiatek survived a stern test to beat the Netherlands' Suzan Lamens in three sets and reach the third round. 

Swiatek claimed the opening set 6-1, but Lamens did better in the second as the 26-year-old Dutchwoman led 5-4, before she won the set 6-4. Swiatek regrouped in the third. The 24-year-old Pole, who won titles at Wimbledon and Cincinnati this summer, showed her defense before delivering a laser backhand winner into the corner while leading 5-3.

The 2022 champion then won the third set 6-4 with her seventh ace of the day. The World No. 2 notched her 16th win in 17 matches and will next face Russia's 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya. 

Meanwhile, 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated China's Wang Xinyu 6-2, 6-2. Wang's exit in the second round means all eight Chinese mainland singles players have been knocked out in Flushing Meadows this year. Alexandrova will meet German veteran Laura Siegemund next.