Jannik Sinner has etched his name in the tennis history books, becoming the first man born in the 2000s—and the first since 1990—to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments. With a commanding victory over former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev at the 2024 US Open, Sinner has officially joined the elite group of active players who have achieved this feat.
The Road to the US Open Semifinals
In a thrilling quarterfinal clash, Sinner overcame Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, showcasing his resilience and skill on the hard courts of New York. Though he experienced a dip in form in the second set, Sinner’s overall performance was impressive. Outside of that set, he outperformed Medvedev, hitting 27 winners and breaking his opponent’s serve five times.
This victory secured Sinner his first-ever US Open semifinal appearance, adding to his previous semifinal runs at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon.
Joining an Elite Club of Tennis Legends
At just 23 years old, Sinner joins an exclusive group of only four active male players who have reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slams. The others include tennis icons Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Marin Čilić.
- Novak Djokovic: 11 semifinals at the Australian Open, 12 at Roland Garros, 13 at Wimbledon, and 13 at the US Open.
- Rafael Nadal: 7 semifinals at the Australian Open, 15 at Roland Garros, 8 at Wimbledon, and 8 at the US Open.
- Marin Čilić: 2 semifinals at the Australian Open, 1 at Roland Garros, 1 at Wimbledon, and 2 at the US Open.
- Jannik Sinner: 1 semifinal at each of the four Grand Slams.
This achievement speaks volumes about Sinner’s versatility and ability to adapt his game to different surfaces, from the clay of Roland Garros to the grass at Wimbledon and the hard courts of the US and Australian Opens.
A Close Call Two Years Ago
Sinner’s journey to this milestone was far from easy. In 2022, he came heartbreakingly close to reaching the US Open semifinals, holding match point against Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set epic. However, Alcaraz rallied to win that match, leaving Sinner just short of his goal.
This year, Sinner made sure history wouldn’t repeat itself. Despite a shaky second set, he regained his composure and dominated the remainder of the match, leaving no doubt about his place in the final four.
Next Challenge: Jack Draper Awaits
Sinner’s next opponent in the US Open semifinals is Jack Draper, the No. 25 seed, who has been storming through the draw. Draper advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Alex de Minaur. The two have met only once before, with Draper winning their 2021 encounter on grass at Queen’s Club in straight sets.
This upcoming match promises to be an exciting showdown between two rising stars of the tennis world, as Sinner looks to make his first Grand Slam final.
