Tie-break king Sinner on standout record

Jannik Sinner is the man to beat in tie-breaks.

The Italian has won 14 of his past 15 tie-breaks and showed up in the biggest moments against Tommy Paul during his fourth-round win at the US Open on Monday. He won tie-breaks in sets one and two en route to reaching the quarter-finals.

“I had those periods where I lost more tie-breaks. I mean, it's normal, but you try to learn from this. I always try to [enjoy the pressure]. With tie-breaks you have it and break points you have it,” Sinner said. “I come from skiing. When skiing, you make one mistake and the game is over or the race is over. In tennis, it's a bit of a different mentality and that is [why I embrace it].”

Sinner has often produced his best level in the biggest moments this season, highlighted by his Australian Open victory in January when he rallied from two sets down to clinch his maiden major.

The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings enjoys playing the big points and feel that it makes the hard work in training pay off.

“I always get more excited when playing important points, important moments. In my mind, this is what we practise for. This is why you make repetition on the practice courts and where you have to maybe change up a couple of things to try to surprise him,” Sinner said. “You have to serve a bit smarter. In the second-set tie-break [against Paul], I didn't serve very well, but I tried to find a solution somehow.”

With his win, Sinner improved to 3-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Paul. The 23-year-old has reached at least the quarter-finals at all four majors this season, becoming just the eighth men’s singles player since 2000 to accomplish the feat.

The top seed is chasing his sixth title of the season and will next meet Daniil Medvedev, who leads Sinner 7-5 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. World No. 5 Medvedev was the last player to win a tie-break against Sinner, which came during Medvedev’s quarter-final win at Wimbledon in July.