US Open 2023: Alexander Zverev outlasts Jannik Sinner in five sets, Daniil Medvedev through to quarter-finals

Alexander Zverev reached the US Open quarter-finals with a late-night five-set victory over Jannik Sinner after third seed Daniil Medvedev also progressed in New York.

The German, who is still hunting for his best form after a horror injury at last year’s French Open, outlasted the Italian 6-4 3-6 6-2 4-6 6-3 in a match that finished at 1:39am local time in New York.

He will face world No. 1 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight.

Zverev is into the 10th major quarter-final of his career but is yet to claim his first Grand Slam title, coming closest in New York when he was runner-up in 2020.

The 12th seed managed to keep Sinner at bay as the pair traded sets in a four hour, 40 minute battle that was the longest of the tournament so far this year.

“I guess I can say I’m back,” said Zverev.

“This is exactly what I live for. This is what I love to do. Playing at 1:30am, in front of a packed crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It doesn’t get any better. This is one of the best moments of my career.”

Sinner was struggling physically in sets two and three on a humid night in New York, but the No. 6 seed kept himself in contention throughout before succumbing in a decider settled by a single break.

Zverev landed 16 aces to Sinner’s 12 and hit 56 winners to 50, while seizing six of his 14 break point opportunities and keeping his unforced error count down to 46, compared to the Italian’s 67.

It was a landmark moment for the German, who earned just his second top 10 win at a Grand Slam in 15 attempts.

Third seed Medvedev continued his bid for a second US Open title by recovering from dropping the opening set to beat Alex de Minaur 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-2.

The Russian, a champion at Flushing Meadows in 2019, had lost his previous two meetings with the Australian, including in Toronto as recently as August.

But he flipped the record when it counted to continue his superb record in New York, where he has reached the quarter-finals in four of his last five appearances.

Next up for Medvedev is a clash with his close friend and the godfather to his daughter, Andrey Rublev.

“We’re really close friends. I think we have great relationship. Even if on the court we’re big competitors,” said Medvedev.

“I think nothing is going to come between us to separate us in real life. We’re really close. I mean, we share a lot of interests and stuff like this.

“It’s great to have someone like this on tour because sometimes [it] can be not easy. You travel, travel, travel. To have a friend like this is great.

“But on the court, we both want to win. We are not going to be friends in two days.”

Medvedev was out of sorts in the opening set against De Minaur, seemingly struggling in the conditions as he hit just three winners and committed 10 unforced errors.

He received an inhaler from a tournament doctor and changed between sets, and on returning the third seed was in ferocious form.

A successful tweener early in the second set provided a momentum-swinging moment as Medvedev turned the tide in his favour and took three consecutive sets.