Jannik Sinner’s extraordinary 12-month heater since last year’s Wimbledon semi-final loss – winning a half-dozen ATP titles, helping Italy to a first Davis Cup win in 47 years, capturing his first major championship and becoming the first Italian to top the ATP’s world rankings – has been attributed to a rebuilt serve and the soaring confidence it has produced.
That reconstructed shot was on full display on Sunday as the No 1 seed cruised into the last eight with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (9) win over the American Ben Shelton after two hours and eight minutes. But it was Sinner’s superb return game that gave the fourth-rounder the feel of a no-contest until a last-ditch resurgence by Shelton came up short.
