Jannik Sinner beats Alex Michelsen to continue blistering form and breeze into US Open third round - ‘I can improve’

Jannik Sinner made light work of home player Alex Michelsen at the US Open as he cruised into the third round with a straight-sets win. Despite notching his 50th win of the season, Sinner feels he has more to give. “I’m very happy," the world No. 1 said after the match. "I feel like I can improve still on a couple of things, but I’m very happy to be in the next round."

Highlights: Defending champions Djokovic and Gauff advance in gruelling conditions

Video credit: SNTV

Jannik Sinner sealed a bagel in his one-sided three-set victory over American Alex Michelsen as the Italian advanced to the third round of the US Open.

The top seed hardly got out of second gear at Arthur Ashe Stadium as he beat the home player 6-4 6-0 6-2 on Thursday.

Sinner has now won seven matches on the bounce following his success at the Cincinnati Masters, but feels he still has room for improvement as he continues to progress in New York.

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“I’m very happy, he’s a very tough opponent,” Sinner said. “We played each other in Cincinnati one week ago, so I knew a little bit what to expect, he knew a little bit of what to expect.

“Every place we play is a bit different. The conditions are a bit different. I feel like I can improve still on a couple of things, but I’m very happy to be in the next round.

“[I’m] just trying to get better as a player and tomorrow I have one day off, try to get in the rhythm again so let’s see.”

The Australian Open champion broke the American No. 7 in the opening game of the match, but Michelsen rallied to 40-0 ahead in the next game. Sinner swatted away the first two break points but was undone on the third in an intriguing start to proceedings.

At 3-3, Michelsen lost serve again to hand the advantage to Sinner, who broke to love, but once again, the home player instantly hit back with another break to wow the American crowd.

But this time Sinner replied with another break of serve in a long-winded game to take control of the early stages, before settling the set to take the lead.

Sinner was rampant in the second set as he took no prisoners with a dominant bagel to put one foot in the third round.

He continued his relentless form as he looked to get the job done inside three sets, which was made possible with a decisive break in the fifth game of the third set.

Sinner raced through the remainder of the set to confirm his spot in the third round. He will play Christopher O'Connell, who secured a four-set win over Mattia Bellucci, as he continues his quest for a second Grand Slam title of the season.

Draper could face Alcaraz, No.7 seed Hurkacz bows out

Great Britain's Jack Draper moved into the third round after his comfortable 6-4 6-2 6-2 triumph over Facundo Diaz Acosta.

The 22-year-old could bump into 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz in the next round, with the Spaniard facing Botic van de Zandschulp on Friday.

"I'm very proud of my performance there," Draper told Sky Sports of his victory over Alcaraz in at the Queen's Club Championships back in June.

"I've played him a couple of times on the hard court, it's a different ball game.

"If I play him, I'll be expecting a very different Carlos Alcaraz. I'm looking forward to that battle, let's see how it goes."

Elsewhere, Hubert Hurkacz lost 7-6(2) 6-1 7-5 in a heavy defeat to Australia’s Jordan Thompson, who advanced to the next round to play Italian No. 3 Matteo Arnaldi for a spot in the fourth round.

Hubert Hurkacz reacts during his second round US Open match.

Image credit: Getty Images

Victory for Thompson against the world No. 7 is the biggest Grand Slam scalp of the 30-year-old’s career.

Elsewhere, Alex de Minaur advanced over Otto Virtanen with a straight-set win and will play either Mariano Navone or Brit Dan Evans for a place in the fourth round.

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