Sinner slams FAA to grab Cincinnati semi-final place

Jannik Sinner blasted past a tepid Felix Auger-Aliassime on Thursday 6-0, 6-2 to highlight a sparse day at the Cincinnati Masters by booking the semi-finals.

Weaknesses in the bloated expansion of the seven-day event to around double that length was on full display in a programme featuring only three each among ATP and WTA contests.

The Tours and local organisers were hoping for massive paydays from extra crowds, which are naturally only filling the stand for highlight matches under the controversial new format which has drawn complaints from all quarters.

Sinner gave full value for his 70-plus minutes on court, which ended as FAA sent down his eighth double-fault on the defending champion’s match point.

The Italian world No. 1 has now won 25 consecutive hardcourt matches and eight in a row at Cincy.

He plays on his 24th birthday Saturday against either French qualifier Terence Atmane or Holger Rune.

“I felt great on the court today, you could see that,” the Italian who turns 24 on Saturday said. “But every day can be different. Let’s see what I can do in the semis.

Sinner will face either French qualifier Terence Atmane or Danish seventh seed Holger Rune.

Auger-Aliassime meeky lost the opening set after less than 30 minutes, delivering three double-faults in the final game.

Sinner  broke back for 2-all in the second set and advanced as his Canadian opponent sent over an eighth double-fault on match point, his 29th unforced error and sixth break of his serve.

“I served well today, that was the key for me,” Sinner said. “o had a small drop in the second set and I’m happy that I broke back.

“He moves and  serves well, he’s difficult to play. But we prepared in the best possible way.”