JANNIK Sinner is the last surviving seed at the 2021 Citi Open in Washington, with the Italian young gun favourite to take out the ATP 500 event. Sinner was one of four semi-finalists decided on the day and none of the matches went beyond two sets, with the losing player winning six or less total games in three of the matches.

The Italian took care of home nation competitor Steve Johnson, taking out the experienced American 6-4 6-2 in an hour and 11 minutes. Sinner served up seven aces to two, saved all three break points he faced, and broke Johnson three times from six chances. He also only lost two points off his first serve (27 of 29) from a 57 per cent clip.

“It is not easy, he is a big server,” Sinner said post-match. “You have to find the right balance on court. I tried to move him earlier than he moved me, and I think that was the key today. I tried to get further forward and push him back and make him change something.

”He is a huge server, so if you return in the same way he can get used to it, so you need to change It up. I think I have done that today quite well and my serve today was better.”

Sinner will now take on American wildcard Jenson Brooksby, who stunned the home crowd with a 6-1 6-2 obliteration of the usually-reliable John Millman. The 11th seed Australian had no answers for the world number 130 with the 20-year-old adding Millman to his list of scalps this tournament having taken out Felix Auger-Aliassime, Frances Tiafoe and Kevin Anderson to reach the semi-finals. The quarter finals win took just 67 minutes, as the American saved the only break point he faced, broke Millman five times and won 32 of his 43 service points.

”He is going to make you work hard but I know I am physical and I started really strongly in the first set,” Brooksby said post-match. “I sort of lost focus at times in the second set but that is part of it. I was still able to stay positive throughout.

“Starting strong is my mentality. It means the preparation up to it [the match] is good. What I need to work on the most is when it gets later on in matches. It was harder today [with the heat], but I am in good shape.”

In the other half of the draw, the wily Kei Nishikori weathered big-serving South African Lloyd Harris to dismiss the 14th seed 6-3 7-5 and advance through to the semi-finals. Nishikori took down Harris a round after the South African upset Rafael Nadal, winning in just under two hours in a hard-fought contest. Harris served 10 aces, but the Japanese start broke four times to one and was his ever-consistent self. He will now take on United States’ Mackenzie McDonald who took out compatriot Denis Kudla in straight sets, 6-3 6-2.

CITI OPEN QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[5] Jannik Sinner (ITA) defeated Steve Johnson (USA) 6-4 6-2
[WC] Jenson Brooksby (USA) defeated [11] John Millman (AUS) 6-1 6-2
Kei Nishikori (JPN) defeated [14] Lloyd Harris (RSA) 6-3 7-5
Mackenzie McDonald (USA) defeated Denis Kudla (USA) 6-3 6-2

Picture credit: ATP Tour