US Open live: Sinner sets challenge to Djokovic and Alcaraz with ruthless thrashing of Musetti

[1} Jannik Sinner vs Felix Auger-Aliassime [25]

[7] Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz [2}

Both will be played on Friday.

Is anyone stopping the Sinner-Alcaraz final?

Jannik Sinner has now improved his record against fellow Italians to 16 wins without defeat.

He was ruthless today to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 6-1 6-4 6-2 and return to the US Open semi-finals.

Sinner made very short work of the first grand slam quarter-final between two Italian players

“We have to take the friendship away,” he says. “It was a great performance, very solid from my point of view.”

The fight has gone from Musetti as he puts over a weak drop shot and Sinner easily returns it for a winner.

Sinner has suck ed it from him and Musetti barely moves on the ace. Three match points: Sinner takes it as Musetti nets.

Exactly two hours. Dominant.

Jannik Sinner, wow! Musetti stretches his arms out wide as Sinner thunders a forehand winner down the line, surely his fastest winner of the match.

It brings up break point, and Sinner moves one game away as Musetti hacks long. He’s just been too good tonight and will have the chance to wrap this up inside the two-hour mark.

Musetti brings up his latest break point with a wonderful backhand pass as Sinner came into the net.

But Sinner saves both: first as Musetti can’t get the serve back in play, then as Sinner goes at the backhand with his forehand.

Musetti then nets on the run and another chance slides by.

Sinner saves three break points in a single game as he defies Musetti, and leaves his fellow Italian shrugging his shoulders as he lands another forehand onto the line.

A bit of a scrappy game from Sinner but he saves his best to defend those break points.

Sinner gets the break straight away and pretty much sucks the air out of Arthur Ashe Stadium. A lot of people have looked to get the train home and avoid too late a night. They may have expected Musetti to put up more of a fight, however.

As expected, Sinner makes no mistake serving for the et.

A couple of thumping serves, and he puts himself into a commanding position. It’s taken just 75 minutes.

Oh yikes. Sinner races up to a Musetti drop shot, slamming down the backhand winner.

But then Musetti crumbles. He runs around the backhand but puts the inside-in into the net.

Then, on break point, Musetti double faults, handing the advantage to Sinner as he prepares to come out to serve for a two-set lead.

Musetti had a glorious chance to move 15-30 after powering a forehand crosscourt and forcing Sinner into the defensive shot.

But the Italian smacks the short backhand into the net and Sinner holds.

Musetti has had his nose in front in a few games now against the Sinner serve but is not converting. You can feel his frustration.