Sinner reclaims rivalry edge in Vienna quarterfinal

In the charged atmosphere of Vienna‘s Stadthalle, Jannik Sinner renewed his rivalry with Alexander Bublik on Friday evening at the Erste Bank Open, prevailing 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals. The top-seeded Italian’s baseline precision neutralized the Kazakh’s erratic shots, dropping just eight games while building momentum toward his fourth title of 2025. As the crowd’s energy pulsed with each rally, Sinner’s movement and shot selection evoked a player fully attuned to the indoor hard’s swift tempo, his forehands slicing crosscourt to expose gaps in Bublik’s defense.

Avenging past upsets through tactical suffocation

Sinner’s victory marked a clear evolution since his June loss to Bublik in Halle, where the 28-year-old had disrupted his rhythm on grass. Here, the World No. 2 countered with deeper returns and inside-out backhands that pinned Bublik deep, forcing errors and extending their head-to-head to 6-2. His relentless striking earned a performance rating of 9.23, blending attack conversion with shot quality, much like the 9.61 he posted in a 58-minute first-round rout of Daniel Altmaier—his second-highest of the season.

The Italian suffocated the World No. 16 with one–two combinations off the serve, turning potential flair moments into predictable baselines exchanges. Bublik‘s underarm attempts and drop shots met crisp retrievals, as Sinner anticipated angles and closed the net when opportunities arose. This display echoed his US Open fourth-round dominance in September, where he conceded only three games, signaling a return to peak form on a surface that amplifies his flat groundstrokes.

Indoor streak ignites Vienna title chase

Sinner’s comfort in enclosed arenas fuels his current surge, with a 19-match indoor winning streak underscoring his affinity for the quick hard courts. He lifted the trophy at the Erste Bank Open in 2023 and holds a 15-4 lifetime record there, per the ATP Win/Loss Index, each victory layering confidence amid the season’s demands. The 24-year-old now stands two wins from another crown, his adjustments—tighter footwork and varied depths—transforming earlier vulnerabilities into strengths that resonate under the lights.

Awaiting him in the semi-finals is Alex de Minaur, who grinded out a 6-1, 7-6(4) win over Matteo Berrettini for his 53rd victory of 2025, trailing only Carlos Alcaraz on tour. The Australian recovered from a squandered match point at 5-4 in the second set, clinching the tie-break to improve to 2-3 against the Italian and reach his fourth ATP 500 semi-final this year, matching Alcaraz’s tally after his Washington title. De Minaur sits seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, 500 points ahead of ninth-placed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who retired injured from Basel’s quarter-finals, as he pursues a second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Zverev’s qualification heightens draw drama

Across the bracket, Alexander Zverev secured his Nitto ATP Finals spot without playing, as Tallon Griekspoor withdrew due to a back injury before their quarter-final. The two-time year-end champion, who won Vienna in 2021, now seeks a second local title and will face Lorenzo Musetti or Corentin Moutet in the semi-finals. The 26-year-old German’s baseline solidity adds tension to the event, mirroring the broader stakes where Sinner’s precision could collide with de Minaur’s speed in a matchup testing endurance and angles.

For Sinner, this semi-final looms as a tactical crossroads, demanding net forays to disrupt de Minaur’s retrieval while leveraging his power in crosscourt exchanges. The Vienna crowd’s anticipation builds, sensing a pivotal moment in the indoor swing where psychological resets and surface mastery propel contenders toward Turin. With Zverev’s lock-in underscoring the race’s ferocity, Sinner’s path forward blends calculated dominance with the quiet thrill of unfinished business.