Jannik Sinner matches 3 ATP Tour greats with milestone quarter-final feat

Jannik Sinner fistpumps during his Shanghai Masters victory over Ben Shelton.
Jannik Sinner fistpumps during a match.

Jannik Sinner earned a slice of revenge at the Shanghai Masters after easing into the quarter-final of the tournament for the first time on Wednesday.

Twelve months ago, the Italian was surprisingly beaten by Ben Shelton in the fourth round on his tournament debut.

However, there was no repeat of that result today, with the Italian defeating the 16th seed 6-4, 7-6(1) to seal his place in the last eight – a 14th quarter-final in as many tournaments this season.

That makes him one of four players aged 23 or under to reach that many quarter-finals consecutively from the start of an ATP Tour season.

Jannik Sinner – 2024

Sinner’s season has certainly proven to be controversial, but on the court, it has proven incredibly difficult to challenge the two-time Grand Slam champion.

Not only has the Italian lifted the Australian and US Open titles, but he has also claimed titles in Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, and Cincinnati – while he lost the Beijing final just a week ago.

The world No 1 was also a semi-finalist in Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, and the French Open, while he reached quarter-finals in Madrid, Montreal, and Wimbledon.

Sinner faces Daniil Medvedev as he looks to reach an 11th semi-final of 2024.

John McEnroe – 1982

Tennis icon McEnroe failed to win a Grand Slam singles title in 1982 though it still proved to be a hugely successful season, with the former world No 1 reaching at least the last eight of all 15 events he played.

The US star skipped the Australian Open and Roland Garros though reached a third straight Wimbledon final, losing to Jimmy Connors, and reached the last four of the US Open – falling to Ivan Lendl.

He won titles in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, and Wembley, alongside reaching four further finals – including his SW19 defeat.

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Guillermo Vilas – 1976

One of the greatest players of the mid to late 1970s, Argentine star Vilas won a staggering 89 matches across 1976 – reaching at least the quarter-final of his first 17 events of the season.

Vilas reached the last eight of both Wimbledon and Roland Garros and went all the way to the last four of the US Open – losing to Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors respectively at the latter two events.

Across the first part of the season, he won titles in St. Louis, Fort Worth, Monte Carlo and Toronto, before a round of 16 loss in Los Angeles snapped his quarter-final streak.

Jimmy Connors – 1974

Connors’ 1974 season remains one of the greatest in tennis history, with the American making the quarter-final of his first 14 events that season.

The American won the Australian Open at the start of the year, beating Phil Dent in the final, and would also win Wimbledon that summer, defeating Ken Rosewall.

Connors won 11 titles across the 14 quarter-finals he reached until he was beaten in the round of 16 at the Canadian Open in August.

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