Just two days after the World Anti-Doping Agency announced its intention to impose a one- to two-year ban on the U.S. Open champion, who tested positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March, the 23-year-old Italian showed no signs of distraction. He quickly adapted to the serve of No. 37-ranked Lehecka, dominating the first set.
In the second-set tiebreak, the defending champion faced two set points at 4-6 but managed to secure his 14th consecutive victory, earning a spot in the semifinals against either fifth-seeded Andrey Rubev or local favorite No. 96-ranked Bu Yunchaokete, who were set to compete later on Monday.
“I’m very pleased with how I managed a challenging situation,” Sinner remarked. “I believe there are still areas for improvement, so I hope tomorrow will be the day I feel even better on the court.”
Third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz also progressed to the semifinals for the second consecutive year, achieving a convincing 7-5, 6-2 victory over Karen Khachanov.
The 21-year-old Spaniard displayed his usual tenacity from the baseline, effectively wearing down No. 27-ranked Khachanov’s service games and converting four out of 12 break points to complete the match in 96 minutes.
“I always aim to apply pressure during their service games to let them know I’m present,” Alcaraz stated. “If they want to win their service game or defeat me, they must be prepared for a tough contest and play at a high level. That’s what I strive to demonstrate consistently.”
This victory marked Alcaraz’s 46th win of the season, allowing the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion to reclaim second place in the ATP live rankings, surpassing the absent Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz is set to face Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals, following the fifth-ranked Russian's 6-2, 6-4 win over Italy's Flavio Cobolli.
Medvedev, in pursuit of his first title of the year, demonstrated impressive form by committing 16 fewer unforced errors than his Italian opponent. He successfully converted four out of eight breakpoint opportunities, culminating in a convincing 88-minute victory.
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Aryna Sabalenka maintained her impressive performance on hard courts, securing a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ashlyn Krueger, marking her 14th consecutive win.
The three-time Grand Slam champion began her winning streak with a title in Cincinnati in August and followed it up with a championship run at the U.S. Open earlier this month. She also claimed victory at the Australian Open earlier in the year.
Ranked second, Sabalenka converted five of her seven breakpoint opportunities in a one-sided match against Krueger. She is set to face Madison Keys next, aiming to match her career-best streak of 15 consecutive wins achieved in 2020-21.
“Perhaps I’m not playing my best tennis at the moment,” Sabalenka remarked. “However, my ability to manage my emotions and maintain composure has been crucial in helping me navigate challenging situations and continue to perform at my best.”
Keys secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Brazil's Beatrice Haddad Maia, who had recently won the Korea Open but found it difficult to counter Keys' baseline power.
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka continued her strong start under new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, defeating Katie Volynets 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the round of 16, where she will face sixth-ranked Coco Gauff.
This matchup will be the first encounter between the two Grand Slam champions in over two years, with their head-to-head record tied at 2-2.
“It’s going to be a really exciting challenge for me,” Osaka stated. “She has performed exceptionally well this year. I’m looking forward to the match, and I know fans are eager to see it as well.”
The four-time major winner began working with Mouratoglou shortly before the China Open after parting ways with Wim Fisette. This marks the first time since May that Osaka has achieved three consecutive wins.
Fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini experienced a challenging match, suffering a defeat of 6-4, 6-0 against Poland's No. 45-ranked Magda Linette.
Japan Open
Ugo Humbert triumphed over a mid-match surge from Tomas Machac, securing a victory of 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the final of the Japan Open in Tokyo.
The No. 19-ranked French player aims to extend his flawless 6-0 record in tour finals as he faces fellow countryman Arthur Fils on Tuesday.
Fils, currently ranked No. 24, advanced by defeating sixth-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark with a score of 7-6 (8), 7-6 (10) in their semifinal match.