Consider Wednesday night a reminder.
Yes, the story of this US Open is the American men.
Two of them, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, are playing for a place in the final on Friday and looking to end the country’s 21-year drought in which a man has not won a Grand Slam title.
But the No. 1 seed is still standing, and he looks set to be the one to beat.
Jannik Sinner arrived in Queens, hounded by his performance-enhancing drug scandal.
It was not a distraction on the field.
He lost the first set he played at the Open, and only one since, advancing to the semifinals with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over 2021 US Open champion and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Whichever American survives Friday will likely have to defeat Sinner on Sunday.
Sinner will meet number 25 Jack Draper in the other semi-final.
