Alexander Bublik made an x-rated remark to Jannik Sinner after a crushing defeat at the US Open.
World number one Sinner produced another devastating display to defeat Bublik 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in the Round of 16 at Flushing Meadows. The victory sets up an all-Italian quarter-final clash with Lorenzo Musetti, as Sinner continues his pursuit of a second US Open title.
The defending champion has been outstanding this tournament, dropping just one set so far in his third round victory over Denis Shapovalov. After an outstanding performance against Bublik on the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Kazakh was stunned as to what he had just come up against.
He said: "You're so good, this is insane. I'm not not bad, like what the f**k."
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It was not the only glowing comment that Bublik had about his opponent.
He took to Instagram and replied to a post by the official US Open account to label his opponent an "artificial intelligence" player.
Given the ruthless efficiency with which Sinner navigates the early rounds of Grand Slam's, it looks a fair comment.
Will Jannik Sinner win the US Open?
Sinner remains the overwhelming favourite to retain his title, as he is outstanding on hard courts.
He has already won back to back Australian Open titles, giving him the opportunity of a fourth successive hard court major at Flushing Meadows this week.
The 24-year-old also came to America in good form.
After a devastating loss in the French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz in one of the all-time classics, he bounced back by defeating the Spaniard to lift his first Wimbledon crown.
His likely path to another US Open final will involve Musetti and Alex de Minaur, neither of whom have ever beaten him.
Who else could win the US Open?
The most likely man to stop Sinner will be Alcaraz, although his route to the final looks far more hazardous.
If the Spaniard beats Jiri Lehecka, then he will face the winner of a mouth-watering clash between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz.
Djokovic, who is chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title to move clear of Margaret Court, must defeat the home favourite if he is to keep that dream alive.
Although the Serb remains an outstanding athlete and one of the game's greatest players, tennis appears to have entered a new era of Sinner and Alcaraz.
Another final between the two young stars looks the most likely.
Topics: Tennis, US Open, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic
James Taylor