Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner moved confidently into the semi-finals of the Vienna Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik. Meanwhile, the Swiss Indoors in Basel was hit by a wave of retirements, underscoring the growing concerns over the intensity of the professional tennis calendar.

Sinner Dominates Bublik to Reach Vienna Semi-Finals

World number two Jannik Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion, showed impeccable form on Friday, dropping just five points on serve while defeating Bublik. A single break of serve in each set was sufficient for Sinner to maintain his pursuit of a fourth title this year.

The 24-year-old Italian, who lost his top-ranking status to Carlos Alcaraz following the US Open final, has won 60 of his past 66 matches, demonstrating remarkable consistency and resilience. Sinner’s semi-final opponent will be Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who secured his spot by defeating Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).

Sinner’s recent performances include:

• A 19-match winning streak on indoor hard courts.
• A seven-match winning streak in Vienna, having previously won the title in 2023.
• Strong service games, never conceding more than one point in any service game against Bublik, while successfully converting two of eight break points.

Alexander Zverev and ATP Finals Qualification

German world number three Alexander Zverev also advanced to the Vienna semi-finals after Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor withdrew from their quarter-final match. Zverev joins Alcaraz, Sinner, and Novak Djokovic as the first four players to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in November.

Zverev will face either Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti or France’s Corentin Moutet in the other semi-final, promising another exciting clash ahead of the final weekend.

Swiss Indoors Hit by Player Retirements

The Swiss Indoors Basel faced significant disruptions as three of four scheduled quarter-finals ended as walkovers:

• Casper Ruud (Norway) retired after losing a first-set tie-break to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
• Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) retired after dropping the first set 6-3 against Spain’s Jaume Munar.
• Denis Shapovalov (Canada) withdrew while trailing Joao Fonseca 3-6, 6-3, 4-1.

Only one match reached completion, with Frenchman Ugo Humbert defeating American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7-0), 6-4.

Concerns Over Player Health and Calendar Intensity

The spate of retirements highlights ongoing concerns about the demands of the tennis season. Earlier this month, British number one Jack Draper called for adjustments to the calendar following serious injuries to players like Holger Rune, emphasizing the need for longer careers. Former women’s world number one Iga Swiatek also criticized the season in September, stating it is “too long and too intense,” citing multiple injuries at events like the China Open.

The challenges faced by top players in Vienna and Basel underline the physical toll of professional tennis and raise questions about sustainability as the season heads toward its conclusion.