Tommy Paul plans to ‘mix things up’ to counter Jannik Sinner’s ball-striking in US Open quarters

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is the betting favorite. But on Monday the fan favorite is going to be Tommy Paul.

“It makes it more fun. You have the crowd behind you,” Paul said. “Obviously most of the matches here, when you’re an American and you’re playing a foreign guy, you’re going to have the crowd support on your side. Momentum plays a big role.”

The 27-year-old American hasn’t cruised through the draw at the U.S. Open like Sinner, who has won his past eight straight matches.

But even without the minor steroid scandal lingering around the Italian, Paul is going to have the crowd backing him.

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Paul is a grinder, while Sinner has dealt with illness and a sore hip over the past few months.

The speedy, athletic Paul is a tough returner who’ll make Sinner work. That’s how he beat the Italian two years ago in the Round of 16 at Eastbourne.

“I’m definitely going to try and make it uncomfortable for him,” Paul said. “From the baseline, I wouldn’t say I’m a better ball striker than him, so I’ve definitely got to impose my game on him and try and play my tennis more than his tennis … the bang-bang tennis from the baseline. He’s probably the best ball-striker on tour, and I’m not. I don’t want to go toe-to-toe just banging on the baseline with him. I want to try and mix things up.”

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Three months ago, New York-born Paula Badosa thought she might have to give up tennis.

Now the Spaniard is into Tuesday’s U.S. Open quarterfinals against American Emma Navarro, thanks to a 6-1, 6-2 rout of Yafan Wang.

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“I’m gonna play an American, a home crowd. But I like this kind of stuff. It’s a challenge, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Badosa said. “[Navarro] is very, very talented. We had a very big battle in Rome also. It was clay. It’s different. But she’s playing very well. She’s been doing a very good summer, also, playing good matches. … Maybe I’ll have to be more aggressive than her.”

Last year, Badosa suffered a stress fracture in the L4 vertebra, and earlier this season thought she might have to retire. But she has fought her way back.

Born in Manhattan to Spanish parents — who moved her to Barcelona at the age of 7— Badosa has tied her best-ever Grand Slam run in her birth city. But she doesn’t delude herself into thinking the crowd will favor her.

“No, it’s not going to be for me. Come on, let’s be honest,” Badosa laughed, “Even though I was born, I think they just care about the flag. I will play against an American, and I think they will cheer for them, but I totally get it.

“It’s still going to be cool. I still like it. It’s going to be my first time on Ashe. It’s going to be my first time in a [U.S. Open] quarterfinals, also. So it’s an experience for me. I like these kind of challenges. I was born to play on big stages, and I’m really looking forward for that.”

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