NEW YORK (AP) — Jannik Sinner got broken for the first time in Week 1 of the U.S. Open. Dropped the opening set, even. Fell way behind in the third set, too.

“I’m not a machine, you know,” he said with the hint of a smile Saturday. “I also struggle, sometimes.”

Hmmm. Sure, Jannik, maybe so. Still, Sinner is the No. 1-ranked player in men's tennis and has won the past three Grand Slam tournaments played on hard courts, so no one was surprised when he set aside some lapses and emerged to beat No. 27 Denis Shapovalov 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 Saturday to take his title defense at Flushing Meadows to the fourth round.

“That I have pressure and tension is normal. I’ve had that for a year, and you need to handle it,” the Italian said. “Either you handle it — or you don’t. ... It’s better to have to

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