Top favorite Novak Djokovic has convincingly qualified for the fourth round of the US Open in the night from Friday to Saturday. Stefános Tsitsipás was eliminated despite six match points, Alexander Zverev was not confused about the postponement of his match due to the local corona measures.
Djokovic only had to allow a breakpoint in his first service game against the German Jan-Lennard Struff and never ran into problems: 6-3, 6-3 and 6-1. The Serbian recorded his 600th win ever on hard court, only Roger Federer (775) won more.
“I felt really good on the track today,” said Djokovic. “I could read Struff’s service very well. That was important, because if you get a break behind against such a long player, it becomes very difficult.”
Due to the absence of Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic is the absolute top favorite Flushing Meadows. The number one in the world for his eighteenth Grand Slam overall victory. Federer is the record holder with twenty victories, ahead of Nadal (19). In the fourth round, Djokovic will play against the second-placed Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta.
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Tsitsipás still has to wait for his first Grand Slam final. (Photo: Pro Shots)
Tsitispás loses after a 5-1 lead in the fourth set
Tsitsipás stopped against Borna Coric with a 5-1 lead in the fourth set, but despite six match points, the Greek got the short straw: 6-7 (2), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 and 7-6 (4). “If I am honest, I have to say that I have been very lucky”, the Croat Coric said afterwards. “At 5-4 I was down 40-0, then I played some incredible returns. It was pure luck.”
The 22-year-old Tsitsipás hoped to reach his first Grand Slam final in New York. In the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, he was placed fourth.
The fifth-placed Alexander Zverev did advance to the eighth finals. He was too strong for the Frenchman Adrien Mannarino in four sets: 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 and 6-2.
The game was postponed and threatened not to be played at all, as Mannarino may have violated the US Open corona protocol. Mannarino, like some other French players, was placed in a tightened protocol because he had been in contact with his fellow countryman Benoît Paire, who tested positive for the virus in New York.
The match was scheduled to start at 2.30 p.m. local time. After consultation between the ATP and the state of New York, the green light was given to let the game play, at 5.15 pm both players entered the court.
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Zverev had to wait nearly three hours for New York State to allow his opponent Mannarino to play. (Photo: Pro Shots)
Kvitová, Kerber, Mertens and Kontaveit by women
In the women’s tournament, Petra Kvitová reached the last sixteen. The Czech was too strong for the American Jessica Pegula, 6-4 and 6-3.
The German Angelique Kerber, the Belgian Elise Martens and Anett Kontaveit from Estonia, among others, also qualified for the eighth finals in the night from Friday to Saturday.
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