Friday was bye day for many, with the top half of the men’s draw, and bottom half of the women’s, facing the music.
Here is what happened on a day of high quality tennis.
Third round mens singles
- Novak Djokovic (1) defeated Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-4 6-2, dispelling any immediate concerns (or for some - perverse hopes) over a shoulder injury.
- Stan Wawrinka (23) defeated lucky loser Paolo Lorenzi 6-4 7-6(9) 7-6(4).
- Qualifier Dominik Koepfer defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili (17) 6-3 7-6(5) 4-6 6-1
- Daniil Medvedev (5) defeated Feliciano Lopez 7-6(1) 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4
- Roger Federer (3) defeated Daniel Evans 6-2 6-2 6-1
- David Goffin (15) defeated Pablo Carreño Busta 7-6(5) 7-6(9) 7-5
- Grigor Dimitrov defeated qualifier Kamil Majchrzak 7-5 7-6(8) 6-2
- Alex de Minaur defeated Kei Nishikori (7) 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3, his first win over a top 10 player, and the first time he’s gone past the third round of a major.
Round of sixteen match ups
Novak Djokovic (1) v Stan Wawrinka (23)
Stan was the last man to defeat Novak in a final here (2016). In fact the pair haven’t clashed in competition since that day. Unsurprising since either one or the other has been off the tour with injury related operations and lengthy recoveries.
Qualifier Dominik Koepfer v Daniil Medvedev (5)
Roger Federer (3) v David Goffin (15).
With only one win from their nine meetings, it seems hard to justify a case for Goffin winning but as recently as Cincinnati 2018, Federer needed a tie break to win the only set, before the Belgian was forced to retire early in set two. And with excellent form in Cincinnati again this year, plus a clean sheet entering the final sixteen, Goffin is a more significant challenge for the Swiss great this time around.
Grigor Dimitrov v Alex de Minaur
We are seeing some of the tennis of which we know one is capable as we have seen it before, and more, and better. (Grigor).
We sort of knew that de Minaur could eventually deliver beyond a third round in a major - just a matter of when, and his best can match it with the best, to which Nishikori can now attest.
Third round women’s singles
- Elina Svitolina (5) thrashed fellow Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska (32) 6-2 6-0
- Madison Keys (10) overcame feeling unwell, and a threatening fellow American Sofia Kenin (20) 6-3 7-5
- Johanna Konta (16) defeated Zhang Shuai (33) 6-2 6-3
- Karolina Pliskova (3) squeezed through in a thriller, defeating Ons Jabeur 6-1 4-6 6-4
- Serena Williams (8) defeated Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-2
- Petra Martic (22) defeated one of last years semi finalists, Anastasija Sevastova 6-4 6-3
- Wang Qiang (18) defeated Fiona Ferro 7-6(1) 6-3
- Ash Barty (2) defeated Maria Sakkari (30) 7-5 6-3
Round of sixteen match ups
Elina Svitolina (5) v Madison Keys (10)
This could, by the end of the contest, be contending for match of the tournament, as both women are in the form of their lives. Keys will rely on her serve, particularly variety of pace and placement, while Svitolina will run all day and anticipate more than a shot in advance. Her imagination will need to be working hard, and her pace will be relied upon to deal with the pace of shot offered by Keys.
Johanna Konta (16) v Karolina Pliskova (3)
Two powerful servers clash, and Pliskova won’t want to let slip any advantage she may gain in the match, because the quality of opposition has jumped up another level now, and Konta, if given an even break will only say thankyou by winning.
Serena Williams (8) v Petra Martic (22)
Wang Qiang (18) v Ash Barty (2)
Anticipation, once the draw was announced, was a quarter final between Australia’s finest, Roland Garros champion Ash Barty, and possibly the finest ever player - she only need twirl her racquet and Wall Street will respond.
Well, as good as Martic is playing, there aren’t enough strings to her bow, in order to deal with the complete symphony orchestra which will roar into all its glory under the Williams baton.
And Barty should be able to join up with victory over Wang Qiang, and next week give the Big Apple what it demands - the best of today versus legend.
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