TENNIS US OPEN – Unlike the women’s draw, the top seeds are mostly holding true to form. There has been no major upsets of sorts on the men’s side for the first three days at the US Open and Day 4 would be no different. From New York, Cordell Hackshaw
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Unlike the women’s draw, the top seeds are mostly holding true to form. There has been no major upsets of sorts on the men’s side for the first three days at the US Open and Day 4 would be no different.
The top seed, Novak Djokovic made quick work of Paul-Henri Mathieu. Djokovic converted match point near 90 minutes after the start of play for a 6-1 6-3 6-0 victory. Djokovic had 33 winners to 16 errors. He was winning 88% of his 1st serve points and 57% behind his 2nd serve. “I wanted to get my job done as quick as possible. I don’t feel like I need to play long matches to get into the groove,” Djokovic said after the match. In the 3rd round, Djokovic will play American Sam Querrey who triumphed over the Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (28) in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Milos Raonic (5) won his match in 4 sets 7-6 5-7 6-4 7-6 over Peter Gojowczyk. Gojowczyk did all he could to complicate life for the Canadian. He has an early break in the 4th set but could not maintain it. “He plays quite flat, quite low to the net, lower margin for error, I would say. But also, at the same time when he defends that way, if he just even puts it through the middle, it’s hard for me because the ball never really comes up to my strike zone like against most guys,” Raonic said. He hit 26 aces in the match and in the two crucial tiebreaks where anything can happen, Raonic showed toughness to take them comfortably.
Andy Murray (8) had a much easier time in his 2nd round match than he did in his opener. Murray dispatched Matthias Bachinger 6-3 6-3 6-4 in an hour and 46 minutes. Whereas in his first match, the 2012 champion was having difficulties holding serve, in this match, he was not broken once, saving all three break points he faced. “[I]t was extremely windy today … Difficult to play sort of close to the lines or anything like that. But I hit the ball well considering, served better, and obviously I moved a bit better today, as well,” Murray said after the match. He was also unable to say why he was cramping so badly on Monday but noted that he was much better now.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (9) also had an easy day at the office. He knocked out Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-3 6-4 6-4 in an hour and 47 minutes. “I felt good on the court. I moved pretty well. I served well. You know, it’s good for the next match. Yeah, I mean, I’m in good shape,” Tsonga said. He had 38 winners to 27 errors, winning 85% of his 1st serve points.
John Isner (13) will join fellow Davis Cup member Querrey in the 3rd round. Isner triumphed over Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 6-4 6-2. There were two more retirement in men’s singles action today which benefitted Philipp Kohlschreiber (22) and Kei Nishikori (10). Kohlschreiber’s opponent, Michael Llodra retired after dropping the 1st set 2-6. Nishikori was leading Pablo Andujar 6-4 6-1 before the Spaniard decided he could not continue. Kohlschreiber will face Isner in the 3rd round and Nishikori plays Leonardo Mayer (23) who beat Matthew Ebden 6-1 6-3 6-4.
Other winners include Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic over Borna Coric of Croatia. Estrella Burgos won in 4 sets 7-6 4-6 6-4 6-2. This matchup was somewhat interesting as Estrella Burgos is a bit of a story here at the US Open. This is the first US Open main draw appearance for both players but Coric is 18 years old and Estrella Burgos is near twice that number. At 34 years old, the Estrella Burgos is in the 3rd round of any major for the first time. In fact, he only just played his first major this year at the French Open. “I think is happening now because this had to happen now. I think when I have 20 years old, I tell you before, I don’t have any idea about the tournament. Because in Dominican, we don’t have this. I think for me this is the best time. This happen now. I had to get like very good, very simple for me. I think now is now. I cannot go back. I cannot start to thinking why this doesn’t happen when I have 20 or 22 or 24. Now it happening when I have 34, I very happy.” He plays Raonic for a place in the 4th round. It would be an interesting match as New York has a very significant Dominican population who has been very vocal cheering on Estrella Burgos at all his matches. With his success here at the Open and the match going to a bigger stadium, the support would be even more intense.
Also winning in 4 sets was Pablo Carreno Busta over Benoit Paire 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-3. He will face Tsonga in the next round. Nick Kyrgios continues recent success at the majors when he beat Andrea Seppi 6-4 7-6 6-4. Kyrgios’ next opponent is Tommy Robredo (16). Robredo moved into the 3rd round in dramatic fashion. The Spaniard was down 0-2 sets to Simone Bolelli 5-7 6-7. Bolelli seemed to be poised to cause the upset but his fortune soon change after an extended argument with chair umpire and head officials over a call made by the crowd during a crucial point. When the decision was made in Robredo’s favour handing him the 3rd set 6-4, Bolelli simply wilted on the court. He was no longer being as aggressive as he was in the earlier stages of the match. Robredo wrested control of the match to take it 5-7 6-7 6-4 6-3 6-2. Another Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco (31), was involved in a 5-setter but only this time, he did not come out the victor. Andrey Kuznetsov rallied from 1-2 sets down to get to the 3rd round 6-3 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 in just over 3 hours. Kuznetsov plays Murray next.
