Federer Continues To Dominate While Young, Azarenka Post Dramatic Wins At US Open; Djokovic, Serena Sunday
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American Donald Young was the feel-good story of the US Open on Saturday, posting his second comeback of the tournament from 0-2 sets down to upset No. 22 seed Viktor Troicki 4-6, 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4.
“I’ve been slaving in the gym, killing it,” Young said. “It was a weak point in my career. I’m not exactly where I want to be, but I’m moving in the right direction.”
Young will next meet No. 5 seed Stan Wawrinka, who defeated Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4.
Another American punched his ticket for the fourth round when No. 13 seed John Isner advanced when Czech Jiri Vesely retired (neck injury) at 6-3, 6-4.
Isner will next meet world No. 2 Roger Federer, who was a straight-set winner over No. 29 Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
“It’s going to be fun,” Isner said of facing Federer. “It’s what I work so hard for, to get an opportunity like this. On Monday I’m going to have fun with it. At the same time, I’m going to go out there and believe that I can win the match…I’ll be able to leave it all out there on Monday, win or lose…I’m going to go out there and roll the dice.”
No. 6 Tomas Berdych and No. 12 Richard Gasquet set up a fourth-round meeting when the Czech defeated No. 31 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-3, and the Frenchman brushed aside No. 24 Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.
In the late match No. 3 Andy Murray defeated No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
“I felt like I played well. I mean, in these conditions, it’s a bit easier to control the ball,” said Murray. “The ball was not bouncing as high. It was a bit sort of flatter.”
Murray also said he’s feeling better after dealing with a cold the last few days.
“When I woke up this morning. I slept like during the day yesterday two or three times. Today I got up, and I slept again before coming out to the courts. Today I felt much, much better. My voice feels like normal again. Still dull obviously, but it feels more normal today and not blocked up or anything anymore, which is good. Yeah, that’s very positive.”
On the women’s side No. 2 Simona Halep led the charge in the night match, defeating chunky American Shelby Rogers 6-2, 6-3.
Halep will next face No. 24 Sabine Lisici who beat Barbora Stryvoca 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
Also among the Top 10-seeded winners was No. 5 Petra Kvitova rocking No. 32 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-1.
Kvitova will next meet Brit unseeded shooting star Johanna Konta, who ousted No. 18-seeded Andrea Petkovic 7-6(2), 6-3.
“I can but not really much, so it’s going to be difficult,” said Kvitova of facing konta for the first time. “I think I never played her, so it’s kind of something new.”
No. 22 Sam Stosur and No. 26 Flavia Pennetta set a meeting of veterans on Saturday when the Italian came from a set down to beat Czech Petra Cetkovska 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, and the Aussie former US Open champ outlasted No. 16-seeded Italian Sara Errani 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
“We played against each other enough times and practiced together enough times to kind of know little things,” Stosur said of Pennetta.
After dramatic three-set wins on Saturday, unseeded American Varvara Lepchenko and former No. 1 and current No. 20 seed Viki Azarenka set up a meeting. Lepchenko came from a set down to beat Mona Barthel 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Azarenka outlasted and upset a feisty No. 11 seed Angelique Kerber 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
“Every moment was really intense and tough,” Azarenka said. “I just tried to stay focused and tried to give my best at every point. She was playing incredible. She was pushing me. I was pushing her. So, you know, from both sides it was just head-to-head. It was amazing, I think.”
Lepchenko says she will need to be on the top of her game to compete.
“Definitely I have to start from the beginning my next match,” the American said. “Obviously she’s the one who has the pressure, and I have nothing to lose. I hope I’ll start really from the beginning, being really aggressive. I hope to be on top of my game.”
In a freak injury in the women’s locker room on Saturday, 21-year-old Canadian Genie Bouchard fell and injured her head, subsequently withdrawing from the women’s and mixed doubles.
“The severity of the injury was and continues to be assessed by the on-site medical personnel at the US Open,” said Tournament Director David Brewer. “No determination about competing in the singles competition has been made at this time. Bouchard will continue with medical evaluation and treatment for the remainder of the day.”
Highlights of Sunday play include defending champ (9) Marin Cilic vs. (27) Jeremy Chardy, (23) Venus Williams vs. Anett Kontaveit, (1) Serena Williams vs. (19) Madison Keys, (1) Novak Djokovic vs. (23) Roberto Bautista Agut, and all-French in Benoit Paire vs. (19) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, (18) Feliciano Lopez vs. (32) Fabio Fognini, and (25) Genie Bouchard vs. Roberta Vinci.
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