Zverev Shocked, Shapovalov Upset Run Continues at US Open; Federer, Nadal Return Thurs.
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Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal played on Wednesday at the US Open, but there was still tennis to be had — and upsets galore.
ADHEREL
On a day where Tuesday rain made for a giant Wednesday schedule, No. 4 Alexander Zverev fell to Borna Coric 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1), 7-6(4), and No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was beaten by streaking Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(3).
“I just played very, very bad in the second and third set,” Zverev said. “I should have won the third. I definitely should have won the fourth. It’s upsetting because the draw is pretty open in the bottom part. I felt like I should have been the favored there. You know, I just played a very, very bad match, so it’s unfortunate. But that’s how it is.”
Shapovalov saw his dream summer continue on one of tennis’ biggest stages.
“I always dreamed of playing a night match on Arthur Ashe,” the Canadian told the crowd afterwards. “It’s a dream come true for me, thanks for making my dream come true guys.”
The remainder of the Top 10 in action advanced with No. 6 Dominic Thiem beating Aussie Alex De Minaur 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, No. 7 Grigor Dimitrov rolling Czech Vaclav Safranek 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, No. 9 David Goffin needing four to get by Julien Benneteau 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, and No. 10 John Isner topping South Korea’s Chung Hyeon 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
Lower-seeded winners on Wednesday were No. 11 Roberto Bautista Agut, No. 15 Tomas Berdych, No. 16 Lucas Pouille who needed five to beat American Jared Donaldson, No. 17 Sam Querrey, No. 18 Gael Monfils, No. 24 Juan Martin del Potro, No. 30 Adrian Mannarino, No. 31 Feliciano Lopez who needed four to beat Andrey Kuznetsov, and No. 33 Philipp Kohlschreiber.
“I think to play my first round, I play good enough,” Del Potro said. “I need to improve something for my next round. But also, it’s not easy to come back and play the first round on Arthur Ashe in front of all the crowd, but I did with all that pressure and I did well.”
Other players seeing through lower-seeded upsets were Aussie John Millman downing injured countryman and No. 14 seed Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, unheralded Italian Stefano Travaglia ousting No. 22-seeded countryman Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-0, Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer coming from a set down to beat No. 26 Richard Gasquet 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur who dismissed No. 27 Pablo Cuevas 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-1.
“Played a great second set,” Kyrgios said. “Was feeling good. And then I don’t know. I just — something didn’t feel right in my arm…I have had a diabolical year at these slams. It doesn’t surprise me. It’s just the story of my career, really. I will have good weeks; I’ll have bad weeks. It’s just a roller-coaster.”
Notable unseeded winners were Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco who advanced when Vasek Pospisil retired after the first set, and American winners Taylor Fritz who defeated veteran Marcos Baghdatis in straights, Bjorn Fratangelo who topped “Dr.” Ivo Karlovic in four, and Donald Young who beat German Maximilian Marterer in four.
Matches to look for on Thursday at the US Open include (3) Roger Federer vs. Mikhail Youzhny, (1) Rafael Nadal vs. Taro Daniel, (6) Dominic Thiem vs. Taylor Fritz, (18) Gael Monfils vs. Donald Young, and (31) Feliciano Lopez vs. Fernando Verdasco.
THURSDAY US OPEN SCHEDULE
ARTHUR ASHE 11:00 AM
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [4] vs. Evgeniya Rodina (RUS)
Not Before: 1:00 PM
Karolina Pliskova (CZE) [1] vs. Nicole Gibbs (USA)
Roger Federer (SUI) [3] vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
7:00 PM
Ons Jabeur (TUN) vs. CoCo Vandeweghe (USA) [20]
Rafael Nadal (ESP) [1] vs. Taro Daniel (JPN)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM 11:00 AM
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) [12] vs. Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [7]
Not Before: 5:30 PM
Tatjana Maria (GER) vs.Madison Key s (USA) [15]
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