That’s all for now. Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to check back tomorrow for more live coverage from Flushing Meadows!
Here’s a look at the final stats from tonight’s match. Gasquet committed nearly twice as many unforced errors (47) as Djokovic (25).
“It was a great match from the beginning to the end,” Djokovic says during his on-court interview with ESPN’s Brad Gilbert. “I thought I played really, really well, especially from the backhand corner. I was managing to step in and dictate the play from that area of the court.”
He’s asked about his opponent in Monday’s fourth-round match: Portugal’s João Sousa, who upset Lucas Pouille earlier today.
“He had a great win today against Pouille and a couple days ago against [Pablo] Carreño Busta,” Djokovic says. “He’s a fighter, he’s a grinder. He will not hand you the victory, you have to earn it. I’m glad I didn’t spend too much time on court tonight. Going to get some rest and get ready for the next one.”
Novak Djokovic wins 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 over Richard Gasquet!
Third set: Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 Gasquet
Gasquet quickly falls behind 15-40, giving Djokovic a pair of match points. He saves the first with an overhand smash, then the second with a gorgeous drop shot. A backhand down the line gives him game point, but moments later Djokovic has a third match point. And fittingly Djokovic wins it with a backhand winner down the line, finishing off Gasquet after 2hr 11min.
Third set: Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 5-3 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic falls behind love-15 when he tries a drop shot that Gasquet is able to recover and hit for a passing winner. Djokovic responds with an ace, but Gasquet comes to net on the next point and wins it, improving to 24-for-28 (86%) on net approaches. This could be his best, last chance to scratch back into the match at 15-30. Djokovic rips a winner for 30-all, but then sends a backhand flying and for the second straight game Gasquet has a break point. But he nets a forehand early in the rally for deuce, then does it again to give Djokovic game point. Another unforced error by Gasquet gives Djokovic the game and the Frenchman will now serve to stay in the tournament.
Third set: *Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 4-3 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet holds but the end, it seems, is nigh.
Third set: Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 4-2 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
A glimmer of hope for Gasquet as Djokovic double-faults to fall behind 15-30 on his serve. Moments later he’s earned his first break-point chance in what feels like a lifetime, but he squanders it when a backhand goes sailing. He wins the next point for a second break point and Djokovic saves it with a truly spectacular defensive effort, an extended all-court rally that ends when Gasquet sends and overhead smash into the net. Deuce, after a standing ovation. Moments later Djokovic has held. Some jaw-dropping shotmaking from both players in that game. Time running out for Gasquet to nab that necessary break.
Djokovic breaks in fifth game of third set!
Third set: *Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 3-2 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
A couple loose points from Gasquet on his serve and he’s down love-30. He responds with a beautifully struck cross-court forehand winner followed by a 112mph ace for 30-all, but Djokovic counters with a blistering forehand winner of his own for a break point. And he converts it when Gasquet dumps another shot into the net.
Third set: Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 2-2 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
The unforced errors continue to pile up for Gasquet, not that Djokovic needs the help the way he’s been serving. Another easy hold for the Serbian.
Third set: *Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 1-2 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet shows nice resistance as he rattles off three quick points to hold from 15-30 down, but can he make any headway on Djokovic’s serve?
Updated
Third set: Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 1-1 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic caps a love hold with a scintillating backhand down the line. Hard to imagine Gasquet finding a way back into this match as long as the Wimbledon champions keeps up this form.
Third set: *Djokovic 6-2, 6-3, 0-1 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet opens with an easy hold, capping it with a 119mph ace, his seventh of the match.
Djokovic wins second set and leads 6-2, 6-3!
Second set: Djokovic 6-2, 6-3 Gasquet
Potentially big moment for Gasquet, who wins a point off a chip and charge for 30-all. He’s 9-for-11 on net approaches. Why not try it more? But Gasquet frames a return badly and Djokovic has a set point. And Djokovic indeed takes the set when Gasquet nets a backhand early in a rally, his 25th unforced error of the set compared to nine winners.
Second set: *Djokovic 6-2, 5-3 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet shows off some clever shotmaking and runs out to a 40-15 lead, but Djokovic rattles off a pair of points for deuce. Gasquet hits a 124mph ace, his sixth of the night, for game point, then Djokovic gets a little casual at the net and misfires on a volley. Now Djokovic will try to serve out the set.
Second set: Djokovic 6-2, 5-2 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
A half-chance for Gasquet as Djokovic falls behind 15-30 on his serve. But Gasquet nets shots from the baseline on the next three points and Djokovic holds. The Frenchman will serve to stay in the second set after the break.
Second set: *Djokovic 6-2, 4-2 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet coming to net a little more often and finding success there. He races to 40-15, but follows with a pair of unforced errors for deuce. Moments later Djokovic has a break-point chance, but squanders it when he sends a backhand sailing past the baseline. Gasquet follows with a 112mph ace, then Djokovic misses a cheeky drop shot from the baseline and Gasquet holds.
Second set: Djokovic 6-2, 4-1 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Gasquet is able to get to 30-all on Djokovic’s serve, but Djokovic crushes an unreturnable serve then Gasquet dumps a backhand into the net. Another mostly stress-free hold for Djokovic.
Second set: *Djokovic 6-2, 3-1 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet holds comfortably despite a double fault, aided but a couple of Djokovic errors. He’s on the board in the second set and still only trailing by the break.
Second set: Djokovic 6-2, 3-0 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic falls behind love-30 but Gasquet accommodates with a pair of unforced errors for 30-all. Djokovic then rips a winner, pumping his fist in jubilation. He goes down the line with a backhand on the next point but finally misses one. Deuce. Djokovic then hits a lunging volley winner followed by an overhand smash winner and he’s consolodated the break.
Djokovic breaks in second game of second set!
Second set: *Djokovic 6-2, 2-0 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Three quick points for Djokovic on Gasquet’s serve and he’s got three break points, but he needs only the first of them as Gasquet makes another unforced error. Djokovic has broken at love and won all eight points of the set so far.
Second set: Djokovic 6-2, 1-0 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
This is as good as it gets. Every element of Djokovic’s game is clicking and Gasquet has no answers at the moment. The Serbian holds at love in the opening game of the second set.
Djokovic breaks and wins first set, 6-2!
First set: Djokovic 6-2 Gasquet
Djokovic wins the first point with a searing backhand, but Gasquet crushes an ace for 15-all. Gasquet hits another winner then nets a forehand for 30-all. Djokovic sends a forehand flying past the baseline, follows it with a brilliantly disguised flop-shot winner struck from a foot behind the baseline. Deuce. Djokovic then runs Gasquet ragged from corner to corner during a lengthy rally before hitting a smash winner to set up a break point that’s also a set point. What follows is the point of the night so far, a hyper-athletic extended rally which ends when Djokovic plays a drop shot that Gasquet somehow managed to recover for a passing winner. Simply brilliant. But Djokovic wins the next point and follows it with a winner to take the set after 38 minutes!
Updated
First set: Djokovic 5-2 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic opens with a winner, his 12th of the night already (compared to Gasquet’s two). The Frenchman then dumps a backhand into the net from the baseline and sends a forehand flying for 40-love. Djokovic makes an error on the next point, then attempts a lob winner that falls inches past the baseline. 40-30. But Djokovic wins the next point and holds serve. Gasquet will serve to stay in the first set after the changeover.
First set: *Djokovic 4-2 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet stems the tide with a tidy service game, racing ahead to 40-love and crushing a 124mph ace for the love hold.
First set: Djokovic 4-1 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic hits a winner followed by a 119mph ace, then Gasquet sends a backhand wide and nets a forehand from the baseline. It’s another love hold for Djokovic, who’s won the last 12 points.
Djokovic breaks in fourth game of first set!
First set: *Djokovic 3-1 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet falls behind love-30 on his serve and Djokovic has won the last six points. A vicious cross-court forehand that wrong-foots Gasquet makes it seven and gives him triple break point. Djokovic needs only one and he’s broken Gasquet at love.
First set: Djokovic 2-1 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Djokovic holds at love in under a minute, capping it with back-to-back 114mph aces.
First set: *Djokovic 1-1 Gasquet (*denotes next server)
Gasquet falls behind 15-30, then sprays a one-handed backhand wide to give Djokovic a pair of break-point chances. He saves the first with a 119mph ace down the middle, then the second when he’s forced into an error. Djokovic then hits a backhand winner down the line for a third break point, but nets a backhand on the following point for deuce. Moments later Gasquet holds.
First set: Djokovic 1-0 Gasquet* (*denotes next server)
Gasquet won the toss and chose to receive. Djokovic starts it off with a powerful forehand winner from just inside the baseline after a medium-length baseline rally. Gasquet comes to net on the next point and Djokovic tries to pass him but sends it long for 15-all. Djokovic then double-faults, but Gasquet sends a backhand sailing on the following point for 30-all. NowDjokovic misses another backhand for 30-40 and Gasquet has a break-point chance in the opening game, but Djokovic saves it with a goregrous backhand winner down the line. They trade errors and moments later Gasquet has another break-point opportunity, but Djokovic erases it with a deep, penetrating forehand that whizzes past a late Gasquet. Two quick points for Djokovic and he escapes with the hold. An eight-minute opening service game to start things off.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe Stadium for tonight’s third-round match between Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet. It’s been a fairly one-sided series between these guys down the years with Djokovic having won 12 of their 13 meetings on tour, including the last 10 in succession. Can the Wimbledon champion make it 11 in a row tonight and stay on course for a third US Open title?
The players have emerged from the tunnel and are on court going through their warm-ups. Not much longer now.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at the action so far on day six in Flushing Meadows.
