NEW YORK _ At 5 feet 7, Diego Schwartzman of Argentina is often much shorter than his opponent. He slayed a giant on Friday when he upset 6-foot-6 Marin Cilic, the No. 5 seed at the U.S. Open, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 in a third-round match on the grandstand court. Cilic was the 2014 Open champion but had been slowed by an adductor injury. His defeat leaves the bottom of the draw unusually open.
Schwartzman, the No. 29 seed, enjoys being an inspiration for athletes of small stature. "I hope maybe they can understand tennis is for everyone. Is not just for the tall guys," he said.
A showdown between up-and-comers Denis Shapovalov of Canada and Kyle Edmund of Great Britain fizzled when Edmund's back locked up and he retired, giving Shapovalov a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 1-0 victory. Shapovalov, 18, is the youngest man to reach the fourth round here since 17-year-old Michael Chang in 1989. Shapovalov, who played three qualifying matches to reach the main draw, will next face No. 12 Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain.
No. 10 John Isner needed treatment for a stiff neck during a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5) loss to No. 23 Mischa Zverev of Germany, who earned a spot in the fourth round against Sam Querrey of Santa Monica. Querrey hit 19 aces in overpowering Radu Albot of Moldova 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
"The bottom half of the draw has opened up. There's no way to not see that," said Querrey, a Wimbledon semifinalist this year. "There's a chance for everyone there."
