Sharapova beats Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2!
Well that was fairly comprehensive victory for Sharapova in what could have been a very tricky tie. She’s looking strong, determined and a good bet to reach the semi-finals in a tournament she won in 2006. That’s it from me but you can slip seamlessy over to Bryan Armen Graham’s game-by-game coverage of Djovovic v Gasquet by clicking here …
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Nishikori beats Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1!
The Japanese No 21 seed fairly stormed through that fourth set to set up a clash with Kohlschreiber in the fourth round.
Sharapova has moved into overdrive now, racing into a 5-2 lead in the second set. Ostapenko is frustrated and annoyed but she just cannot halt the onslaught. The Russian ice queen is complete command and one game from victory.
Ostapenko, who was the French Open champion last year and is still only 21, is making a better fist of the second set against Sharapova. The Latvian showcased her undoubted talent in reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon earlier this summer but her game is so often plagued by errors. She’s currently serving 2-3 down in the second set.
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The No 10 seed, David Goffin, has been in good form this year and he has take the first set against the 6ft 5in German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4. Nishikori, meanwhile, has broken for a 3-1 lead over Schwartzman.
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Nishikori’s hopes of a quickfire finish are up in smoke after Schwartzman won the third set 7-5. The Argentinian clay court specialist has found his groove and is right back in this match. He is seeded No 13 here, compared to Nishikori’s 21, so it would be no surprise if he turned this one round.
After a little wobble, losing two games in a row, Sharapova steadies herself to take the first set 6-3. It’s early days but a final against Serena Williams would be quite something. The fierce rivals are in separate halves of the draw and if she gets through this Sharapova will face Suárez Novarro in round four before a quarter-final with either Keys or Cibulkova, conqueror of Kerber earlier today. Could it happen?
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Sharapova has surged into a 5-1 lead over Ostapenko with some typically relentless hitting after losing the opening game. This one could be over quickly.
Kohlschreiber beats Zverev 6-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3!
That is a fantastic victory for Kohlschreiber, the 34-year-old German who was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon six years ago but has never been past the fourth round at a grand slam otherwise. He will get the chance to improve that record now though, with Nishikori his likely opponent for a place in the quarter-finals. For the No 4 seed Zverev, it’s back to the drawing board after another slam failure.
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Kohlschreiber produces some sublime tennis to break Zverev again and backs that up by holding his serve. He’s now 5-3 up in the fourth set, and one game from a remarkable comeback victory having lost the opening set.
Over on Arthur Ashe Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko have started what promises to be a real heavyweight clash. Both have held their opening service games.
Evening all. It’s a pleasure to be with you and I bring news that Kohlschreiber will not lie down. The veteran German, who now lives in Kitzbühel in neighbouring Austria, has broken back and it’s now 3-3 in the fourth set. Can Zverev hold his nerve and find another gear?
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Sousa beats Pouille 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6!
The Portuguese establishes himself as the king of the tie-break, prospering three times on court 17. And a quick recap of the state of play elsewhere; Kei Nishikori is a set away from taking victory over Schwartzman, the Argentina, after taking a second successive set 6-4. Meanwhile, Zverev is stirring on Louis Armstrong, cruising 3-0 up in the fourth, determined to prevent Kohlschreiber from winning three straight sets. If he can’t, he will be heading out. I’ll now hand over to Rob Bleaney. Thanks for joining.
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Kohlschreiber is a set away from a big upset! Zverev trails his countryman by two sets, after losing the latest 6-1. Nishikori, meanwhile, is showing some guts again, fighting back to lead 5-4 in the second. On court 17, Sousa and Pouille are heading for a tie-break in the fourth set. If the Portuguese clinches it, he’s through to the last 16. Over on Arthur Ashe, they are getting set for the night session, during which Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko, the No 10 seed, will do battle.
Well then, a commanding 5-1 lead for Kohlschreiber in the third! He will serve for the set, and Zverev needs to turn things around and fast. Also in the men’s draw, Pouille has hit back and is serving for the set in the fourth. If the Frenchman can get eke it out, he and Sousa will go into a fifth and final deciding set. As for Nishikori, he’s trailing 4-3 in the second, doubtless still recovering from slaving away to fight back from 4-1 down to take the first on the grandstand court.
Kohlschreiber is threatening to run away with this, 3-0 up against Zverev in the third. A little like Kyrgrios earlier, he’s starting to get a bit narky with himself. But, if things are beginning to look a bit bleak for the 21-year-old, then Lucas Pouille is in real trouble on court 17. Sousa has two sets in the bag and leads 4-2 in the fourth.
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Kohlschreiber wins second set 6-4 against Zverev! The young pretender has been schooled by the 34-year-old over the last 20 minutes or so. They have a set apiece, and there’s a long way to go in this battle. Zverev has not had as much joy on his serve, and is guilty of more unforced errors. He certainly has work to do. Elsewhere, Nishikori has completed the extraordinary comeback, taking the set 6-4 over Schwartzman.
Sousa has taken the third set 7-6 against Pouille, edging out the Frenchman in the tie-break. Meanwhile, Nishikori is enjoying quite the revival, 5-4 up in the first set after trailing 4-1. Back on Armstrong, the pendulum has swung back in the favour of Kohlschreiber. He leads the 21-year-old Zverev, who is serving, 5-4, and is 30-0 to the good. Things are looking rosy ...
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Zverev is not having things all his own way. He’s been neck-and-neck with Kohlschreiber in the second set, and his German compatriot is determined to make life difficult, taking the seventh game to go 4-3 on his serve. Elsewhere, Pouille, the No 17, and Sousa are in a tie-break in the third set, while Nishikori has rallied back to 4-4 against Schwartzman.
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Zverev wins first set 7-6 against Kohlschreiber! Philip Kohlschreiber did brilliantly to take it down to the wire, with Zverev toiling but when it eventually boiled down to it, Zverev simply ripped through the tie-break, taking a 6-0 lead before wrapping it up rather easily in the end. The No 13 seed Diego Schwartzman, meanwhile, has blitzed the first three games against an off-colour Kei Nishikori, while Pouille is 3-2 up over Sousa in the third, having both taken a set each on court 17.
Zverev squanders three set points, and Kohlschreiber seizes his opportunity to stay in the thick of it at 5-5. Over on court 17, Pouille and Sousa have a set apiece, with the former primed to take a lead in the third. Kei Nishikori and David Goffin are still to come.
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So, Zverev and Kohlschreiber are duking it out on Armstrong, with the former having just saved a break, via a successful challenge. They’re at 3-3 in the first. Elsewhere, Naomi Osaka wrapped up that match over Sasnovich with a 12-game whitewash, ripping through two sets inside 49 minutes. Anyway, read Kevin Mitchell’s report from Flushing Meadows:
Next up on Louis Armstrong, an all-German tie between Sasha Zverev and Philip Kohlschreiber, while Jan-Lennard Struff faces David Goffin, the 10th seed, a little bit later. On court 17, Sousa has just taken the first set 7-6 over Pouille. In the women’s draw, Naomi Osaka is breezing her way past Aliaksandra Sasnovich, she’s won 10 straight games.
Cibulkova beats Kerber 3-6, 6-3, 6-3!
Dominika Cibulkova fights back to send the No 4 packing from the US Open, a major she won in 2016.
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Roger Federer talks, and he speaks so bloody well, doesn’t he? “I’m very happy to have won, I’m happy it was three. At the beginning it was hard to get any sort of rhythm but I enjoy playing against Nick, he always keeps you on the edge and it’s quite entertaining also for the opponent.” Of that extraordinary shot around the net post, he says: “I went for it, so I guess I deserved it.” Federer will face John Millman in the fourth round. “He’s a real hard-working player. He’s just come to Switzerland to train with me and he’s a great guy.”
Federer beats Kyrgios 6-4, 6-1, 7-5!
A thoroughly professional job well done.
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Third set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 1-6, 5-6 Federer (* denotes server) Federer breaks! Kyrgios keeps the crowd guessing, with a wasteful shot at the net at 40-15. That gives Federer the ammunition to hit back to deuce. But Kyrgios replies by sending a sizzling ace down the T. He thinks he has Federer on the ropes, but the No 2 lashes the ball back at him. An then Kyrgios makes two costly errors, first wildly swinging a forehand wide before slamming his next return into the net. Federer will serve for the match.
Third set: Kyrgios 4-6, 1-6, 5-5 Federer* (* denotes server) An easy hold – the easiest hold – for Federer.
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Third set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 1-6, 5-4 Federer (* denotes server) Kyrgios has regained control, and Federer finds himself in a difficult predicament.
Third set: Kyrgios 4-6, 1-6, 4-4 Federer* (* denotes server) Kyrgios fights back to deuce from 0-40. He is enjoying quite the second wind out on Arthur Ashe. But, just as the going gets a little tough, Federer a little nervy, he seals another service game.
Third set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 1-6, 4-3 Federer (* denotes server) Some superb tennis. Federer gets to 30-40, but Kyrgios is thrice forced back to deuce. But what comes next is absolutely exquisite by the Swiss. Absolutely fabulous. The 37-year-old scoots around the net to play a truly dashing forehand, which leads Kyrgios into a daze, the Australian’s face lighting up in total awe. “Oh my God!” he exclaims. Yet, Kyrgios gives it back, flamboyantly getting out of trouble to take it.
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Third set: Kyrgios 4-6, 1-6, 3-3 Federer* (* denotes server) Federer flies through a routine service game. They are level-pegging, in this set at least.
Third set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 1-6, 3-2 Federer (* denotes server) He holds on to his serve, racking up a couple more aces to maintain a little pressure on Federer.
Third set: Kyrgios 4-6, 1-6, 2-2 Federer* (* denotes server) A snappy rally is topped off by Federer, as he outwits Kyrgios with a smarting forehand into the apex of the court. Soon after, he’s level.
Third set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 1-6, 2-1 Federer (* denotes server) Two explosive aces help the Australian race to 30-0, only for a double fault gifts Federer a route back in. Kyrgios then wraps up another present for Federer, trying to be too clever from the baseline. Just as Kyrgios seems to be losing it, he stands firm.
Third set: Kyrgios 4-6, 1-6, 1-1 Federer* (* denotes server) A wayward Federer forehand is followed up by a wild showboat shot by Kyrgios. But, Federer gets back on a track with two rasping aces, before wrapping things up as Kyrgios slices into the net.
Third set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 1-6, 1-0 Federer (* denotes server) The comeback’s on. A solid start.
Federer wins second set 6-1 against Kyrgios! It was just a matter of time, really. That was a breeze.
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Second set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 1-5 Federer (* denotes server) A sumptuous backhand helps Federer back to 15-15 before Kyrgios drops one straight into the net. And then, just as the Australian thinks he has outsmarted Federer from an acute angle, the Swiss runs a sweet backhand beyond Kyrgios. But in fairness to Kyrgios, he fights back to hold.
Second set: Kyrgios 4-6, 0-5 Federer* (* denotes server) This is turning into a Federer masterclass, as the Swiss responds with an ageless backhand, just as Kyrgios seems to be refocusing himself.
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Second set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 0-4 Federer (* denotes server) Kyrgios tries a no-look shot, and Federer susses that out no problem. What comes next is sublime passing shot, he’s really in the groove. After that, Kyrgios gifts Federer the point without the Swiss having to do anything. “I need to hire a coach,” he shouts to himself. He’s really lost the plot out there, this is getting self-destructive. Elsewhere, Carla Suárez Navarro has knocked out sixth seed Caroline Garcia, winning 5-7, 6-4, 7-6.
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Second set: Kyrgios 4-6, 0-3 Federer* (* denotes server) A beauty of a drop shot, an audacious backhand wraps up another game. Suddenly, Federer seems to be making very light work of this.
Second set: Kyrgios* 4-6, 0-2 Federer (* denotes server) Brilliant comeback and magnificent returning from Federer! Kyrgios flies to 30-0, as the camera pans to Stan Smith up in the stands. But Federer catches Kyrgios cold with a volley at the net and a double fault helps him level. A stunning backhand drop shot gets the crowd cooing before Federer completes a fine job.
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Second set: Kyrgios 4-6, 0-1 Federer* (* denotes server) Kyrgios is shaking his head, a little dishevelled out on court. Federer obligingly breezes through the first game of this second set.
Federer wins first set 6-4 against Kyrgios! The Aussie goes long with a forehand return, helping Federer to 0-15. But Kyrgios fights back, with a devilish backhand. They jostle to 30-30, before Federer does brilliantly return Kyrgios’s stinging serve. He survives a first set point with a mammoth 121mph second serve to return to deuce. But Federer snatches back advantage as Kyrgios dips his forehand into the net. As Federer celebrates, Kyrgios is moaning, swearing at someone to do with his first serve. He’s upset at something.
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First set: Kyrgios 4-5 Federer* (*denotes server) Anything you can do, I can do better.
First set: Kyrgios* 4-4 Federer (*denotes server) A fifth ace helps the Australian to 40-0; he’s only dropped one point so far on serve. And that’s that, inside little more than 90 seconds.
First set: Kyrgios 3-4 Federer* (*denotes server) Kyrgios punches the air as he motors to 40-0, beautifully scooping Federer’s serve back across court. But Federer works his way all the way back to deuce, only for a loose forehand to gift Kyrgios a chance to redeem himself. He squanders it and Federer takes advantage after a hefty 17-shot rally. For an age, they fight back and forth from deuce, six times in fact, but Federer holds on. Elsewhere, Angelique Kerber has taken the first set 6-3 against Dominika Cibulkova, while Caroline Garcia and Navarro are at 5-5 in the third.
First set: Kyrgios* 3-3 Federer (*denotes server) A lethal fourth ace down the T, all 137mph of it, sets the tone for Kyrgios. A sloppy backhand helps the Australian to 40-15 before thundering long.
First set: Kyrgios 2-3 Federer* (*denotes server) Just as this match is seesawing as you’d expect, Federer overhits his forehand. He responds with a hurtling serve to restore parity, at 30-30. But an exuberant backhand, a fourth unforced error, takes things to deuce. He challenges an out call – it’s in, just – and once the gasps die down, he duly goes on to take the game, with a big serve out wide. Lovely stuff.
First set: Kyrgios* 2-2 Federer (*denotes server) Kyrgios wellies three unforgiving, speeding aces straight down the middle of the court, and that’s 40-0. The fourth is ferocious, too, and Federer cannot muster a reply. A 39-second game.
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First set: Kyrgios 1-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Ah, that was easy. A squeaky clean game for the Swiss.
First set: Kyrgios* 1-1 Federer (*denotes server): The Australian powers a 136mph serve beyond Federer to set the tone, before another ace earns 30-0. He promptly wraps his forehand around the ball to slam down the line to 40-0 before Federer rattles his return into the net. Kyrgios means business – for now at least.
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First set: Kyrgios 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer races into a 15-0 lead with a cute serve, and gets off to a good start. For the Swiss, this is just another match, really. Kyrgios has a point to prove, though he may not necessarily see it that way.
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James Keothavong looks to be the umpire. Will he? Won’t he? The players are warming up. Mo Lahyani, the umpire caught up in that pep-talk-gate, was relegated to a doubles match earlier this afternoon. Federer looks his customary cool, Kyrgios revved up. Who will reach the fourth round?
Kyrgios steps out on to the Arthur Ashe, to a chorus of few boos. Roger Federer waves to the crowd and gets a totally different reception. They love him in New York. Kyrgios, blinkers on, looks straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge the noise.
The magnetic Nick Kyrgios, then. What’s in store? An upset? Some tanking? Another pep talk? Well, Roger Federer, for one, says it won’t happen again. “It will not happen twice in a row. It’s not the umpire’s role to go down from the chair. I get what he was trying to do. He [Kyrgios] behaves the way he behaves. The umpire was there for too long.”
Ah, the sweet smell of a self indulgence. Nick Kyrgios and Roger Federer are next up on Arthur Ashe, but the Australian will surely be punished by the Swiss if any of his old antics come out to play.
Millman beats Kukushkin 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. 6-3!
The Australian eventually gets past the Kazakh to seal his spot in the fourth round. As for Keys, she will play the winner of Kerber and Cibulkova. “They are both really great players, with different styles. No matter what it’s going to be tough.”
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Keys beats Krunic 4-6, 6-1, 6-2!
Madison Keys fights back, in the end pretty convincingly to reach the last 16. A finalist last year, she showed glimpses of that class again after a first set littered with unforced errors. “I was definitely a little bit nervous,” Keys says. “But I’m happy to be in the next round. The biggest thing was trusting myself, I was too passive in the first set and I needed to go for my shots.”
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Keys holds to go 4-2 and, with that, Krunic buries her racket into the ground. The Serbian is fighting Keys and her own mind at the moment, beating herself up as the American looks to accelerate away from her. Keys can play a lot better than this, but she’s getting there. Elsewhere, Cilbulkova serves to get things under way against Kerber, the No 4.
Keys leads 3-2 in the final set against Krunic! Over on Armstrong, Kerber, the 2016 champion in New York, and Cibulkova are out warming up. In the men’s draw, Millman is struggling to bat away Mikhail Kukushkin – they’re at 3-3 in the final set.
On court 17, Caroline Garcia and Carla Suárez Navarro are slogging it out. The former took the first set 7-5 but trails in the second 3-2. With Bertens’s match finishing up on Armstrong, that means that Kerber will be on court shortly, against Cibulkova.
So, a classy embrace between Bertens and Vondrousova at the net at the end of that one, but the former will feel she totally blew her chance to edge towards another major. But for the 19-year-old, and world No 103, what a result! And that means one of Vondrousova, Siniakova or Tsurenko will reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Vondrousova beats Bertens 7-6, 2-6, 7-6!
Marketa Vondrousova sends Kiki Bertens packing. The Czech teenager comprehensively wins the tie-break 7-1, to knock out the Dutch No 1 who won the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month, and reach the the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time. Over on Arthur Ashe, Keys is 2-1 up in the second.
Bertens was in real trouble, but fights back to 6-6 in the third and final set on Armstrong. As for Keys, she’s well into her stride now after taking the second 6-1. She has just played a smart backhand, leaving Krunic with too much to do from the baseline. And Keys takes the first game too.
Bertens is making a bit of a mess of things on Louis Armstrong, she’s been pegged back once more by Vondrousova after going 4-2 up in third. They’re duelling at 5-5 now, with the teenage Czech having already served to stay in it. Either way, Bertens is making hard work of it. On Arthur Ashe, Keys has romped into a 5-1 lead in the second. The American will serve to take things to a deciding set. In the men’s side of the draw, Millman has just taken the third set 6-1 against a faltering Kukushkin.
Keys has won three straight games, she’s 3-0 up and the second set seems to be drifting away from Krunic, who has the physio out looking at a knee problem after a slip a few moments ago. It’s been heavily bandaged up, a bit cumbersome. In the doubles, Broady and Collins have come up short in straight sets. Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares are just out on court 5. Meanwhile, Millman is 3-1 up against Kukushkin in the third, a set apiece.
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Madison Keys bounces back with a bang, to get off to a blistering start to the second start. She leads 2-0 in the second, breaking Krunic to give herself a firm platform to build on. Over on Louis Armstrong, Kiki Bertens is in the driving seat, 4-2 and 15-0 up in the third, serving to edge closer to the game.
Keys loses the first set 4-6! The American survives two set points but cannot escape a third, with Krunic piling a powerful serve straight down the middle of the court. A wonderful opening set for the Serbian. Elsewhere, Bertens is 2-1 up in third, while Millman and Kukushkin are level-pegging.
Krunic ekes out another game, she’s 4-3 up in the first, and her force is proving problematic for Keys, who has made an inconsistent start. Meanwhile, Bertens is back on song, 15-0 up in the third after taking the second. On the grandstand court, John Millman has just lost the second to Mikhail Kukushkin, so they could be in it for the long haul.
Kiki Bertens has seemingly turned things around against Vondrousova, with the former 5-2 up in the second after losing the first. The Czech will serve to prevent Bertens from levelling things up. As for Madison Keys, a power battle is unravelling against Krunic, with the American just fizzing over a 94mph forehand winner. Krunic, though, leads 3-2, with the pair locked at deuce.
Aleksandra Krunic, the Russian-born Serbian who is ranked 49 in the world, has got off to a flyer against Madison Keys. She’s 2-0 up in the first, with a little perfection on serve paving the way so far. It is extremely early days but she the favourite trails in front a home crowd, just as Bertens does in the Louis Armstrong stadium. In the men’s, Millman is behind in the second against the Kazakh.
Vondrousova fights back to win the first set 7-6, winning 7-4 in the tie-break, and that match-up against Bertens is nicely primed for an upset. And Millman cruised to 6-4, but Kukushkin has bounced back from losing the first to go 2-0 up in the second. On Arthur Ashe, Madison Keys, last year’s beaten finalist, trudges out on the court, with the No 14 seed looking very relaxed.
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He may not be the Australian everyone’s talking about, but John Millman has taken the first set 6-4 against Mikhail Kukushkin. Meanwhile, Bertens is having to slog it out with Vondrousova, with the Dutch rallying to take the first to a tie-break.
Bertens seems to have got a little nervy, with Vondrousova pulling back to 5-5. And she’s actually in front, 15-0 up in the 11th game of this first set. Elsewhere, Madison Keys is going to be up shortly, against Aleksandra Krunic, on the Arthur Ashe court. That precedes Kyrgios v Federer. Meanwhile, a reminder of how Serena got the better of Venus inside 72 minutes yesterday:
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Kiki Bertens, the No 13 seed, is having fun in the opening set, a break and 4-3 to the good. In the men’s competition, John Millman is at 3-3 against Mikhail Kukushkin, of Kazakhstan.
Preamble
Will Madison Keys and Angelique Kerber breeze through? How will Alexander Zverev fare? And might Nick Kyrgios get another little pep talk from the umpire? Some things are more unlikely than others, but it promises to be another bumper day of action, with Kyrgios’s meeting with Roger Federer at the Arthur Ashe stadium the headline event. The Australian has form for causing an upset and beat Federer when they first met at the 2015 Madrid Open. “It’s better to be the underdog than have all the pressure,” a coach-less Kyrgios said. “I’m going to put a lot of expectation on myself to play well. I’m not going to go out there and roll over and be happy to be out there.” As for Federer, the Swiss admits he thinks Kyrgios finds his tricks and flicks irresistible when it boils down to it. “I’m not sure if I’m the guy who’s supposed to pull him to the side. I think he very well knows, deep inside of himself, what he also needs to do.” First up, Kiki Bertens is out on court, duelling with Marketa Vondrousova. The Dutch No 1 is 3-2 up and serving.
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