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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tumaini Carayol

US Open: Novak Djokovic defaulted from tournament after hitting line judge – as it happened

Novak Djokovic tends to a line judge after hitting them accidentally
Novak Djokovic tends to a line judge after hitting them accidentally. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

That’s all from me tonight. Thanks for following another surreal day at the US Open. I’ll leave you with a recap of all that has happened over the past 10 days of tennis in the US Open “bubble”:

  • Naomi Osaka refused to play her Western & Southern Open semi-final in line with the US sport strikes for racial justice after the shooting of Jacob Blake. The tournament eventually suspended play last Thursday and returned the next day.
  • Led by Novak Djokovic, ATP players formed a new player association amid criticism and protests from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and the tennis governing bodies.
  • Benoit Paire tested positive for coronavirus and was removed from the US Open.
  • 7 players were identified through contact tracing as having had close contact with Paire, mostly during card games with Paire in the player hotel. The US Open changed its protocols to allow those players to compete at the US Open despite the fact that CDC rules say that they should have been withdrawn from the tournament in order to quarantine for 14 days. 4 other players, including 3rd seed Daniil Medvedev, are receiving daily testing.
  • Guido Pella of Argentina and Bolivian Hugo Dellien had been withdrawn from the Western & Southern Open after their physio tested positive for coronavirus. They emerged from their own two week quarantine on the day of the US Open and criticised the organisation for being treated differently to the European players.
  • After losing her second round match from a 6-1 5-1 lead, Kristina Mladenovic told of her “abominable conditions”, called her situation a “nightmare” and vowed to fight for her “freedom”
  • As they bowed out of the tournament, the ‘Paire 7’ learnt that they will have to quarantine in their hotel rooms until late next week. Numerous angry posts on social media followed.
  • Adrian Mannarino’s third round match against Alexander Zverev was delayed for nearly three hours as the USTA and New York City officials negotiated with New York State over whether he should be allowed to compete despite the fact that he had come into contact with Paire. Eventually, he was allowed to compete.
  • Nassau County, where the US Open hotels are situated, had ordered all those in close contact with a positive case to quarantine for two weeks. It seems that Mannarino was able to compete because he was already on-site at the US Open in Queen’s. Mladenovic, who was the women’s doubles number one seed alongside Timea Babos of Hungary, was withdrawn from the doubles tournament having already competed one match.
  • World number one Novak Djokovic was defaulted from the US Open after he accidentally fired a ball at a line umpire’s throat.

Here is Kevin Mitchell’s report on Novak Djokovic’s default:

Nick Kyrgios has woken up in Australia and he made a poll.

Shelby Rogers after her huge win. This is her first ever US Open quarterfinal and second overall:

“A lot of emotions out there for both of us, rollercoaster as always, but that’s the beauty of tennis. I’m so, so happy to get through that.”

Shelby Rogers upsets Petra Kvitova 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(6), saving 4 match points

In an incredible effort, Shelby Rogers saves four(!) match points to take out 6th seed Petra Kvitova. Rogers was incredible on Kvitova’s first three attempts during her service game at 5-4, but Kvitova only has herself to blame on the final one as she double faulted at *6-5 in the tiebreak before losing throwing in two more unforced erros. A tough night for the two-time Wimbledon champion, one of the most talented players around, who has not tasted victory on the biggest stage since 2014.

Updated

Nerves of steel from Shelby Rogers, who did just enough to push Petra Kvitova to a tiebreak. After numerous bruising exchanges from the baseline, she mixed things up really nicely at 40-30 with a lovely drop shot to hold. Can she pull off the upset? Kvitova 6-7(5) 6-3 6-6 Rogers.

That was impressive from Petra Kvitova. She responded to the three missed match points with a quick love hold, dismounting with a huge unreturned serve. The pressure is back on Shelby Rogers’s shoulders with a tiebreak possibly on the horizon. Kvitova 6-7(5) 6-3 6-5* Rogers.

Over on Louis Armstrong Stadium, Petra Kvitova is deep in battle against gutsy American Shelby Rogers. Kvitova recovered from an early break down to lead 5-4* in the third set, generating three different match points in a long deuce game on Rogers’ serve.

Rogers saved the first with a big unreturned first serve, the second by wrong-footing Kvitova with a big down-the-line forehand. On the third, Kvitova approached the net on a weak backhand and Rogers easily picked her off with a forehand passing shot. An enormous effort. Petra Kvitova 6-7(5) 6-3 *5-5.

Updated

Pablo Carreño Busta on his crazy afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium:

“I’m very apprehensive with these kind of things, so I was a little bit in shock. I asked the Colombian guys, who were in the crowd, if the ball hit the line umpire and I was in shock. I never expected this moment playing against Novak so it was a tough moment also for me.

And then when they were talking at the net, I just tried to be focused in the case that we’d have to continue playing. In one moment, I asked the referee what was happening because it was so long to me, this moment. I don’t know it was 10 minutes or 15 minutes but I was a little bit cold. So I need to be ready in case I would have to continue. I just asked to him and then finally Novak gave me the hand. And that’s it.”

Correct.

Here is the USTA statement:

In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences, the US Open tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 US Open. Because he was defaulted, Djokovic will lose all ranking points earned at the US Open and will be fined the prize money won at the tournament in addition to any or all fines levied with respect to the offending incident.

There is quite a long history of players narrowly missing defaults after firing balls and throwing racquets. Here is Novak going back and forth with a journalist at the ATP Finals in 2016 after one such incident.

Novak Djokovic has left the building.

From doubles entrant Ellen Perez.

Tennis is still being played on Louis Armstrong Stadium. 6th seed Petra Kvitova pushes Shelby Rogers to a third set with an incredible 20 winners and 7 unforced errors. Petra Kvitova 6-7(5) 6-3 Shelby Rogers.

Your 2020 US Open men’s singles champion will be one of these players:

  • Pablo Carreno Busta
  • Denis Shapovalov
  • David Goffin
  • Borna Coric
  • Jordan Thompson
  • Alexander Zverev
  • Matteo Berrettini
  • Andrey Rublev
  • Frances Tiafoe
  • Daniil Medvedev
  • Vasek Pospisil
  • Alex de Minaur
  • Felix Auger-Aliassime
  • Dominic Thiem

Updated

Yes.

Alexander Zverev just arrived for his press conference. People were understandably more interested in his take on Novak Djokovic’s default than his easy three set win:

“It’s very unlucky, very unfortunate. The decision was made by the supervisors and, as I said, they’re just doing their job. There’s nothing much else I can say to that. I don’t know what to say. I’m just a little bit in shock now, to be honest.”

“We all are,” responded the journalist.

Updated

Let us recap the absurd series of events that led up to the default.

  • Djokovic was serving well and playing great tennis, then he finally pounced on Carreno Busta’s serve to generate triple set point at 5-4* 0-40.
  • Djokovic failed to convert all three set points, lost 6 points in a row and then fell onto his shoulder at *5-5 0-15.
  • After calling the trainer and then resuming, Djokovic lost his serve to 15.
  • Frustrated, Djokovic then fired a ball behind him, which struck the lineswoman in the throat. The lineswoman yelled out, fell to the ground and then was helped by umpire Aurelie Tourte and Djokovic.
  • After a 10 minute discussion with Carreno Busta sitting quietly on his bench, Djokovic was defaulted.

Updated

Tim Henman, who himself was defaulted from Wimbledon in 1995 after hitting a linejudge, on Amazon Prime:

“He’s hit that ball aiming for the back fence... but you have to be responsible for your actions.”

Novak Djokovic has been defaulted from the US Open.

After a 10 minute discussion, Djokovic finally accepts his fate and departs from the court. Pablo Carreno Busta wins 6-5 def.. Incredible, incredible scenes.

Updated

I’ve never seen any player have such a long discussion with a supervisor on a tennis court. Djokovic is clearly trying to convince the supervisor that he did not hit the official intentionally.

As Carreno Busta sits quietly in his chair, Djokovic continues his extremely long conversation with the supervisor. He was smiling initially, but not anymore.

These are dramatic scenes. Djokovic is having a long conversation with the supervisor. If it is deemed that he hit the official in anger, a default could be on the cards. Djokovic didn’t strike the ball hard or deliberately, but he was clearly frustrated. The official shouted out in pain and then fell down.

Updated

After losing his serve, Djokovic fired a ball which hit a lineswoman. The officials are on the court and this could be major.

Novak Djokovic returned to the court and narrowly missed a dropshot to fall down 0-40. On the first break point, he just about got away with a serve and volley. However, he attempted a drop shot on the second and Carreno Busta easily chased it down. Incredibly, the Spaniard will now serve for the set. Djokovic 5-6* Carreno Busta.

Novak Djokovic was evaluated by the trainer, but he is now back on-court without taking a medical timeout. Djokovic is 0-30 down at 5-5.

Goodness. Djokovic is down. Far behind the baseline and on the defence, he was wrong-footed by a Carreno Busta forehand and then he fell. Djokovic’s shoulder broke his fall and now he has called out the physio.

What a hold from Pablo Carreno Busta, who somehow recovered from 0-40 down to level Novak Djokovic at 5-5. At 0-40, Carreno Busta unloaded on a huge forehand down the line that was immediately called out, but just as it seemed that the set was over, his challenge ruled it in. Carreno Busta then chased down a dropshot and won a tense point with both player at the net. On the third break point, he played a beautiful dropshot of his own.

Having wasted two break points, Djokovic became really frustrated. He slammed a backhand into the net and then the Spaniard found a great serve to hold.

Petra Kvitova has responded well to falling down a break on Armstrong, immediately breaking back before establishing a 5-4* lead.

A quality hold from Pablo Carreno Busta to keep himself level with the No 1. Staring down a break point, the Spaniard found a big unreturned serve to scupper the danger. Despite more excellent serving at deuce, it took a few game points to finally. He eventually played a brilliant long point on his third, grinding out a forehand error from Djokovic. The No 1 responded with more dazzling serving to retain his lead. Djokovic 5-4* Carreno Busta.

Updated

On Armstrong, Shelby Rogers has started extremely well. After a couple of unforced errors from Petra Kvitova, the American takes the first break to lead *4-3. Rogers is winning 80% of first serve points right now. Kvitova only 59%.

What do you do when you’re by far the best player in the world for the better part of a decade? You just keep on improving. One of the big factors in Djokovic’s 26-0 record this year has been how hard he has worked on improving his serve. He has dramatically increased his second serve speeds this year and he just held with three aces in the game. No player so good at returning serve should also be such a good server, but Novak Djokovic does both. Djokovic 4-3* Carreno Busta.

Must be nice.

Djokovic is serving incredibly well so far. He has landed 12/14(86%) first serves with 5 aces and only two points dropped on his serve. Djokovic 3-2* Carreno Busta.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, serves to Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain.
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, serves to Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP

Updated

A measure of the enormity of Pablo Carreno Busta’s task today. The Spaniard’s record against top 10 players: 4-30.

His biggest career win is #6 Milos Raonic.

Pablo Carreno Busta has started well on Ashe and he has stayed with Djokovic during these opening stages. Some good serving from him, then on game point he found some great depth on his backhand, eventually eliciting an error from Djokovic. Djokovic 2-2 Carreno Busta.

Novak Djokovic breezes through an easy hold to 15 with some great serving to move up 2-1* against Pablo Carreno Busta.

One of the great tennis photos.

What Pablo Carreno Busta will do today is grind, chase down every ball and show some nice hands around the net. He showed it all to hold his first service games, chasing down a drop shot, a lob and then another drop shot before flicking a lovely forehand winner past Djokovic. His efforts elicited a thumbs up from Djokovic. Djokovic *1-1 Carreno Busta.

Updated

Petra Kvitova’s duel with Shelby Rogers on Armstrong will certainly be interesting. A few weeks ago, Rogers beat Serena Williams during their comeback tournament in Lexington. She is a former Roland Garros quarterfinalist and a huge hitter who, on a good day, can go toe to toe with Kvitova. She won their only prior meeting 6-0 6-7(3) 6-0 en route to that Roland Garros run in 2016.

Novak Djokovic is chasing after his 27th win in a row to start 2020 today. Pablo Carreno Busta is a capable player, who most notably reached the semi-final of the US Open in 2017 and, with that result, the top 10. But his biggest strength is consistency and his fight.

He doesn’t have enough weapons to hurt Djokovic with and they both know it. Djokovic leads the head to head 3-0, with the Spaniard taking one set on clay in Monte Carlo three years ago. Asked what he would say to Carreno Busta if he was coaching him, Tim Henman on Amazon Prime: “good luck!”

Up next:

(1) Novak Djokovic vs (20) Pablo Carreno Busta

Shelby Rogers vs (6) Petra Kvitova

We have our first 2020 US Open quarterfinal: (28) Jennifer Brady vs (23) Yulia Putintseva.

Putintseva is the first Kazakh player to reach a US Open quarterfinal.

Yulia Putintseva reached her first slam quarter-final with a great 6-2 3-6 6-4 win over 8th seed Petra Martic. It ended with ample tension as Martic took a medical timeout just before Putintseva was about to serve out the match, then Martic returned with four unforced errors. Putintseva celebrated with a huge roar and then she beat her chest.

He has. For numerous years, Zverev had been criticised for record in slams compared with how well he performed against the same players in ATP events. Those days are clearly in the past now. This year, Zverev is 9-1 with an Australian Open semi-final and now a US Open quarter-final. His record in ATP events? 1-5.

Alexander Zverev eases through 6-2 6-2 6-1 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

A very professional performance from the fifth seed who is easing through the draw. This is his first US Open quarterfinal and his fourth overall.

Alexander Zverev of Germany returns the ball.
Alexander Zverev of Germany returns the ball. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Updated

Staring down a break point, Alexander Zverev casually swept to the net and dispatched an easy overhead to scupper his oppnent’s last chance. Then he struck his third ace of the service game en route to another good hold. Zverev leads Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2 6-2 5-1*. For the young Spaniard, the torture is nearly over.

15 aces for Alexander Zverev now with a total of 32 winners to 19 unforced errors. He is dictating this match, moving extremely well and this will all be over very soon. Alexander Zverev leads 6-2 6-2 *4-1 on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Updated

Yulia Putintseva is flying now, up 4-0 on Petra Martic in the third set. Her last hold included a Marat Safinesque jumping backhand down the line at 15-0 and then a sweet ace down the T to hold. Putintseva 6-3 2-6 4-0* Martic.

Incredible point from Yulia Putintseva, who after a 26 stroke rally in the midst of an endless deuce game, came up with a delightful drop shot at 2-0 deuce to create a break point.

After a forehand unforced error from Petra Martic on break point, Putintseva now leads Martic 6-3 2-6 *3-0 with a double break. Her first US Open quarterfinal is in sight.

Updated

As we wade knee deep into this slam, most details about Roland Garros are still yet to be announced. This will probably not go down well with some.

Updated

Alexander Zverev eases to a 6-2 6-2 lead against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who has offered little resistance so far. Zverev has still hit 0 double faults and his second serve is averaging 105mph. All good signs.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina finally attempted an underarm serve but, like most things for him, it didn’t go well. He dumped that serve into the net and then he netted a backhand into the net shortly after on break point. This is all very easy for Alexander Zverev, who leads 6-2 *5-2.

Arthur Ashe Stadium is heading for a third set. Petra Martic levels Yulia Putintseva at 3-6 6-2.

Three games in a row for Alexander Zverev after dropping the first two games of set two, the last one sealed with a double fault by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on break point.

Zverev was under pressure on his own serve at 2-1, but he produced some enormous serving from break point down to survive. He looks very calm right now. Zverev leads 6-2 *3-2.

Updated

Petra Martic has finally created some momentum for herself on Arthur Ashe Stadium by breaking serve in the second set. Putintseva immediately responded by calling a medical timeout. It may well be that Putintseva was feeling an injury, but players also use MTOs to break their opponent’s momentum. Martic will have to remain alert here. Putintseva 6-3 2-4* Martic.

After being blown off the court in the first set, Davidovich Fokina regrouped with a great return game to immediately break Zverev’s serve. He sealed it with a lovely backhand dropshot. But after all of that effort, he immediately dropped his next service game after spraying a backhand long. Alexander Zverev leads Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-2 *1-2.

Alexander Zverev’s first set stats:

  • 4 aces
  • 0(!) double faults
  • 65% first serves in
  • 85% first serve points won
  • 71% second serve points won
  • 50% receiving points won
  • 9 winners
  • 5 unforced errors

Alexander Zverev rolls through the first set 6-2 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, sealed with his fourth ace of the day so far.

As sold as Zverev looks, this has been a dire start for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his first slam fourth round.So far, he has hit 3 winners and 12 unforced errors.

Zverev is under no pressure right now and he is playing like it. He just slammed down two aces in a row, including a 137mph second serve, to hold for 5-1*.

Alexander Zverev has started incredibly well on Louis Armstrong Stadium. He leads Alejandro Davidovic *4-1 and with a double break. He is serving well and taking on his forehand, the two tells of his game.

Arthur Ashe stadium right now is for those who are looking for more than enormous ballstriking. Both Yulia Putintseva and Petra Martic have so many shots in their arsenals and so much thought is going into every chose they make.

Case in point: Putintseva just chased down a lovely crosscourt forehand from Martic and executed a beautiful angled forehand dropshot on the slide. Putintseva leads Martic 6-3 *1-2.

Updated

On Louis Armstrong Stadium, 5th seed Alexander Zverev begins against youngster Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who took out Cameron Norrie in the previous round. Fokina, who is Spanish with Russian roots, is talented, eccentric and really fun. There will be huge hitting off the ground, variety and perhaps even an underarm serve or two. There will also be many bad decisions.

Fokina has been playing extremely well this week so let’s see what he can do against Zverev, who has quietly moved into the fourth round and has clearly figured out how to navigate slam draws after his Australian Open semi-final in January.

It should be noted that Yulia Putintseva is one of the most notorious players on the WTA. Her actual tennis is lovely - she is a small, smart and resourceful player who can hit every shot in the book. But she is also a bit crazy. Her temperament is terrible and she is famed for her “drive by” handshakes. She once left the court after a loss at the Australian Open and flipped off the entire crowd. She’s great!

Over on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Yulia Putintseva takes the first set 6-3 on 8th seed Petra Martic. It would be Putintseva’s first career US Open quarterfinal if she sees it out.

Joe Salisbury is currently ranked 5th in the ATP doubles rankings (90 points ahead of Ram, who sits in 6th). He would return to his career high of 3 with a title this week.

Elsewhere, another great win for Britain’s Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram, who are now an excellent 9-0 in slams this year.

Jennifer Brady was initially speechless. Asked how it feels to be a US Open quarterfinalist:

“Wow, I... Wow, I... It feels great. I’m so happy.”

Jennifer Brady dominates Angelique Kerber 6-1 6-4

Kerber fought hard in the second set and rattled her inexperienced opponent, but Jennifer Brady was far too good at the end. She served it out to 15 and with ease.

Another exceptional, complete performance from the breakout player of 2020 to reach her first slam quarterfinal. She may not be well known right now, but she is a clear title contender.

Jennifer Brady, of the United States, reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber, of Germany.
Jennifer Brady, of the United States, reacts after defeating Angelique Kerber, of Germany. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP

Updated

Angelique Kerber holds on, saving a match point to force Brady to serve out the match. She saved the match point at 30-40 with a huge inside out forehand, then she followed it up with another forehand winner at deuce. From game point, Kerber found a big unreturned first serve to hold. Jennifer Brady leads Angelique Kerber at 6-1 *5-4.

The nerves have arrived for Brady, but so far she is enduring them. An incredible effort from the American to survive a topsy-turvy game, saving four break points to hold for 6-1 5-3 on Angelique Kerber.

After squandering a 40-15 lead, the pair descended into a long deuce game of break points and game points. Brady saved the first with a brutal forehand down the line winner. On the second, Brady found a big unreturned first serves in a row to scupper the danger. She finally held with an enormous forehand down-the-line winner after a long rally. One game away. Jennifer Brady leads Angelique Kerber 6-1 *5-3.

Somehow, Angelique Kerber is still in this. She faced another two break points at 15-40, but she responded with a rare ace on the first and then she rode her luck with a bad backhand return error from Brady on the second break point. Brady then dumped a routine forehand into the net at deuce before Kerber closed with a big forehand down-the-line. Will there be nerves for Brady? Kerber is counting on it. Jennifer Brady leads Angeelique Kerber 6-1 *4-3.

Kerber rightfully tried to test the taped Brady left thigh, winning the first two points and then reach 15-40. But Brady responded so well, firing four big points in a row to escape.

She saved the first break point with an unreturned slider out wide and then she executed a quick serve and forehand combo on the second. At deuce, Brady buried an inside out forehand winner and then she finished with a lovely crosscourt backhand winner. All out attack. Jennifer Brady leads Angelique Kerber 6-1 4-2*.

On court 17, men’s doubles third seeds Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram have a little to think about against Mackie McDonald and Chris Eubanks. After two double faults in the game, Salisbury lost his serve and the pair are now down a break in the second set. Salisbury/Ram lead Eubanks/McDonald 6-2 *2-5.

23rd seed Yulia Putintseva and 8th seed Petra Martic have arrived on Ashe for their fourth round.

Despite how well she is playing, Jennifer Brady is feeling some aches. She has gone off-court to take a medical timeout for what looked like her thigh.

Angelique Kerber just about hangs on, saving a break point to hold serve. The break point was saved well as Kerber paired an excellent wide serve with a crosscourt backhand. After Brady smited the first game point, Kerber found a couple of good first serve, eventually holding by following a big serve down the T with a searing down-the-line forehand. Jennifer Brady leads Angelique Kerber 6-1 *3-2.

Angelique Kerber is smart and experienced enough to know what she needs to do but it is just so tough. Kerber is taking on more returns, moving further forward to the baseline and trying to change directions down the line whenever she can. But Brady is so sharp. Down 30-40, she quickly scuppered the danger with a typical serve-forehand 1-2 punch. After some good serving from the American, Kerber eventually dumped a backhand into the net on game point. Jennifer Brady leads Angelique Kerber 6-1 3-1*.

Updated

Victoria Azarenka, who played a great match to beat young talent Iga Swiatek last night, is in a very good mood this week. Beware.

That one game comeback was good while it lasted. Jennifer Brady immediately recovers the break to love after a forehand into the net. Sadly for Angelique Kerber, her second serve is still so vulnerable and it will take so much more to shake Brady off her game. Brady leads 6-1 *2-1.

Incredible work from Angelique Kerber to recover from 40-0 on Brady’s serve and immediately break back.

Brady double faulted on the first point, but what followed was a glorious string of Kerber winners. From 15-40, Kerber produced two forehand winners in succession. At deuce, she changed things up with a lovely dropshot before nailing her crosscourt backhand passing shot after Brady approached the net. She closed it off by stepping into Brady’s second serve and crushing a forehand down-the-line return winner. Brady leads 6-1 1-1*.

Over on Court 17, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury lead Chris Eubanks and Mackie McDonald 6-2 *0-1.

Jennifer Brady opens the second set with an immediate break for 6-1 *1-0.

Angelique Kerber is certainly trying out here. After double faulting at 15-30 and facing double break point, she saved the first with an excellent point, moving Brady from side to side with her forehand before punching a forehand winner crosscourt. She then found a decent serve to scupper the second. But Brady just keeps on coming back, at deuce she crunched another crosscourt forehand winner. On her third break point, her forehand did all the damage again, before she stepped in and slotted a backhand down the line winner. She is bullying the former number one.

Jennifer Brady’s first set stats:

  • 60% first serves in play
  • 75% first serves won
  • 88% second serves won
  • 8 winners
  • 3 unforced errors
  • 100% second serve return points won

Brutal.

Jennifer Brady takes the first set 6-1 on Angelique Kerber in just 23 minutes. A brutal, efficient set. Brady is serving brilliantly, pummelling her forehand behind it, battering the Kerber return, mixing things up with her slice and moving really well. In short, she is ticking every single box.

This is just brutal play from Brady, who is forcing Kerber to take big risks early in the points. Kerber unleashed on an excellent forehand down-the-line winner to reach 30-30 on her serve, only to watch Brady drill a backhand down the line return winner on the very next point. Under immense pressure and break point down, Kerber attempted another big forehand down-the-line but this time it flew wide. Already, Brady will serve for the set at *5-1.

Over on court 17, one of two remaining Brit-infused doubles teams are in action. Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury have breezed to a *3-2 lead on US players Chris Eubanks and Mackie McDonald.

Another excellent hold to 15 from Brady, who is serving extremely well from the beginning. She closed it off with a quick serve-forehand 1-2 punch. Jennifer Brady leads Angelique Kerber 4-1*.

Angelique Kerber of Germany hits a return to Jennifer Brady of the US.
Angelique Kerber of Germany hits a return to Jennifer Brady of the US. Photograph: Jason Szenes/EPA

Updated

Jennifer Brady takes the first break and she leads Angelique Kerber *3-1. Despite her lack of experience, the American looks really assured early on and she is bullying Kerber from the baseline. Under pressure after a couple of big Brady returns, Kerber sprayed two forehand errors to hand over the game.

A series of routine service games to kick things off on Armstrong. Jennifer Brady leads Angelique Kerber 2-1.

On Amazon Prime, Laura Robson describes how different it feels to play a fourth round match compared with the third round:

“Very different. I just remember there being a lot less people around in the locker rooms, in the restaurant, in the lounges. You just notice that it’s really starting to thin out. It’s a bit more pressure because you just feel like, ‘Oh this is getting real. This is potentially a massive opportunity for me to reach the quarters - to move forward.’”

It will feel even more real to Brady with so few competitions being contested at the US Open this year.

To the casual viewer, this probably doesn’t seem like a particularly big match but it is huge. 28th seed Jennifer Brady has been one of the in-form and breakthrough players this year, winning her first title earlier this month at the Top Seed Open in Lexington. She has a huge game, with a good serve, heavy topspin forehand and great court sense. Although she is in her first slam fourth round, none of this is a surprise.

Across the net, everyone knows Angelique Kerber. She is a former no 1 and three time slam champion but she has been far from her best over the past 18 months and she is currently ranked 23rd. Kerber did not play any warmup tournament coming into New York but she has looked good in her first match. How good? this match will tell us a lot. The winner will be the favourite to reach the semis.

The first singles match of the day is moments from beginning. Angelique Kerber and Jennifer Brady have taken to the court and are just in the final stages of their warm up on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Preamble

Hello! Welcome to the first day of the fourth round at the US Open, where the field has thinned dramatically in one day. After all of the action around the grounds for the first six days, today there are only three courts in action. In normal times, the doubles competitions would still be in the opening rounds, the junior events would just be starting and some legends exhibitions would appear on the order of play. It all feels quite empty now.

On the schedule today:

Arthur Ashe Stadium (5pm):

  • (23)Yulia Putintseva vs (8) Petra Martic
  • (1) Novak Djokovic vs (20) Pablo Carreno Busta
  • Denis Shapovalov [12] vs [7] David Goffin (not before 12am)
  • [4] Naomi Osaka vs [14] Anett Kontaveit

Louis Armstrong Stadium (4pm)

  • [28] Jennifer Brady vs [17] Angelique Kerber
  • Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs (5) Alexander Zverev
  • Shelby Rogers vs (6) Petra Kvitova (27)
  • [27] Borna Coric vs Jordan Thompson

Updated

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