Second seed and 2012 champion Andy Murray crushed Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to reach a sixth US Open quarter-final on Monday, clocking up a personal fast serve record in the process.
Murray, 29, stormed to an impressive seventh win in 10 meetings against the 22nd-seeded Dimitrov.
From the moment Murray broke for a 3-1 lead in the first set, on the back of a 32-shot rally, the outcome of the Arthur Ashe Stadium clash was never in doubt.
For good measure, Murray sent down his fastest ever serve of 141mph (226.9km/h) at the end of a set where he allowed Dimitrov just five points on his service.
“I once hit a 145mph serve in San Jose but they recalibrated the machine the next day so it didn’t count. Tonight was the first time I have gone above 140,” the reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion said.
“It was lucky and I doubt I’ll ever do it again.”
More from the US Open:
• Day 9 order of play: Novak Djokovic seeks semi-final place
• Ahmed Rizvi on Rafael Nadal: For Nadal and his fans, nostalgia can be a cruel temptress: He's lost his edge
• Juan Martin del Potro: Doesn't know if this is better than 2009, but will 'try to keep winning'
Dimitrov broke only once in the match in the fourth game of the second set but it was a brief respite as Murray quickly reclaimed it before taking 10 of the next 12 games to seal the rout.
Dimitrov committed 43 unforced errors as Murray set up a last-eight clash with Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori, the 2014 runner-up who downed 37-year-old Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 champion, became the lowest ranked player in 25 years to reach the quarter-finals.
The 142nd-ranked del Potro was leading No 8 seed Dominic Thiem 6-3, 3-2 when the Austrian retired with a right knee injury.
Del Potro will face fellow Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka for a semi-final spot.
Wawrinka, a former Australian and French Open champion, reached a fourth successive quarter-final in New York with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win over Illya Marchenko, the world No 63 from Ukraine.
The first two quarter-finals take place on Tuesday when reigning champion Novak Djokovic faces France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Lucas Pouille, the conqueror of Rafael Nadal, tackles French compatriot Gael Monfils.
WOMEN’S DRAW
Serena Williams broke through another barrier, her 308th grand slam match win taking her past Roger Federer for the most victories in major tournaments and into the quarter-finals.
As Williams, never seriously challenged in a 6-2, 6-3 victory over 52nd-ranked Yaroslava Shvedova, sailed on, one of the two players with a chance to topple her from the world No 1 spot in this tournament bowed out as fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska was shocked 6-4, 6-4 by 18-year-old Croatian Ana Konjuh.
With Radwanska out of the picture, second-seeded German Angelique Kerber is now the only player with a chance to end Williams’s 186-week reign atop the rankings.
Kerber will try to take the next step on Tuesday in a quarter-final clash with 2015 finalist Roberta Vinci, the seventh seed from Italy.
Former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki and Latvian Anastasija Sevastova will also battle for a semi-final berth on Tuesday.
Kerber’s run to the quarters means the American must at least reach the final to stay top for a 187th consecutive which would, of course, be a record.
If both Kerber and Serena make the championship match, the American will have to win to extend her reign.
Williams will have a day off before tackling Simona Halep after the fifth-seeded Romanian’s 6-2, 7-5 victory over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.
The tantalising prospect of a semi-final clash between Williams and her sister Venus evaporated as the elder Williams fell to hard-hitting Czech Karolina Pliskova 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
Venus was unable to convert her lone match point as Pliskova, serving at 5-4 in the third, saved herself with a forehand volley then held to extend the match.
In her first grand slam quarter-final, Pliskova will take on Konjuh. Despite her entrenched position in the top 20 the Czech had never made it past the third round in a major in 17 prior tries.
RESULTS
MEN’S FOURTH ROUND
•Juan Martín del Potro (ARG) bt Dominic Thiem (AUT x8) 6-3, 3-2 — retired
• Stan Wawrinka (SUI x3) bt Illya Marchenko (UKR) 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3
• Kei Nishikori (JPN x6) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO x21) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
• Andy Murray (GBR x2) bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x22) 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
WOMEN’S FOURTH ROUND
• Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 6-2, 6-3
• Simona Halep (ROM x5) bt Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x11) 6-2, 7-5
• Ana Konjuh (CRO) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x4) 6-4, 6-4
• Karolína Pliskova (CZE x10) bt Venus Williams (USA x6) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
