Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates match point against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia at the US Open on Friday night. Don Emmert / AFP / September 2, 2016
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates match point against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia at the US Open on Friday night. Don Emmert / AFP / September 2, 2016

US Open results: Rafael Nadal and Angelique Kerber crush it in third round



Men’s

9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d 23 Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)

Marcos Baghdatis d Ryan Harrison 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-1

26 Jack Sock d 7 Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3

10 Gael Monfils d Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

1 Novak Djokovic d Mikhail Youzhny (ret)

24 Lucas Pouille d 15 Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1

Kyle Edmund d 20 John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)

4 Rafael Nadal d Andrey Kuznetsov 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

Women’s

7 Roberta Vinci d Carina Witthoft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3

Anastasija Sevastova d Kateryna Bondarenko 6-4, 6-1

Caroline Wozniacki d Monica Niculescu 6-3, 6-1

Lesia Tsurenko d 12 Dominika Cibulkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

8 Madison Keys d Naomi Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3)

13 Johanna Konta d 24 Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1

14 Petra Kvitova d 22 Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4

2 Angelique Kerber d CiCi Bellis 6-1, 6-1

// Novak Djokovic reached the US Open last 16 in just 32 minutes Friday when Mikhail Youzhny retired injured before fellow two-time winner Rafael Nadal also made the fourth round for the first time in three years.

Defending champion Djokovic was 4-2 ahead in the first set when Russian 34-year-old Youzhny called it quits suffering from a left hamstring injury.

The outcome completed a bizarre first week for world No 1 Djokovic.

After labouring over four sets to beat Jerzy Janowicz on Monday, he was handed a walkover into the third round when Czech opponent Jiri Vesely withdrew from their second round clash with an arm injury.

“I have never had this happen before in my grand slam career, getting a walkover and the next match lasting just half an hour,” said Djokovic.

The top seed next faces Britain’s world No 84 Kyle Edmund who stunned John Isner of the United States 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) to make a slam fourth round for the first time.

Nadal reached the fourth round for the first time since 2013 – the year of his last New York title – with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov.

“Andrey is always a tough opponent, he returns well and has good shots from the baseline,” said fourth seed Nadal who faces France’s Lucas Pouille for a quarter-final slot.

“I had a fantastic first set, a little trouble with my serve in the second but the third was key so I’m very happy.”

Djokovic’s very brief encounter had been preceded on Arthur Ashe Stadium by women’s eighth seed Madison Keys pulling off an epic comeback to beat Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

Keys won the latest-ever finishing women’s match at the tournament on Monday when she completed victory over compatriot Alison Riske at 1.48am (9.48am UAE).

On Friday, the 21-year-old was involved in more drama when she rallied from 1-5 down in the final set to defeat Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).

The 18-year-old Osaka was so traumatised by her failure to convert her dominance into victory that she broke down in tears as she twice tried and failed to serve for the victory.

“This is the greatest comeback of my career, hands down,” said Keys who will face two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki for a quarter-final spot.

Jack Sock, the American 26th seed, reached the fourth round for the first time by knocking out 2014 champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in a tie where he did not face a single break point.

The 23-year-old Sock, whose last two appearances at the US Open had ended in retirements, goes on to face French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Tsonga, a two-time quarter-finalist, made the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.

Wozniacki, who knocked out ninth-seeded former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round, clinched a seventh win in seven meetings over unorthodox Monica Niculescu of Romania.

The Dane’s 6-3, 6-1 victory featured eight breaks of serve.

Roberta Vinci, the Italian seventh seed and runner-up to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in 2015, overcame a second set blip to defeat 21-year-old Carina Witthoft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.

The 33-year-old Vinci led 5-4, 30-0 in the second set before her 84th-ranked German opponent dug deep to take the tie into a decider.

But Vinci prevailed on the back of 40 winners and will meet Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine for a quarter-final place.

Tsurenko, the world 99, made the last 16 at a slam for the first time by beating 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 27-year-old Tsurenko committed 44 unforced errors. Fortunately for her, Cibulkova hit 54.

Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova backed up her shock victory over third seed and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza by making the last 16 for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine.

World No 48 Sevastova, who briefly retired in 2013, has matched her best run at a slam and next faces British 13th seed Johanna Konta who put out Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.

German second seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber closed the night session with a forceful win against American 17-year-old CiCi Bellis, 6-1, 6-1. She next faces two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova. who dispatcehd 22nd-seeded Elina Svitolina in straight sets.

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RESULTS

6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $49,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

7.05pm Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner El Patriota, Vagner Leal, Antonio Cintra

7.40pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,000m

Winner Ya Hayati, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Althiqa, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Soft Whisper, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

9.25pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Bedouin’s Story, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

THE BIO

Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.

Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.

Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.

Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.

 

 


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