Vesely’s misfortune was a welcome boost for world number one Djokovic who had required treatment on his upper right arm in his laboured first round win over Jerzy Janowicz on Monday.
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Sock scored a power-packed 6-4 6-3 6-3 third-round victory at Flushing Meadows and in the last 16 he’ll face ninth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a straight sets victor against South African 23rd seed Kevin Anderson.
These two have played once in the past, which was in this year’s Miami Masters, a match Djokovic won in straight sets. Therefore, the reigning US Open champion secured his tenth consecutive fourth round berth at Flushing Meadows with a 4-2 lead in just 31 minutes.
Baker-Daniell served for the match at 5-3 but were broken due to some dogged play from Bopanna-Nielsen and the scoreline was squared at 5-5.
The other seeds to fall were Roberto Bautista Agut, who lost to Lucas Pouille, and Kevin Anderson – beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
While one American impressed, there was not much joy for another as John Isner, the No.20 seed, was beaten by the impressive Kyle Edmund of Great Britain 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, the runner-up to Andy Murray at Wimbledon, overcame German dangerman Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-4, 6-4. Coming into the US Open, Nadal looks set for a deep run into the tournament.
Two-time Wimbledon victor Petra Kvitova, the 14th seeded Czech who recorded her best performance in NY 12 months ago when she made the last-eight, beat Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
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.
He will play 10th-seeded Gael Monfils, who beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. “It’s hard in the beginning but over five sets, you’ll find the down-the-line (return) and the height you need to get back to the middle”. Seventh seeded Italian Vinci, defeated by compatriot Flavia Pennetta in last year’s final, eased past Christina McHale of the United States 6-1, 6-3.
After holding serve in the sixth game, closing it with an overhead putaway up at the net, Youzhny – a semifinalist in NY in 2006 and 2010, and a former top-10 player now ranked 61st -shook his head and told the chair umpire he couldn’t keep going.
Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champ, also advanced.
Before the rain came down on the newly installed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court on Thursday we’d landed two good winning wagers at [5.0] and [2.7] respectively.
It’s worth taking a bit of a chance on the 3-1 to the world number one here at [4.5], with his fitness yet to be fully proven and an opponent that will threaten for a while at least.
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Things continue to break Novak Djokovic’s way at the 2016 US Open. And former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki – down to No. 74 in the rankings thanks to injury issues and early exits at tournaments – takes on No. 58 Monica Niculescu.
