A potential semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic looms but the Nadal seems to have found his feet at the right time in NY and will be optimistic of adding a 15th title to his kitty.
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The top seed, Djokovic is favored to with the US Open, though his chief competition, Andy Murray, is still going strong in the other half of the bracket. And the roof is so high you don’t feel that you are closed. I felt myself ready for the French.
“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”.
Craig O’Shannessy, a strategy expert for Wimbledon, the Australian Open, New York Times and the ATP Tour who runs a strategy website called braingametennis.com, said the switch was already proving hugely effective. “I had this virus which stopped me for quite a while, too much, but I feel good. That’s an important shot for me”.
A few hundred fans remained in the stands at Ashe, enjoying that rare chance for an up-close look at a man who has won 12 Grand Slam titles, including two at the U.S. Open and two this year.
Third seeded Spaniard Muguruza, who has struggled in the aftermath of her Roland Garros breakthrough in June, slumped to a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, the world number 48. Wozniacki is now 7-0 against the Romanian, who was trying to equal her best performance at a major by reaching the round of 16.
Djokovic’s win over Youzhny was his seventh win over the Russian, in their first meeting since the quarterfinal of the US Open in 2013. I think he carried the injury into this match, that’s what he said. Players play more. But in the end of the day, in the bigger picture, it’s not that great. “The arm is doing very well”, he said. “I was playing on adrenaline”, said 24-year-old qualifier Harrison, who was as high as 43 in the world in 2012.
That’s a good thing for his balky left wrist, if not for his rhythm. “I’m joking, eh? Yes, he’s my uncle and also my second coach”. “It was a result of over-exuberance”, said 25-year-old Raonic.
Novak Djokovic got his second walkover in as many games at the US Open, making it to the fourth round with no hassles.
This came Friday, two days after the man defending champion Djokovic was supposed to play in the second round, Jiri Vesely, withdrew a couple of hours before that match because of inflammation in his left forearm.
We had a bit of luck in the first one when Andy Murray won the opening set against Marcel Granollers 6-4 after failing to serve it out at 5-3 and saving game points before breaking at the fourth attempt to land us a nice victor.
Left-hander Vesely had defeated the Serb at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
His opponent, Mikhail Youzhny comes into this clash full of confidence beating Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 and Martin Klizan 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 with the 34-year-old yet to drop a set so far in the tournament.
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The fifth-seeded Raonic was treated by a trainer for problems with his left wrist and left thigh during Wednesday’s match and generally looked tired as play went on.
