“I wish Dominic a quick recovery as he has a great future”, said 27-year-old del Potro.
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In men’s action, 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro became the lowest-ranked man in the U.S. Open quarterfinals in 25 years, advancing when No. 8 seed Dominic Thiem stopped in the second set because of an injured right knee.
The fourth seed looked to be in cruise control when he opened up a two-set lead for the loss of only five games, but he was sloppy in the third before regaining his rhythm to progress 6-4 6-1 6-7 6-3.
Lucas Pouille outlasted 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in a five-set classic on Sunday to lead a trio of French men into the quarter-finals of the US Open.
However, Marchenko – hampered slightly be an injury to his right leg – fought back bravely in the third set to make his world number three ranked opponent work hard for the win, breaking serve as Wawrinka was serving for the match to force the game into a decisive tie-break and then a stamina-testing fourth set. Wawrinka, forced to save a match point in the third round, had less trouble Monday despite a third-set wobble.
Still exhausted after the stunning run to an Olympic silver medal that announced him as a contender again, he got a huge break in spending only 72 minutes on court. He didn’t need to play his best tennis on Monday, but was efficient on the big points, converting on all three of his break points and committing just 13 total unforced errors.
Venus Williams suffered one of the toughest losses of her 20-year career – not capitalizing on a match point in a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) reverse to Karolina Pliskova – and given her age, 36, one couldn’t help but wonder if it was her final US Open.
“You can’t take too many risks with the knee”.
Del Potro, however, insists he is not dwelling on his triumph here seven years ago but feels rejuvenated to challenge again.
It was a David and Goliath clash of physical opposites, but the 6-foot-11 (2.11 m) Karlovic’s tennis game, apart from his prodigious serve, was overshadowed by the skills of Nishikori, more than a foot shorter at 5-10 (1.78 m).
Del Potro knows all about that.
Wawrinka was imperious in winning the first two sets comfortably. It’s good to see him playing so well.
“I’m not anxious about my wrist because I’m practising and playing matches every day”, he explained.
Del Potro got a huge break on Monday when he spent only 72 minutes on court.
“In the ‘breaker, I went for a little bit more”, Williams said, “but I didn’t put the ball in enough”.
2014 finalist Kei Nishikori advances to his 2nd US Open quarter-final after a rock solid 6-3 6-4 7-6 win over Ivo Karlovic in 2 hours time.
Adding to the suspense, Williams also had a match point opportunity of her own which she failed to convert.
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“I never expected to play that many matches, of course, this year”, Thiem said.
