Edmund appeared to be struck by nerves in a packed-out Arthur Ashe Stadium as the 21-year-old succumbed 6-2 6-1 6-4 having previously knocked out Richard Gasquet and John Isner.
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Tenth seed Gael Monfils also advanced as he triumphed over Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, but fourth seed Rafael Nadal was the big casualty on Sunday as the Spaniard was beaten by 24th seed Lucas Pouille 1-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6). “When it happens it will be an unbelievable feeling because that was also one of my dreams when I was a kid”.
“That’s how I approached it against Isner”.
“Now I can see there is life after tennis as well and if you lose a match it’s not the end of the world”. But at the same time I know I’m in a good place.
“You’re just anxious because you want to go out there and experience it”. “There are loads of positives to take from the way I’ve been playing”. He added, to the fans: “You make me so happy everyday”.
Edmund moves up to 55 in the world – two behind his compatriot Dan Evans, who left the tournament in a blaze of great shots the previous evening against the world No3 Stan Wawrinka.
The Yorkshire-based youngster had promised to stick to his aggressive game but he over-extended from the baseline, rushing to hit winners and instead committing a string of errors.
“It was really hard because he played great in the third, but I have no regrets about this set because he played well”, Tsonga said. “That’s what’s been working, so there’s no point in changing it”.
Djokovic had a second-round walkover as Czech Jiri Vesely withdrew due to injury, and was leading 4-2 in his third-round match when Russian Mikhail Youzhny retired with a leg ailment, making it six days since his last full match.
“You’ll have to ask him that, if he feels rusty”.
“I think it’s great that I get to play a night session tonight”, Djokovic said.
The other women’s quarterfinal features two top-10 players: second-seeded Angelique Kerber, this year’s Australian Open champ, and No. 7 Roberta Vinci, last year’s U.S. Open runner-up.
The world number one secured his passage into the quarter-finals despite needing treatment on his upper arm during the third set.
The Serb also boasts a 15-6 winning record against ninth seed Tsonga, a run stretching back to their first meeting in the 2008 Australian Open final. “Home. This is home”, Del Potro said on court on Saturday after his win.
The French churn out good top 100 tennis players with a similar efficiency to the way that they produce middle ranking motor cars. She’s staying with me this week, which is nice.
Kerber, who can depose Serena Williams as world number one by the end of the tournament, has yet to drop a set at the tournament.
Four months after her defeat to Konta, the 26-year-old retired from tennis, fed up with injuries, and chose to take up a course in management.
Having said all that, we must not forget the two other players in the tournament, who can give both Djokovic and Murray a run for their money for the final berth.
“Now a fourth round, after a weird couple of rounds”.
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Playing his third consecutive five-set match, 24th seed Pouille, still looking for his first ATP Tour title, showed that his quarter-final advance earlier this season at Wimbledon was no fluke.
