Djokovic will next play either Guido Pella of Argentina or Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny.
Advertisement
Sock holds one career win against Cilic, earlier this year in a Davis Cup qualifier, as he is trying to reach round four of a Grand Slam for the second time in his career, having advanced to that stage at the 2015 French Open.
Novak Djokovic got another free pass at the U.S. Open, advancing when his third-round opponent, Mikhail Youzhny, stopped because of injury after only six games.
Britain’s Kyle Edmund backed up his first round win over world number 15 Richard Gasquet with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory over USA wildcard Ernesto Escobedo.
“This particular situation I never had in my Grand Slam career”, Djokovic said. “I work more or less on every aspect of my game”, Djokovic said.
“I’m very, very disappointed right now”, said 23-year-old Vesely who was also forced to pull out of his quarter-final in Winston-Salem last week with the same injury. “I hope that I’ll feel overall good, so I’m able to perform at my best for the next match”.
Afterward, Djokovic didn’t want to go into details, saying in his on-court interview, “I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about this now”.
Doubts about Djokovic’s fitness have propelled Andy Murray to become many people’s favourite in NY despite the Scot losing 13 of their last 15 meetings.
The 21-year-old Witthoeft, who’s been ranked as high as 49th, was looking to make her first Grand Slam round of 16. Players play more. But in the end of the day, in the bigger picture, it’s not that great. He’s tough to break down.
“Then he is a very fun guy outside the court”. He has lots of good abilities.
Kicking things off under the lights at Ashe Friday evening, Nadal too draws a Russian opponent in world number 47 Andrey Kuznetsov.
Rafael Nadal glided into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as smoothly as the new roof over Arthur Ashe stadium slid shut for the first time during a match. The fourth seed tackles French 24th seed Lucas Pouille.
Serena Williams powered to a record 307th Grand Slam match win on Saturday to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
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 tie where he did not face a single break point.
The bottom half of the women’s last 16 will be played out with second seeded Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber facing two-time Wimbledon victor Petra Kvitova.
After looking almost unbeatable while winning four consecutive major titles, capped by his first at the French Open in June to complete a career Grand Slam, Djokovic has seemed more vulnerable of late.
Keys, who said it was the best comeback of her career, has gone the distance in two of her three matches here in NY.
“My first time in the fourth round here”, Sock said in an on-court interview after dismissing the 2014 US Open victor.
Advertisement
There were wins for Angelique Kerber, Madison Keys, Roberta Vinci, Petra Kvitova and Johanna Konta as well.
