Juan Martin del Potro was able to conserve energy in progressing to the last eight of the US Open as Dominic Thiem retired through injury.
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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.
Del Potro was a break to the good again at 2-1 in the second set before Thiem began to flag.
Andy Murray won 9 of the first 10 games and overwhelmed Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 at the U.S. Open on Monday night to reach the quarterfinals for the 22nd time in his past 23 Grand Slam tournaments.
He is still yet to drop a set, after dispatching 11th seed David Ferrer and American Steve Johnson in the earlier rounds, and he will now face either Stan Wawrinka or Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko in the last eight. Nishikori awaits the victor of Monday night’s match between 2012 champion Andy Murray and No. 22 Grigor Dimitrov.
Marchenko was treated twice during Monday’s match for his right knee, which was taped between the second and third sets and massaged during the third-set changeover at 2-1, but he battled on to force a fourth set. But a knee is something where you shouldn’t try out too much, ” Thiem said, who said he will get an MRI exam. The new retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium was not closed. Now it’s 2014 French Open runner-up Halep’s turn to try to deal with the serve of Serena Williams, who reached a tournament-best 126 miles per hour, delivered 11 aces and won 28 of 30 first-serve points against Shvedova.
“For sure I will adapt it”, Thiem said. Wawrinka hasn’t beaten del Potro since 2008, but the two have never met on hard court.
Having his body betray him is something del Potro is familiar with.
That was his first Grand Slam tournament since his latest wrist operation, before which he seriously considered retiring.
Thiem played a ton of tennis throughout this season and his success has catapulted him into the top 10, but that workload could have taken a toll on the young Austrian, and del Potro knows a thing or two about injuries.
Del Potro, the champion in NY in 2009 but whose ranking at the start of this year’s US Open was down at a lowly 142, last got this far at a major in 2013, when he was a Wimbledon semi-finalist.
“He will be the favorite to win in that match”, said del Potro, who beat Wawrinka at Wimbledon. “There’s a great connection between the US fans and Argrentina fans”, said del Potro who was handed a wildcard for the US Open after winning the silver medal at the Olympics.
Japan’s sixth seed Kei Nishikori has made the fourth round of all the majors in the same year for the first time. “I’m playing good tennis”.
Simona Halep cruised in straight sets – 6-2, 7-5 – over Carla Suarez Navarro Monday and feels like she is playing with house money in her quarterfinal versus Serena Williams.
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Del Potro is feeling the love in NY, too. “Hopefully I can go far in this tournament because I love the atmosphere, this crowd and to be in NY”.
