As Williams, never seriously challenged in a 6-2, 6-3 victory over 52nd-ranked Yaroslava Shvedova, sailed on, one of the two players with a chance to topple her from the world No 1 spot in this tournament bowed out as fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska was shocked 6-4, 6-4 by 18-year-old Croatian Ana Konjuh.
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For the next 50 minutes it was one-way traffic, Murray setting the tone in a pulsating 32-stroke rally as he broke serve for 3-1 and went on an eight-game winning streak.
The Wimbledon champion has beaten world No7 Nishikori in seven of their last eight meetings, including a straight-sets win as part of his successful Olympic gold medal defence in Rio last month. ‘I think that was lucky.
At the end of his press conference, Dimitrov was asked what it was about this matchup that seemed to bring out the best in one another, to which he responded, “I think we like our styles, I guess, just kind of fits our games”.
“I got a lot of free points with my serve – that was important”. As I said, he’s just really confident right now.
Asked about his 141mph serve, Murray smiled: “I served one at 145 in San Jose but the next day they recalibrated the gun because it was completely wrong. “I played a really good match against him in Rio a few weeks ago so it will be hard”. “For sure next year I’m going to change it up a little bit”. “I could sense it was getting tough for him”. As it happens, the last such opponent to defeat him was Dimitrov. The recently returned coach especially keen to see his charge be less tentative with his second serve especially.
The problem for Murray could be his attack, because Dimitrov is incredibly athletic, and has the shot making to go with it. Since then, the 25-year-old has gone 10-3, racking up impressive wins over Ivo Karlovic, Feliciano Lopez, Stan Wawrinka, and Steve Johnson in the process.
It was even harder to believe Dimitrov won the last time these two played, on a hard court no less, in Miami earlier this year.
After a lacklustre display in his previous round at Flushing Meadows, Murray insisted he would have to improve to overcome an in-form Dimitrov and he certainly kept his promise.
He is narrowly ahead of Edmund in the rankings and matched his Wimbledon showing by reaching the third round in NY, where he held match point before losing in five sets to world number three Stan Wawrinka.
Murray started like a house on fire and his served prove impenetrable.
Dimitrov had no idea what to do.
“I don’t know why I did serve-and-volley so much today, but I felt like it was working”.
McEnroe was scathing in his assessment on commentary.
“He didn’t show any heart, any willingness to dig in and try to battle”, added McEnroe when it was all over. “But I tried to stay down”. I played a really good match against him in Olympics a few weeks ago. “I think it’s more loud and it’s more like a big party on the court”. “I was a little bit overwhelmed to get out there, playing that prime-time match”.
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“Of course I asked for the wildcard here because of that memory, I like to be here, but now my life is different. He deserves all the credit today”.
