Advancing to the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the third time was 10th-seeded Gael Monfils of France.
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Monfils, who has enjoyed a run of success this hard court season, maintained his impressive form with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 romp that kicked off a busy day for the French men’s contingent at Flushing Meadows.
Baghdatis later changed his tune, saying he picked up his phone because he wanted to send a message to his wife, former top-20 player Karolina Sprem.
Jack Sock’s bid to be the first American male to make the U.S. Open quarterfinals since 2011 was halted when ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried dispatched him with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-2 victory in the fourth round on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in NY. The official reason was announced as “unsportsmanlike conduct”, and Baghdatis was bemused.
Trailing 6-3, 5-2, Baghdatis reacted testily when he was warned, asking the chair umpire “What if I want to check the time?”
“He’s a good friend, I’ve known him for a long time”, said the 30-year-old Monfils. “I guess I broke the rule and I got a warning for it, but I was just writing a message to my wife”. “Against Gael, if you don’t get some free points and have to rally – I tried to rally but he was getting so many free points on his serve, I had so much pressure on my serve”.
Monfils, twice before a US Open quarterfinalist, served up nine aces and gave himself a cushion with six service breaks against the Cypriot, who put only 36 percent of his first serves in play.
“I’m ready to go”, said Edmund, who in the absence of Andy Murray led Britain into the semi-finals of the Davis Cup in July.
“But, ” he added, “I said, ‘Why not?'”
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The 31-year-old Baghdatis hadn’t reached a grand slam round of 16 since the 2009 Australian Open.
