Labor Day weekend at the U.S. Open was not without drama. On Saturday, Stan Wawrinka fought off a match point in his fourth set against Dan Evans and eventually prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(8), 6-2. As tense as that showdown was, it served as little more than the appetizer to the main course. That, as no one will soon forget, took place on Sunday afternoon–and into the night session–between Rafael Nadal and Lucas Pouille. After four hours and seven minutes of nail-biting action, Pouille pulled off a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(6) shocker over the 14-time major champion.
One day later, there seemed to be no more room for drama.
The second day of fourth-round action in New York City featured a trio of three-set drubbings and just one four-setter. Wawrinka could have made it four for four in the straight-set department but he failed to serve out his match against Illya Marchenko at 5-4 in the third. Although for a moment it looked like things would become even more interesting when Marchenko seized an early break in the fourth, Wawrinka steadied the ship and soon finished off a 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 victory.
Next up for the third-ranked Swiss is a quarterfinal contest against Juan Martin Del Potro. The 2009 champion’s inspiring summer run continued with an abbreviated day at the office. A worn-out Dominic Thiem saw his physical struggles reappear and the 23-year-old was forced to retire with a knee injury while trailing 6-3, 3-2.
“I didn’t expect to be in quarters in my second Grand Slam after my comeback,” said Del Potro, who missed the first two majors in 2016 as he slowly made his way back from yet another wrist surgery. “I’m playing good tennis. My level is [improving] every day. I’m so glad to be part of the last eight in this tournament.”
Andy Murray, to the surprise of nobody, is also part of the last eight. The Olympic champion, who defeated Del Potro in the Rio final, maintained his momentum with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 blowout of Grigor Dimitrov on Monday night. Murray had struggled at times in a four-set win over Paolo Lorenzi last Saturday, but the world No. 2 needed only two hours to dispose of Dimitrov.
“I played very well,” Murray commented. “Tactically I played a very good match. I don’t think I made any mistakes there. I kept good concentration throughout. Yeah, I mean, it was a really good match. I (don’t) think Grigor played his best, but I didn’t really give him a chance to get into the match.”
Speaking of never getting into the match, Ivo Karlovic’s serve was unable to stand up against the constant pressure of Kei Nishikori’s return as the world No. 7 coasted 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). Karlovic had a chance to extend the last-ever singles match in the current Louis Armstrong Stadium when Nishikori served down double set point at 4-5, 15-40 in the third, but the 6’11” Croat could not capitalize.
Nishikori’s reward is a quarterfinal meeting with Murray on Wednesday.
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