Juan Martin del Potro was barely able to move as he entered Monday's US Open fourth-round encounter against Dominic Thiem. Wrestling with the flu and a fever, the Argentine had no range and little rhythm in the early stages, but he refused to succumb to defeat. Del Potro mounted arguably the comeback of the year, saving two match points to defeat Thiem 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4. It marked the seventh five-set victory in his career and just the second comeback from two sets down. The 2009 champion is now into the quarter-finals in New York for the fifth time in nine appearances. "I don't know how I was able to win that match," del Potro said to ESPN in...
Sealed with a blistering forehand return winner, Andrey Rublev stormed into his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open on Monday as he upset ninth seed David Goffin 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-3. The #NextGenATP star advances to a blockbuster clash with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, whom he has never faced before. "I'm just going to try to enjoy it and that's it," said Rublev of facing Nadal. "This is going to be a good challenge for me to see how far I am from the top players and how much more I need to work. So we'll see. "I would say [Nadal] has amazing legs. He has amazing defence. And for me, I have a good shots. I can...
If this was the best match of Sam Querrey's career, the rest of the US Open field better take notice. The 17th seed was at his ruthless best on Sunday night, turning in a masterclass performance under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Querrey sprinted past Mischa Zverev 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in just one hour and 16 minutes, blitzing his 30 year old opponent with a barrage of rifled groundstrokes and dizzying agility. It was the fastest match of the tournament thus far. He struck 55 winners, including 18 aces, and just eight unforced errors. With the win, Querrey will become the No. 1 American in the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time since July 2013. He is the...
Kevin Anderson has found a new home at the US Open, blasting into the quarter-finals for the second time in three years. The 6'8" South African is flying under the radar as he secured his place in the last eight with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4 victory over Paolo Lorenzi on Sunday. Anderson needed two hours and 57 minutes to dispatch the Italian veteran, attacking early and often from the baseline behind 54 winners, including 18 aces. Anderson is surging towards a Top 20 return in the Emirates ATP Rankings after notching a trio of straight-set wins to open the tournament and a rather straightforward victory over Lorenzi. He extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head edge over the World No. 40...
The size of the fighter is irrelevant. It's the fighter's fight that makes all the difference. That has been the mantra of Diego Schwartzman throughout his career and he has put that on display for the world to see at the US Open. Schwartzman fought off a leg injury and a stern test from Lucas Pouille to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in New York on Sunday. The Argentine outlasted Pouille 7-6(3), 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in two hours and 35 minutes, firing 44 winners including nine aces. The 25 year old was efficient on return as well, converting an impressive seven of nine break chances. At 5'7", Schwartzman is the shortest Grand Slam quarter-finalist since fellow 5'7" South American...