Despite Grigor Dimitrov been on form lately with wins in Brisbane and Cincinnati, he couldn’t count on it against a Russian teenager. Day 4 had less to talk about with regard to upsets rather the biggest news was in the women’s draw recording the longest match at the US Open.
Day 4 wrap at Flushing Meadows:
Seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov lost in straight sets in the US Open second round to 19-year-old Andrey Rublev.
The 26 year old Bulgarian, was a break up in the first two sets but eventually lost 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 to the Russian teenager.
Czech 15th seed Tomas Berdych lost in four sets to Alexandr Dolgopolov.
The Ukrainian world number 64 came through 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 as Berdych hit 57 unforced errors, 12 double faults and had a first-serve percentage of only 45%.
Winners
World number 1 Rafael Nadal required four sets to see off Japan’s Taro Daniel in the second round.
The Spaniard, trailed by a set and a break before he turned the second set around and went on to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2.
Five time champion Roger Federer overcame Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in five sets at the US Open.
The 19 Grand Slam champion was two sets to one down but eventually came through 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 4-6 6-4 6-2 at Flushing Meadows.
It is the second time in three days that Federer is playing a 5 set match.
Federer remains unbeaten in Grand Slam play this year, having won his 18th and 19th major titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Elsewhere, Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem won 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-5 against American Taylor Fritz
France Gael Monfils needed five sets to beat American Donald Young 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 2-6 7-5.
2009 champion Martin del Potro, beat Adrian Menendez-Maceiras of Spain 6-2 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
Fellow Spaniard, 31st seed Feliciano Lopez, beat compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1.
The biggest loser in the women’s draw was 2004 champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, who saw her chances of taking the world number one ranking dashed as she lost to Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-3 3-6 6-3.
Winners
World number one Karolina Pliskova triumphed over Nicole Gibbs in three sets to reach the US Open third round.
The 25-year-old saved seven of nine break points to win 2-6 6-3 6-4 against the American on Thursday.
Shelby Rogers and Daria Gavrilova made history by playing the longest women’s singles match in US Open history at three hours and 33 minutes.
American Rogers dropped to her knees in tears on Court 19 after winning 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) on Thursday.
Elina Svitolina beat Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 22 minutes.
French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko, also reached round three with a 6-4 6-4 win over Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
Japanese 19-year-old Naomi Osaka, who knocked out defending champion Angelique Kerber in round one, overcame Czech Denisa Allertova 6-3 4-6 7-5.
Home favourites Madison Keys, Agnieszka Radwanska, Lucie Safarova all progressed to round three at the Flushing Meadows.
Thiem didn’t win Dolgopolov. Pls, make corrections.