Spain’s Alcaraz started strongly, weathered a second-set fightback from Italy’s Sinner, before powering to a 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 victory in New York.

The men’s final was delayed by half an hour because of extra security measures put in place due to US President Donald Trump’s presence.

Once under way, the pair produced another engaging contest – albeit short of the drama and quality of their French Open and Wimbledon finals earlier this year.

Reigning French Open champion Alcaraz’s superior serving – an area which let him down against Sinner at the All England Club – ensured he reclaimed the US Open title that he first won in 2022.

The 22-year-old has now won six Grand Slam titles – making him the second youngest man behind Bjorn Borg to reach this tally.

Alcaraz’s victory ensures an even split between him and Sinner – who won the Australian Open as well as Wimbledon – at the four majors in 2025.

Alcaraz has also wrestled the world number one ranking away from Sinner, who held the position for 65 weeks.

After Sinner saved two championship points, Alcaraz reset to take his third opportunity with an ace out wide – celebrating with a now trademark golf swing.

Top seed Sabalenka successfully defended her title to take her Grand Slam tally to four.

The battle between two of tennis’ hardest-hitting, biggest-serving women boiled down to unforced errors as Sabalenka kept them to 15 compared to 29 from the racket of her opponent.

Playing in only her second major final, New Jersey-born Anisimova had the partisan fans at the famed Arthur Ashe Stadium on her side but could never hang onto the momentum.

Sabalenka had ice in her veins with just four unforced errors in the first set, converting all three break points she set up as she drowned out the noise from the home crowd.

Sabalenka was up a break in the second set but could not close it out as she gave Anisimova a break point chance with a fluffed smash in the 10th game and the American converted.

But the tiger-tattooed Belarusian dug in her claws in the tiebreak, wrapping up the match with an unreturnable serve as Anisimova was left in tears yet again after the heartbreak of her 6-0 6-0 drubbing in the Wimbledon final two months ago.

Spain’s Alcaraz, 22, was tested by 24-time major champion Djokovic but had enough quality and energy to win 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in Friday’s first men’s semi-final.

The margins were fine in the first two sets, with Alcaraz rarely near his free-flowing best, but the gap widened as Serbia’s Djokovic faded physically early in the third.

Two weary double faults from Djokovic hurried his opponent into a 3-1 lead and another teed up a first match point for Alcaraz – on which Djokovic batted a volley wide.

Seventh seed Djokovic hung over the net as he waited to congratulate Alcaraz, before waving to all corners of Arthur Ashe Stadium as he departed.

Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, will play either Italian top seed Jannik Sinner and Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in Sunday’s final.

“Being in the final again feels amazing – it means a lot to me,” said Alcaraz.

“It wasn’t the best level of the tournament for me but I kept a cool head from the beginning and the last point.”

With a powerful style translating across court surfaces, the world number one has made 12 semi-final appearances in her past 13 major tournaments – with the latest coming when she faces Jessica Pegula at the US Open on Thursday.

But here’s the kicker – Sabalenka’s tendency to combust at a critical juncture means only three of those have resulted in titles.

None of the 27-year-old Belarusian’s runs at this year’s majors have ended with the trophy.

In the Australian Open final, French Open final and Wimbledon semi-finals, an erratic level has led to devastating defeats.

Sabalenka’s last major trophy came when she beat Pegula in the New York final 12 months ago and, in a bid to get over the line again, she has brought 10-time doubles Grand Slam champion Max Mirnyi into her team.

“Everything fluctuates in life,” Mirnyi, speaking after Sabalenka’s practice at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday, told BBC Sport.

“We’re not machines, we’re not robots, right? As good as some of the professionals are in their fields, they’re still human.

“It comes down to being good, but not always perfect. A tennis match is very tough to make perfect.

“But it’s OK – she’s getting to the latter stages of Slams consistently, which makes us believe she is putting herself in the position time and time again to win it.”

When Sabalenka cannot find a way to win – particularly in the biggest moments – she admits it is because she is known to “lose control”, mentally and emotionally.

In Melbourne, it was frustration at being unable to cope with Madison Keys’ destructive power.

At Roland Garros, it was fury at hitting 70 unforced errors as Coco Gauff fought back.

At Wimbledon, it was fear at not matching Amanda Anisimova’s bravery.

“I think it’s good she is emotional. But it’s about having control over those ups and downs,” Mirnyi said.

“As she gets older she gets more experienced, she will advance more and more in that department – it’s natural when you’re younger and more emotional to have more outbursts.

“Here she has been very comfortable [emotionally] and is confidently progressing in all facets of the game.”

Blessing or curse? Sabalenka keeping sharp after extra day off

One area where Sabalenka has remained solidly composed recently is a tie-break situation.

The three-time major champion has won her past 17 tie-breaks, including two in New York to reach the last four without dropping a set.

There could be another factor – mentally and physically – which comes into play when she faces American fourth seed Pegula in Thursday’s first semi-final.

Sabalenka has not played since Sunday, after injured quarter-final opponent Marketa Vondrousova withdrew less than two hours before Tuesday’s match.

Can a walkover be a blessing and provide a recharge? Or a curse because it ruins rhythm?

“It can be tricky,” former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said on Sky Sports.

“That’s why every single person in her team has to play that role of making sure the body is functioning properly and making sure her mind is there.”

In a bid to avoid any ring-rust, Sabalenka and her team have been hitting the practice courts hard.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Sabalenka added Mirnyi to complement her long-time coach Anton Dubrov (left) and hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski (second left)

After discovering Vondrousova’s misfortune, they spent about an hour practising on Tuesday evening to simulate a match scenario.

“I just wanted to move and throw the energy I had,” said Sabalenka.

“I wanted to sweat and pretend it was an activity, or a match or something.”

Sabalenka returned to the warm-up courts on Wednesday lunchtime, going through what she would class as a ‘normal’ session on the days between matches.

An intense 45-minute practice contained a lot of movement and work in different areas of her game – defending, attacking, serve returns – but there was also time for fun.

During serving drills Sabalenka hit spots between the legs of Mirnyi and fitness trainer Jason Stacy.

“As a tennis player you’re taught to have to wait around and deal with these conditions,” said Mirnyi.

“She knows how to handle these situations, she’s been in them before and it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Anisimova has ‘belief’ as she prepares for Osaka

If Sabalenka loses to Pegula, eighth seed Amanada Anisimova will have the opportunity to set up the first all-American women’s US Open singles final since 2017.

But she faces a rejuvenated Naomi Osaka – a two-time champion – in Thursday’s second semi-final.

Anisimova was overcome by stage fright when she reached her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon last month, losing 6-0 6-0 in only 57 minutes against Poland’s Iga Swiatek.

But the 24-year-old American avenged that chastening experience by beating Swiatek in the New York quarter-finals on Wednesday.

“It’s the farthest I’ve gone by far at the US Open and it’s extremely special,” said Anisimova, who had previously won only three of her eight matches at Flushing Meadows.

“I have that belief in myself and that confidence that I’m able to play at the top level.”

The four-time major champion felt she had “nothing positive to say” after a discouraging third-round exit.

Now, less than two months later, the smile has returned to Osaka’s face.

The 27-year-old former world number one seems to have rediscovered her mojo and will face Amanda Anisimova in the US Open semi-finals on Thursday.

“Some of her tennis has been reminiscent of when she won her two titles here,” said former British number one Annabel Croft, who analysed Osaka’s impressive fourth-round win over third seed Coco Gauff for BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Her game is all about amazingly clean ball-striking, taking control of the baseline, opening up the court, building up the point and hitting a winner.

“When she is confident, she is someone who makes the game look so easy and effortless.”

Japan’s Osaka did not play for 14 months around the birth of daughter Shai in July 2023, and her road back to the top of the game she once dominated has been gradual.

After lacking positivity at Wimbledon and questioning her direction, she is now preparing for a Grand Slam semi-final.

So what’s changed over the past couple of months?

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Osaka has tagged a different Labubu doll – the Chinese furry dolls which have become a global sensation – on her bag during each of her four US Open matches

Deciding to switch her coach has been the most notable factor.

Shortly after Wimbledon she parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou – the Frenchman who worked with 23-time major champion Serena Williams – and hired Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.

Wiktorowski is best known for guiding compatriot Iga Swiatek to four Grand Slam titles in a three-year stint, which ended in October.

On Wiktorowski’s approach, Osaka said: “He seemed like such a tough guy to me but actually, when he smiles, he really is like a teddy bear.

“When we talk after matches, he’s not harsh at all. He’s, like, always very proud and encouraging.

“I feel like it kind of creates a safe space for me to be able to express myself and my tennis.”

The impact was instant.

Looking more at ease, Osaka’s renowned ball-striking returned, and rediscovering her confidence led to the Montreal final in her first tournament with Wiktorowski.

Beating a string of top-25 opponents bolstered her belief, particularly a lion-hearted win over Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova and commanding victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Osaka made a call to Wiktorowski shortly after she lost to Britain’s Emma Raducanu at the Washington Open

“Against Samsonova, I didn’t give up until the very last point. I think from that moment on I just tried to be the biggest fighter that I can be,” Osaka said.

“I felt really good when I played Svitolina. I think the match made things clear that I can rally a lot with everybody.”

Osaka lost to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in the final, then drew criticism for seemingly being ungracious in defeat, but has carried the momentum into the US Open.

“What I want to take away from this tournament is just smiling and having fun,” said Osaka.

“I know in my first round I was too nervous to smile and in my second-round match I was just really not smiley at all.

“Going into the [Gauff] match, I just wanted to be grateful. I have the most fun when I play against the best players.”

Osaka has benefitted from a largely more restrained approach, wisely picking her moments to use her baseline power effectively, while trying to draw mistakes from her opponents.

“Osaka is a very rhythmical player – not much creativity, but beautiful timing and effortless power,” said Croft.

“She has a big serve which opens up the court as well. So far she has looked dangerous for anyone to take on.”

Osaka’s recent Grand Slam record

(Since returning from maternity leave in 2024)

Fifty-three days ago, Poland’s Swiatek demolished Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to win the title in a one-sided showpiece at SW19.

But the American showed her true capabilities with a 6-4 6-3 victory in a high-quality match in New York.

Eighth seed Anisimova said she watched the final back for the first time the night before their Flushing Meadows match-up.

“I watched them [highlights] back, as painful as it was, just to see what I can avoid or what went wrong,” she said.

“Then after I had to watch some good highlights to remove that from my brain!”

It was something Anisimova may not have done after previous tough losses.

But since taking a break from the sport to protect her mental health, Anisimova’s attitude towards setbacks on the court has changed.

“I feel like I was able to bounce back from it [Wimbledon defeat] really quickly. Maybe a few years ago I wouldn’t have done as well as I have this time,” the 24-year-old said.

“I would have maybe blamed myself more or held on to the guilt for longer.

“I made a point to myself, and also maybe to other people, that if you really put a positive mindset out there then you can have a positive outcome.”

Anisimova will face four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals, after she beat 11th seed Karolina Muchova.

Anisimova has surprised even herself with how quickly she moved on from her loss at the All England Club.

“Truly the most that I felt bad was for the people that had come to watch that day,” she said.

“I know how much people pay for those tickets and are excited to see Wimbledon. I kind of had that guilt on my back, as opposed to winning my first Grand Slam final.

“On the court I was crying and maybe [for] 30 minutes afterwards, but then I got on the phone with someone and I kind of laughed it off.

“At the end of the day to me it was just tennis. I’m in a really good place in my life. I’m happy every single day, which I wasn’t a couple of years ago.”

Having gone out in the early stages of the hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati, Anisimova said her early-round matches in New York were played with “a little bit of fear”.

However, her confidence has grown across the fortnight – as shown in her brilliantly fearless ball-striking against Swiatek.

“I told myself: you can’t go into the match with any fear,” she said.

“Today, I really came out there with not an ounce of fear.

When Swiatek took her serve in the opening game, flashbacks of Wimbledon surfaced.

“When I wasn’t able to hold in that first game, I was like OK, here we go,” she said.

But this time around Anisimova did not waver – attacking the six-time major winner’s serve to immediately break back.

Anisimova displayed superb skill on the backhand side and moved impressively throughout, hitting 23 winners as her big-hitting game flustered Swiatek.

She enjoyed success on the Pole’s second serve – winning 12 of 17 points from it – and found the break at the crucial moment to take the opening set.

Swiatek left the court between sets and returned full of intensity, again breaking immediately but this time consolidating with a hold.

Anisimova could be forgiven for thinking back to Wimbledon but she kept her cool and rescued the break two games later.

Heavily backed by a home crowd, Anisimova broke in the eighth game to serve for victory – which she did in composed fashion to reach a third Grand Slam semi-final.

Playing her first Grand Slam quarter-final since she won the 2021 Australian Open, Japan’s Osaka held her nerve to beat the Czech 11th seed 6-4 7-6 (7-3) on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Getting back to the last four of a major is another impressive milestone for Osaka, who did not play for 14 months around the the birth of daughter Shai in July 2023.

“It’s my first time in a semi now [since becoming a mother],” Osaka said.

“I was sitting up there watching and hoping I could have the opportunity to play on this court again. This is like my dream is coming true.”

The 27-year-old will face Amanda Anisimova after the American avenged her heavy Wimbledon final defeat by Iga Swiatek this summer with a 6-4 6-3 win.

Should Osaka defeat Anisimova, she will become the first player to reach a Grand Slam final after becoming a mother since Victoria Azarenka made the 2020 US Open showpiece, which Osaka won.

And if the four-time major winner goes all the way in New York, she will be the first player since Kim Clijsters (in 2009, 2010 and 2011) to have won a Slam after giving birth.

Having struggled to put a dent in Muchova’s serve earlier in the first set, Osaka pounced decisively at 5-4 – going 0-40 up and closing out the opener at the second time of asking.

Muchova, who began grimacing because of an issue with her left leg in the sixth game, called for the trainer and received medical attention off court.

She returned with heavy strapping on her thigh, but it didn’t seem to hinder her tennis as she opened the second set with an early break.

Osaka struck back immediately, however, and there was little to separate the pair until a frustrated Osaka conceded serve at 4-4 with a series of unforced errors.

But, as Muchova stepped up to serve and force a deciding set, Osaka regained her composure and bounced back aggressively, breaking to love to level the set.

She took control in the tie-break, opening up a 4-1 lead which proved enough for her to wrap up the victory with a beaming smile.

“It was an incredibly difficult match,” Osaka added in her on-court interview. “She’s one of the best players in the world – every time I play her it’s so difficult.

She joked: “Last year she beat me here when I had one of my best outfits, so I was really upset.”

‘I’m surprised I’m not crying’

Osaka has enjoyed an upturn of form since parting ways with coach Patrick Mouratoglou in July.

Since hiring Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who is best known for guiding Swiatek to four majors in three years, Osaka seems to have rediscovered something close to her best form.

She reached the the final of the Montreal Open last month, losing to teenager Victoria Mboko, and has now followed that with a deep run at Flushing Meadows, beating the third, 11th and 15th-seeded players en route to the last four.

“It means so much. I am so surprised I’m not crying,” Osaka said.

“There’s so much hard work that you guys haven’t seen but I am really grateful to my team and happy to be healthy.”

Labelled an “artificial intelligence” player by Alexander Bublik in the last round, Sinner’s scintillating form carried on as he won 6-1 6-4 6-2.

Musetti, ranked 10th, was unable to convert any of his seven break points, while he hit just 12 winners to his compatriot’s 28 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“We know each other very well. We’re from the same country, there’s so many Italian players in the draw, so it’s nice to play here,” Sinner said.

“Obviously playing Davis Cup together and stuff like this you have to take the friendship away, but when you shake hands everything is fine.”

In a ruthless first set, Sinner rattled through the first five games and conceded just five points before Musetti eventually held serve to get himself on the board for 5-1.

Sinner closed out the opener after just 27 minutes, but his momentum slowed in the second set as Musetti stepped up his level.

But the top seed managed to grab the decisive break at 4-4 and served it out comfortably before breaking twice in the third to secure the win just before midnight at Flushing Meadows.

“From my point of view it was a great performance, very solid,” Sinner added.

He has now won 26 consecutive matches at hard-court Grand Slam tournaments.

The 24-year-old will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in Friday’s semi-final after the Canadian defeated Alex de Minaur of Australia.

Auger-Aliassime ‘digs deep’ to reach semis

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Felix Auger-Aliassime won US Open junior titles in singles and doubles

Auger-Aliassime came from a set down to win 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-4) and reach the semi-finals at a major for the first time since 2021.

However, it was more quarter-final heartbreak for De Minaur, who has reached the last eight of a Grand Slam on six occasions but is yet to go beyond that stage.

It was a back-and-forth match that at times lacked quality on both sides of the net, with a combined total of 22 double faults and 93 unforced errors during the four hours and 13 minute encounter.

“I think it was just a lot of nerves today during the whole match,” Auger-Aliassime said.

“It wasn’t pretty at all times but that’s what Grand Slam matches are – some days you won’t feel your best but I was willing to dig really deep to stand here right now.

“The biggest challenges are yet to come but that’s what I live for, so I’m going to show up and be ready for my match on Friday.”

Fourth seed Fritz applied constant pressure to Djokovic’s serve, but the Serb fended off numerous break points and a hostile crowd en route to a 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-4 win.

Djokovic said he thought he was “lucky” at times, adding: “It was an incredibly close match, it was really anybody’s match.”

“I think for most of the second and third sets he was the better player.”

Djokovic now must overcome second seed Alcaraz if he is to reach the final and continue his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title.

The Spaniard – 16 years Djokovic’s junior – earned his spot in the last four earlier on Tuesday when he raced to a 6-4 6-2 6-4 victory over Czech Jiri Lehecka.

The remaining men’s singles quarter-finals take place in New York on Wednesday, eighth seed Alex de Minaur facing Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime before world number one Jannik Sinner takes on fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

Alcaraz, together with Sinner, has become a dominant force of men’s tennis after the dominant era of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

With Federer and Nadal both retired, Djokovic is the only active member remaining from the iconic trio, and time is not on his side as he chases the 25th major that would take him clear of Australia’s Margaret Court.

But against Fritz, he showcased some of the resilience that has often defined his outstanding career.

Djokovic got off to a fast start as he broke Fritz’s opening service game on the way to a 3-0 lead, and – after missing a set point at 5-2 – the Serb fended off a Fritz fightback, saving five break points before eventually serving out the opener.

Fritz continued to threaten in the second set, but he grew increasingly frustrated as he squandered opportunities before Djokovic pounced to go 4-3 up.

But, just as Djokovic was serving for a two-set lead, the Californian finally converted his first break point – at the 11th time of asking.

However, he dropped three double faults and an unforced error in the next game and Djokovic then made no mistake in closing out the set.

The atmosphere became somewhat hostile in the third set, when Djokovic complained to the umpire about spectators shouting out during his serve.

Sensing his irritation, some of the crowd started jeering the four-time winner, while their cheers for home hope Fritz grew even louder as the 27-year-old took advantage of the disruption to break for a 4-1 lead.

Djokovic regained his composure to work his way through the fourth set and he struck the decisive blow at 5-4, with a double fault from Fritz sealing his place in the last four after a gruelling three hours and 24 minutes.

“That last game was nerve-wracking, honestly tough one for Taylor to finish with a double fault, he didn’t deserve that,” Djokovic added.

“In many of my service games I was just trying to stay alive, fight for every ball.

“In this kind of match, key points decide the winner.”

‘I’m here to entertain’ – Alcaraz

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Carlos Alcaraz has won 59 matches in 2025

Alcaraz has defeated Djokovic in two Wimbledon finals, but Djokovic has been triumphant in their last two meetings – including at last summer’s Olympic final.

The five-time Grand Slam winner said he is “here to entertain” after his brilliant 6-4 6-2 6-4 display against Lehecka.

He displayed a laser-like focus throughout the match, but also found time for some showmanship during the victory as he thrilled the crowd with his astonishing repertoire of shot-making.

“Sometimes I play a shot that I should not play in that moment but it’s the way I love playing tennis,” Alcaraz, 22, told Sky Sports.

“I want to play solid, play well and play smart but at the same time when I have the opportunity to play a great shot – or a hot shot, let’s say – why not?

“I’m here to entertain the people, myself and the team.”

It is the third time Alcaraz, who won the US Open in 2022, has reached the semi-finals in New York.

He has reached the last four of a Grand Slam without dropping a set for the first time in his career – and is the youngest man to do so since Rafael Nadal at the 2008 French Open.

World number one Sabalenka was set to play unseeded Czech Vondrousova in Tuesday’s night session in New York.

But the 2023 Wimbledon champion, whose career has been decimated by injuries, pulled out less than two hours before they were due to take to the court.

“So sorry for Marketa after all she’s been through,” Sabalenka wrote on social media.

“She has been playing amazing tennis and I know how badly this must hurt for her.”

Vondrousova had a pre-match practice session but stopped it early, hunching over at the baseline before being consoled by her team.

The world number 60 was later seen with heavy strapping on her left leg as she walked through the Flushing Meadows players’ area.

“I tried my best to take to the court today but, after consultation with the tournament doctor, I decided not to risk aggravating the injury,” Vondrousova said in a statement.

“I appreciate all the support and apologise to the fans who were looking forward to the match.”

American fourth seed Pegula swept Barbora Krejcikova aside 6-3 6-3 to advance to the last four for the second year in a row.

Czech Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, represented a dangerous opponent after recovering from a set down and saving eight match points against Taylor Townsend in the previous round.

But an impressive Pegula, who is yet to drop a set here, suffered no such scares in a serene performance.

“I feel really comfortable. It’s crazy to feel this comfortable on the biggest court in the world with the craziest crowd and the best players,” she said.

“Ten years ago I never thought I’d be good at this – but I guess I am.”

‘Solid’ Pegula makes light work of Krejcikova

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Jessica Pegula was runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2024 US Open

Pegula arrived in New York in poor form, winning just two matches in her previous four tournaments and losing in the first week of a major four times in six appearances.

While she brushed away the cobwebs with routine wins over Mayar Sharif, Anna Blinkova, Victoria Azarenka and Ann Li, the quarter-finals presented a different challenge.

Pegula has previously struggled at this stage – last year’s run to the US Open final was her first success in the last eight of a Grand Slam singles draw after six defeats.

But Pegula was unruffled by her 1-6 record, capitalising on a slow start from Krejcikova to race into a 3-0 lead, including breaking to love in the second game.

She dominated the baseline exchanges, hitting deep groundstrokes to trap her opponent at the back of the court and regularly attacked the net to keep her opponent off balance.

Although Krejcikova pulled it back to 4-3, she was left to rue a poor serving performance, with a double fault at 40-30 opening the door for Pegula to break again in the eighth game and then close out the set.

Krejcikova’s serving struggles – winning just 28% of points on her second serve in the opener – continued and a pair of double faults at the start of the second set gifted Pegula an early break.

Pegula was not without her own service wobbles, throwing away a double break lead in the sixth game as Krejcikova sniffed another unlikely comeback.

But she maintained her composure and, a seventh double fault of the afternoon from Krejcikova brought up match point – which Pegula seized at the first attempt.

“I think I’ve been playing some really good tennis. I’ve been playing really solid and having good starts,” Pegula said.

“She had a couple of really good returns when I was serving at 4-1 and we all saw what she did against Taylor, so I’m happy that we’re done.”

World number one Sinner needed only one hour and 21 minutes – the second-quickest win in the men’s singles this year – to achieve a 6-1 6-1 6-1 victory against Kazakhstan’s Bublik.

Within minutes of his defeat, 23rd seed Bublik wrote ‘AI’ in a comment on the US Open’s Instagram post about the result – reiterating the description he made about Sinner going into Monday’s fourth-round match.

Bublik is one of only two men to beat Sinner this season, but the 24-year-old Italian ensured there was no chance of a repeat with a ruthless performance in New York.

“We had some tough battles this year, but we know each other’s game really well,” said Sinner, who has already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles this year.

“He had a tough match [in the third round], five sets, finishing late and he didn’t serve as well as he usually does. Overall I’m very happy.”

Four-time major champion Sinner, who extended his winning streak at hard-court Grand Slam tournaments to 25 matches, took eight of his 17 break opportunities.

Going into the match, Bublik had won all 55 of his service games in the tournament.

Bublik spoke about the importance of holding serve early in the match but, having completed victory over American hopeful Tommy Paul shortly after 1:15am local time on Sunday morning, he instantly looked out of sorts.

Losing serve in the first game – down to sloppy groundstrokes and a double fault on break point – set the tone.

After Sinner seized control, his athleticism soaked up the drop-shots and underarm serves thrown his way by the unpredictable Bublik.

There was also no let-up in the ferocity of the top seed’s groundstrokes.

Bublik could not handle the pace being thrown at him, before his double fault on Sinner’s first match point summed up a difficult evening.

In the face of such adversity, Bublik still managed to play with a smile on his face and shared a joke at the net with Sinner following his heavy defeat.

“You’re so good, this is insane. I’m not bad,” the 28-year-old said.

Perhaps the only consolation for Bublik was avoiding being at the wrong end of the fastest beating of the tournament.

Surviving three break points to hold serve for 4-1 in the final set helped him slightly prolong the match, taking it past the one hour and 20 minutes which Czech 21st seed Tomas Machac took to beat Italy’s Luca Nardi in the first round.

Sinner goes on to face 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti in an all-Italian quarter-final.

Anisimova to face Swiatek after another one-sided match

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Amanda Anisimova had never previously gone past the US Open third round

Following Sinner’s win, Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova continued the day’s theme of one-sided victories by brushing aside Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia.

American eighth seed Anisimova won 6-0 6-3 to wrap up a short night session lasting less than four hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Seven of the eight singles matches played on Monday ended in straight-set wins.

Anisimova, 24, needed only one hour and 15 minutes as she carried a career-best run at her home major into the quarter-finals.

There she will face second seed Iga Swiatek, less than two months after the Polish player thrashed Anisimova 6-0 6-0 in the Wimbledon final.

“Who would’ve thought we’d meet again so soon?” Anisimova said.

“I’m super excited. It’s going to be a great match… I hope, this time.”

The Canadian, 25, dominated the Russian 7-5 6-3 6-4 to progress to the last eight at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2021, when he reached the semi-finals.

Rublev had been the favourite before the match, given he had beaten Auger-Aliassime in seven of the pair’s previous eight matches.

But Auger-Aliassime, who won the US Open junior title in 2016, overpowered Rublev, hitting 42 winners to the Russian’s 22 and losing his serve just once.

The Canadian’s dominance irked Rublev, who smashed his racquet at the end of the second set and appeared frustrated as the match slipped away.

“I’ve played good in the past against Andrey, but I kept my cool and remained calm and poised to finish the match – that was the key,” said Auger-Aliassime.

“Today was my first time playing on Arthur Ashe in a few years but it feels even better than the first time.

“The first time at 21, I was on my way up. I’ve had a few setbacks, injuries and struggles with confidence, so to come back the second time to the quarter-finals, it feels much better and more deserved.

“I’m soaking up every moment here.”

The 25th seed’s reward for victory is a quarter-final match against eighth seed De Minaur, who was too strong for Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi in a 6-3 6-2 6-1 success.

‘No holding back’ for De Minaur in last eight

De Minaur needed just one hour and 33 minutes to reach the quarter-finals, although the Australian eighth seed was far from flawless against the world number 435.

Breaks apiece early in the first set suggested the crowd on Louis Armstrong Stadium were about to enjoy a close contest, but Riedi’s all-or-nothing aggressive game proved his downfall.

The 23-year-old faced seven break points in the first set alone, allowing De Minaur to sweep up in 32 minutes.

De Minaur set out his stall for the second set by breaking from 0-40 down and winning five straight games before Riedi enjoyed a brief resurgence.

The Australian made just 55% of his first serves in the second set, but felt little pressure as Riedi made 15 unforced errors.

Riedi did remarkably well to reach the last 16 after two separate operations at the end of last year, but a leg issue began to hamper him in the final set and his service game fell apart.

“I’ve always thought that the first job is to get there and give myself the opportunity,” said De Minaur, who has never been beyond the last eight of a major.

“This is my sixth quarter-final so I’ve got some experience. I know what to expect and the mindset going forward is going to be going for it. There’s no holding back.”

Later on Louis Armstrong Stadium, 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti beat Jaume Munar 6-3 6-0 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the first time in his career – with a potential last-eight tie with compatriot Jannik Sinner to come.

Italian Musetti broke early in the first set and never looked back, hitting 12 winners compared to Munar’s three.

A visibly under-the-weather Munar failed to win a game in the second set, managing just five of the 29 points played.

The Spaniard perked up a little as he held to stop Musetti winning 10 straight games, and then should have broken but spurned three break points, with Musetti’s defensive game remaining impenetrable.

He will now face either top seed Sinner, the defending US Open champion, or 23rd seed Alexander Bublik in the last eight – they meet in the opening match of the night session.

Japan’s Osaka, who gave birth to daughter Shai in 2023, knocked out American third seed Gauff with a 6-3 6-2 win to reach the New York quarter-finals.

Gauff, 21, came into her home Grand Slam clouded by uncertainty in her game and it showed in a subdued performance.

Former world number one Osaka played patiently to draw mistakes out of her opponent, whose forehand was particularly unable to cope with the scrutiny.

Osaka, seeded 23rd, broke into a coy-but-satisfied smile before clapping Gauff, who made a hasty exit, off the court.

Afterwards, Gauff said: “I am not going to let this crush me.”

Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka’s victory moved her into the last eight of a major for the first time since she won the 2021 Australian Open.

It was also her biggest win by ranking since beating then-world number one Ashleigh Barty at the China Open in 2019.

“Coco is one of the best players in the world. I have the most fun when I play against the best players. I always see it as a challenge. I like challenges,” said Osaka, before adding: “These are the moments that I play tennis for.”

Osaka will face Karolina Muchova in the last eight after the Czech 11th seed beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.

How Osaka preyed on Gauff’s troubles

Two of the sport’s most high-profile stars meeting again in New York felt like the first real ‘popcorn’ match of the tournament.

Ultimately, it ended up lacking entertainment as Osaka, 27, earned a one-sided win, but emphasised the strides she has made over recent months.

A more measured approach to her powerful baseline game reaped rewards against 2023 champion Gauff.

Osaka smartly asked questions of the clearly-uncertain American, whose forehand breaking down in the rallies was the telling factor in a match lasting little over an hour.

Days before her home Grand Slam, Gauff made a bold move to reshuffle her team in a bid to stem the flow of double faults.

Grip specialist Matt Daly paid the price as in came biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who helped rival Aryna Sabalenka overcome her serving yips.

The drastic measure brought increased scrutiny at what is already a high-pressure tournament – and the added toll clearly affected Gauff.

Looking frustrated throughout the tournament, her unease was evident from the start against Osaka.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Gauff has not reached a quarter-final in the five tournaments she has played since winning her second major at the French Open in June

This manifested through her forehand – another area where she has struggled to find consistency over the years – while her serve held up well.

Eleven unforced errors from the forehand took the first set away from her. Framing a return from that wing also proved pivotal in the second set.

The mishit brought up two more break opportunities for Osaka at 3-2, with Gauff’s more-reliable backhand letting her down on the first point indicated the pressure she was feeling.

For much of the match, it felt like a virtually-capacity 25,000 crowd were slightly conflicted in their support of two hugely popular players.

Gauff led the home challenge in terms of seeding and superstar status, but Osaka – despite representing Japan – grew up in the Queens borough of New York City where the tournament is held.

Both women have also endeared themselves to fans by eloquently using their voices to shine light on social issues including racism.

Sensing the younger player needed them more, the crowd tried to rally Gauff as she stared at defeat, but she was unable to recover and exited at the fourth-round stage for the second straight year.

“I felt so discombobulated on the court, because I was serving well but not returning well. The last two years, everybody can agree that’s like a weird thought,” said Gauff.

“I think there’s a lot of positives to take from this tournament and I’m trying to be positive.

“I promise you that, I don’t feel that way right now, but I am not going to let this crush me.”

Swiatek books extra practice after powering through

Elsewhere on Monday, Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek extended her winning run at Grand Slams to 11 matches with a 6-3 6-1 demolition of Russian 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.

The Polish second seed wrapped up victory in just 64 minutes in a one-sided affair.

Such was the speed and ease of the victory that Swiatek immediately picked up her phone to text her coach and arrange a practice session.

“I asked him to book 10 minutes of a practice court if it’s possible,” she said in her on-court interview.

Targeting a second US Open title and second Grand Slam of the season, Swiatek has now reached the last eight or better at all four majors in the same season for the first time.

The six-time major winner will meet American Amanda Anisimova in the quarter-final, in a repeat of July’s Wimbledon final when Swiatek thrashed the eighth seed 6-0 6-0.

Anisimova brushed aside Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-0 6-3 in Monday’s evening session.

Despite twice receiving medical attention, the Serb rarely looked troubled as he raced to a dominant 6-3 6-3 6-2 victory in under two hours.

While the win was further evidence of Djokovic’s pedigree, questions still remain over the 38-year-old’s physical condition.

Djokovic is playing his first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals in July, having skipped ATP Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati.

He looked fatigued in his opening two matches in New York, while he struggled with a lower back injury in his third-round win over Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Again, there were signs of wear and tear as he called for the physio to treat a neck issue and then a problem with his right forearm against German Struff.

However, the setbacks did not appear to harm his tennis as he dictated play with relentless hitting – firing 33 winners and 12 aces, with no double faults.

The world number seven highlighted his serve for keeping him out of trouble on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It definitely helps if you serve well. I think I had a great serving performance in the last round and also tonight,” Djokovic said.

“I just saw the stats, I out-served one of the guys that had the most aces during the tournament this year, so that’s a great stat.

“Obviously that helps make my life easier on the court. Maybe I don’t need to work as hard or unnecessarily more than I have to.”

Djokovic will face American home hope Taylor Fritz in the last eight after the fourth seed claimed a commanding straight-set win over Czech Tomas Machac.

Djokovic wants quarter-final win for daughter’s birthday present

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Djokovic dedicates his violin celebration at the end of each win to his daughter Tara, who is learning how to play the instrument

Speaking about his upcoming quarter-final, Djokovic said his daughter Tara was displeased it will take place on the same day as her birthday.

“She was not very happy about it, me being absent from the birthday party. Don’t remind me of that, please,” said Djokovic, who dedicates his violin celebration to his daughter at the end of each win.

“I’ll try to win if I’m here. At least I’m going to try to win and give her that kind of present.

“I’m going to send some nice presents, as well, nice surprises for her birthday party.”

At 38 years and 94 days old, Djokovic became the oldest player in the Open era to reach the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slam events in a single season.

Asked about playing the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic said: “I don’t know how many more I am going to have so each one is very special.”

With time ticking down on his illustrious career, there is less room for error in his pursuit of a standalone record 25th major title.

He got off to the best of starts against Struff, racing to a 4-0 lead with a double break before his opponent made a first impression on the scoreboard.

Djokovic’s momentum slowed slightly as he seemed to struggle with his neck and he called for the physio immediately after coming through the opening set 6-3.

However, Djokovic carried on without real problems and, after a sluggish start to the second set, he won four games in a row to assert a two-set lead.

Once again, the four-time US Open winner received treatment at the end of the set – this time for a problem with his right forearm.

Whatever was bothering Djokovic appeared to have little impact on his play. After breaking early in the third set, he saw out the win with confidence to reach his 64th Grand Slam quarter-final in his 80th appearance.

The 22-year-old, who is through to the last eight in New York for the fourth time in five years, is still yet to drop a set at this year’s tournament, coming through 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-4.

The Spaniard will face Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals after the Czech 20th seed beat Adrian Mannarino in four sets.

Alcaraz had to be at his magical best at times, producing 36 winners to 11 unforced errors, chasing down several drop-shots and even producing an extravagant round-the-back return to counter Rinderknech’s attacking approach.

Despite both players serving below 50% on their first serves, there wasn’t a single break point in a tight opening set, with Alcaraz eventually taking the tie-break 7-3.

An untimely double-fault from Rinderknech, who hit 17 unforced errors in the first set, sparked a run of five successive points for his opponent, who then converted the second of his four set points.

“The first set was tight. We didn’t have break points and it didn’t mean we were serving well – the percentage was bad from both us,” Alcaraz said.

“But after that, I got in a good rhythm and tried to make the most of opportunities.

“I played good aggressive tennis and found a good rhythm after the second set and tried to keep it going.”

Addressing his trick shots, he added: “Sometimes I practice them, I’m not going to lie!

“If I have the opportunity, why not? The people like it, I like playing tennis like this, it just comes naturally.”

The 2022 champion had to wait until the sixth game of the second set for his first break points of the match, converting the second with a smash winner to take a 4-2 lead.

He then wobbled on his serve to hand Rinderknech two opportunities of his own, but held firm before closing out the second set 6-3.

Rinderknech halted Alcaraz’s momentum in the opening game of the third, saving a break point with a deft backhand volley, and with both players having rediscovered their first serves, the set seemed destined for a tie-break.

However, in the ninth game, Alcaraz once again brought out his flair, lashing a backhand passing shot en route to three break points. While Frenchman Rinderknech saved the first, he sent a forehand long on the second and Alcaraz held to wrap up the win.

Lehecka survived a fightback from Mannarino to reach his first US Open quarter-final.

The 23-year-old had one foot in the last eight after winning the first two sets before the unseeded Frenchman hit back, breaking his opponent’s serve three times in a 32-minute third set.

Mannarino, 37, also won the first two games of the fourth set, but Lehecka converted the second of two break points to swing momentum back in his favour. He then won the next five games to triumph 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 2-6 6-2.

Italy’s Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion, defeated Canadian 27th seed Shapovalov 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-3.

World number one Sinner had only lost 11 games across his previous two matches but produced an off-colour performance on Arthur Ashe Stadium, struggling with his serve and producing a number of uncharacteristically loose groundstrokes throughout the first three sets.

Across the match, he produced five double faults and 36 unforced errors, while his first-serve percentage was just 58%.

But after saving a break point to avoid going a double-break down in the third set, he won 12 of the next 15 games to close out the victory.

“I’m not a machine, you know. I also struggle sometimes,” said Sinner, who will play either 14th seed Tommy Paul or 23rd seed Alexander Bublik next.

“Today, I felt like I didn’t struggle. I was playing great tennis, and he also. Every match is so difficult. The scoreline was a bit against me today, but I just tried to stay there mentally.

“I’m very happy to manage to win today because it was a very important win.”

Shapovalov flew out of the blocks in the first set, breaking Sinner’s serve in the fourth game and losing just four points on his own serve to take a 5-2 lead.

Sinner hit back as the 26-year-old Canadian served for the set, converting his first break point of the match, but missed out on consecutive breaks before handing Shapovalov a one-set lead with an untimely double fault.

The 24-year-old Italian took control of the second set in the seventh game, pouncing on his first break point opportunity, and later confidently held to love to level the match.

Momentum swung again in the third set as Shapovalov broke Sinner’s serve in the second game and held a 30-40 lead in the fourth.

However, he couldn’t secure the double break, burying a shot into the net, and it proved to be the turning point in the match.

Sinner won the next two points and, helped by five double faults from Shapovalov, the following eight games to take the third set 6-3 and race into a 3-0 lead in the fourth.

Shapovalov safely navigated deuce in the fourth game to avoid a potential bagel and despite later having a break point, he could do little to stop Sinner’s canter to victory.

Qualifier Wong’s run ends in five-set Rublev defeat

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Andrey Rublev is through to the US Open fourth round for the fourth year in a row

Coleman Wong’s historic US Open run ended in a five-set thriller against Andrey Rublev, who eventually prevailed 2-6 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Wong, 21, came through three rounds of qualifying to become the first man from Hong Kong to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam in the Open era.

He then defeated American Aleksandar Kovacevic and Australia’s Adam Walton to move to within one win of reaching the second week in New York.

Against Rublev, the world number 173 played “with no fear” as he won the first set, twice breaking the 15th seed in a run of four consecutive games.

Rublev responded by winning the second and third sets before Wong wrestled his way back into the match at the beginning of the fourth, converting the only break point of the set in the opening game to force a decider.

There, Rublev made the decisive break in the sixth game before closing out the win on his first match point.

“He played aggressively and with no fear – it was tough,” said Rublev, who will play third seed Alexander Zverev or Felix Auger-Aliassime next.

“I didn’t start well, he was all over me, and I needed to fight for every ball to turn it around. He was fighting until the end in the last game. I’m happy I was able to win and get to the next round.”

Elsewhere, 435th-ranked Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi became the lowest-ranked man to reach the fourth round of a major since 2002 after Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak retired injured in the first set.

Riedi’s next test is eighth seed Alex de Minaur, whose third round opponent Daniel Altmaier retired midway through the fourth set when trailing 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-4 2-0.

Tenth seed Lorenzo Musetti progressed in similar fashion against fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli.

Cobolli, the 24th seed, injured his arm in a fall during the match and received treatment from the trainer three times before retiring in the third set, trailing 6-3 6-2 6-0.

Musetti will face unseeded Spaniard Jaume Munar, who beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-1 6-4 6-4 to advance to the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Gauff broke down in tears as she struggled to a second-round win over Donna Vekic on Thursday, but the third seed looked confident and sharp as she won 6-3 6-1 against Poland’s Frech.

The 21-year-old is continuing to adapt to a new serving technique introduced by biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who was hired after Gauff committed 16 double faults in her Cincinnati Masters defeat by Jasmine Paolini earlier this month.

After an emotional first week at her home Grand Slam in New York, the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium appeared to carry Gauff during the occasional nervy moments that threatened to derail a straightforward victory.

“The support means a lot, I can’t put into words the privilege I feel to walk on to this court and have the support of all you guys,” said Gauff, who won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2023.

“Everyone who is involved here, even janitors – having someone say they are rooting for you every five steps as I walk into this place means a lot to me.

“It’s been an emotional week, I think I needed those tough moments to be able to move forward.

“I was putting so much pressure on myself but I’m really out here just trying to enjoy it and not focus so much on results but the process. I think today showed I was really having fun out there.”

Gauff raced into an early 3-0 lead in the first set, before she double-faulted on break point in the fifth game as Frech clawed her way back to 3-3.

That wobble could have turned into a nosedive, but Gauff composed herself and won the next three games to wrap up the set in 43 minutes.

After making 79% of her first serves in the opening set, Gauff continued to build confidence in the second.

The two-time Grand Slam champion hit serves of 111mph and 113mph as she continued to improve her speeds from earlier in the tournament, and made just two double faults after making 18 in her first and second-round matches combined.

Gauff broke twice more in the second set to build a commanding lead, before breaking for a third time to secure her place in the next round.

She will face either 15th seed Daria Kasatkina or two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the last 16.

Meanwhile, 11th seed Karolina Muchova came from a set down to defeat Linda Noskova 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2.

Back-to-back breaks at the end of the first set resulted in Noskova winning a tie-break, but mistakes cost the Czech player as she committed 15 double faults.

Muchova overpowered her compatriot to set up a last-16 meeting with either Diane Parry or 27th seed Marta Kostyuk.

American Townsend said the former French Open champion told her she had “no class” and “no education” after her 7-5 6-1 win in the second round of the US Open.

Tension escalated after a net cord went in Townsend’s favour and 25th seed Ostapenko accused her of failing to apologise.

Though Townsend said she did not believe there were racial overtones to Ostapenko’s comments, former world number one Naomi Osaka said the suggestion that Townsend was uneducated was “one of the worst things you could say to a black tennis player”.

Without naming Townsend, Latvian Ostapenko wrote on Instagram: “Hi all – I wanted to apologise for some of the things I said during my second-round singles match.

“English is not my native language, so when I said education I was speaking only about what I believe as tennis etiquette. But I understand how the words used could have offended many people beyond the tennis court.

“I appreciate the support as I continue to learn and grow as a person and a tennis player. Goodbye New York and I look forward to being back next year.”

The incident occurred at the end of the match when the two players met to shake hands.

Ostapenko, 28, confronted Townsend for not apologising for a net cord, which had occurred during the first set, then accused the American of having “no education”.

On-court microphones picked up 29-year-old Townsend telling Ostapenko to “take the L [loss]”.

Townsend, the world number one doubles player, then whipped the crowd into a frenzy by celebrating with them wildly.

Boos rang around Court 11 as Ostapenko departed.

Ostapenko, who described Townsend as “disrespectful” on Instagram after the match, posted later on Wednesday to deny accusations of racism.

“I was never racist in my life,” she wrote.

“I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

Ostapenko’s US Open came to an end on Thursday, when she lost a doubles match with Barbora Krejcikova.

She failed to fulfil media duties afterwards, citing medical issues.

Norrie has now lost all seven of his meetings with the 38-year-old Serb following a 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-3 defeat in New York.

The 30-year-old left-hander briefly moved ahead in the match when he broke at the start of the third set.

But Djokovic fought back to end British singles interest at the final major tournament of the season.

“I started great in the third set but maybe a little overconfident after breaking,” Norrie told BBC Sport.

“He settled into the match after that, competed well and was just too good in the end.”

Djokovic, who is bidding for a standalone record 25th major title, struggled with a lower back injury in the opening set and needed a medical time-out off the court.

The four-time US Open champion asked for more treatment early in the second set.

It is his first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals in July – seven weeks ago.

“Coming into the match, you want to win in straight sets without any drama – but that’s not possible,” a smiling Djokovic said after a contest lasting almost three hours.

“My team wants me to suffer on the court so I can spend more minutes there. Looking from that perspective it is good.”

After showing signs of vulnerability in opening victories over teenager Learner Tien and qualifier Zachary Svajda, Djokovic produced his best level of the tournament against Norrie.

On his fitness, the seventh seed added: “You have some ups and downs but you don’t want to reveal too much to your rivals. I’m as young and as strong as ever.”

Norrie still has ‘much to smile about’

Pushing one of the all-time greats at a Grand Slam tournament is a measure of how far Norrie has come over the past several months.

After a chastening first-round exit at the Miami Open in March, Norrie flew home to Europe and had a deep think about the direction of his career.

The 2022 Wimbledon semi-finalist was perilously close to dropping out of the world’s top 100, struggling to regain form and confidence following a forearm injury which disrupted his 2024 season.

A heart-to-heart with his team followed. The collective conclusion was the group needed to lighten up a little, vowing to enjoy life on tour more again.

Since then, Norrie has reached the French Open fourth round – where he lost to Djokovic – and the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Even another defeat by Djokovic did not leave him overly disappointed, given where he found himself earlier this year.

“It has been fun – I wouldn’t change anything in this tournament,” said Norrie.

“There is so much to smile about.”

Before the match, Norrie said he was “ready for anything” from Djokovic – including seeing him struggle with fitness issues before regaining his level.

That is exactly what happened on an entertaining night on Ashe.

Norrie wanted to turn the match into a physical contest, given Djokovic’s perceived vulnerabilities, but was unable to sustain his level.

“I wouldn’t change too much, I tried to play my brand of tennis, I tried to make it physical,” said Norrie.

“In the third and fourth sets I gave him too many cheap points and that was the difference.”

How Djokovic’s serve ‘makes things easier’

In the early part of his career, Djokovic’s serve was seen as one of the weaker parts of his game.

But it has developed into a potent weapon over the years, with the veteran knowing more than ever it needs to perfect to land another Grand Slam title.

Unable to rely as much on physicality against his younger opponents, Djokovic wants the accuracy of his opening shot to help limit the baseline rallies.

Djokovic used his serve to great effect against Norrie, who rued “getting nowhere it” in the opening set and a half.

Norrie won only two receiving points in the first set, while Djokovic ended with 18 aces – the most he has ever hit in a US Open match.

“Serving so well makes your life easier,” said Djokovic, who is the oldest man to reach fourth round since Jimmy Connors in 1991.

“It is probably the most important shot in the game. I’m glad how I executed it.”

Top seed Sabalenka secured a 6-2 7-6 (7-2) victory over 2021 runner-up Fernandez in Friday’s night session at Flushing Meadows.

Claiming the second set by the deciding first-to-seven method was Sabalenka’s 18th consecutive winning tie-break.

The 27-year-old Belarusian continues her quest to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to achieve back-to-back titles in New York.

“When I get to the tie-break I know that there is no time for doubts and I just have to go for my shots,” Sabalenka said.

“I’m just reminding myself that I have to trust my game. I have a pretty good feeling.

“I’m trying to stick to the plan of the game, and trying to stay aggressive and put as much pressure as I can on my opponent.”

Sabalenka’s focus also did not waver as the crowd on Louis Armstrong Stadium erupted at a change of ends – when they saw a wedding proposal on the big screen.

“It was a very sweet moment, but I was just trying not to start smiling because it’s very cute. I was just trying to keep focusing on my game,” said the three-time major champion.

With a smile, she added: “I don’t want this kind of proposal. But I looked at my boyfriend. No pressure.”

Next Sabalenka goes on to face Spanish surprise package Cristina Bucsa.

Bucsa, 28, reached the fourth round of a major for the first time, fighting back to knock out Belgian 19th seed Elise Mertens in a 3-6 7-5 6-3 victory.

Meanwhile, top-10 seeds Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro saw their title bids ended by a pair of Czech former Wimbledon champions.

Marketa Vondrousova, who won at the All England Club in 2023, beat Italian seventh seed Paolini 7-6 (7-4) 6-1, while her successor Barbora Krejcikova saw off American 10th seed Emma Navarro 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Pegula holds off Azarenka fightback to win

American Jessica Pegula had to dig deep to beat Victoria Azarenka in the US Open third round and keep alive her hopes of winning a career-first Grand Slam on home soil.

In a 6-1 7-5 victory, 2024 finalist Pegula cruised through the first set before former world number one Azarenka fought back valiantly despite struggling with a leg injury.

Meanwhile, Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini suffered a surprise 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 defeat by world number 60 Marketa Vondrousova.

Paolini was beaten in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon last year, but has failed to progress beyond the fourth round at any Slam this year.

Pegula, who suffered a heartbreaking defeat by Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s New York final, will face either her compatriot Ann Li or Australia’s world number 126 Priscilla Hon in the fourth round.

“I just tried to focus on going back to my strategy, things that went well in the first set,” said the 31-year-old when asked how she arrested her second-set slide.

“I thought I moved and scrambled really well, I wanted to make the match physical.

“My results haven’t been too amazing the last couple of months, so to be able to turn it around was awesome.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pegula has won all three of her matches at the US Open in straight sets

The fourth seed produced three aces and 10 winners in an opening set in which Azarenka committed four double faults and won just 36% of her first serves.

Yet the 36-year-old two-time Grand Slam winner looked her old self in the second set, as she broke serve and then saved a break point to solidify her lead.

However, three consecutive breaks followed as mistakes crept into both players’ games.

Azarenka saved three break points before Pegula converted the fourth, before the American made two glaring forehand misses after double-faulting to hand control back to the Belarusian.

The pendulum swung back in Pegula’s favour one final time as she broke in the final game to claim a place in the last 16.

“Obviously she picked up her level in the second set and I just thought she started serving really well, she had a bunch of aces to get herself out of those return games, and she’s always a great returner which puts the pressure on your first serves,” Pegula said of Azarenka.

“We train together a lot in Florida, so we know each other’s game really well. I could tell she was struggling a bit physically, so I wanted to keep her moving and play aggressive.”

Latvia’s Ostapenko argued with Townsend after the American beat her 7-5 6-1 in the US Open second round on Wednesday.

Ostapenko, who claimed Townsend had not apologised after a net cord landed in her favour, has been criticised for her comments.

Townsend said she did not think there was a racial undertone to Ostapenko’s comments, adding: “I didn’t take it in that way, but also that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated, when it’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

Ostapenko, who won the French Open in 2017, denied any element of racism in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

Asked about the incident, Japan’s four-time major champion Osaka said: “I think it’s ill timing and the worst person you could have ever said it to.

“I don’t know if she knows the history of it in America. But I know she’s never going to say that ever again in her life. It was just terrible.

“I think obviously it’s one of the worst things you can say to a black tennis player in a majority white sport.

“I know Taylor and I know how hard she’s worked and I know how smart she is, so she’s the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that.”

American third seed Coco Gauff, who has regularly used her platform to speak out against racism, said Ostapenko was wrong to use those words about Townsend.

“I think it was a heat of the moment thing. I think Jelena was probably feeling emotions after she lost,” added 21-year-old Gauff.

“I do think that shouldn’t have been said regardless of how you’re feeling, especially given those were the reasons that she stated.

“Knowing Taylor personally, she’s the opposite of that.”

Ostapenko lost in the women’s doubles on Thursday but did not fulfil her media duties afterwards, with organisers citing illness.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka, speaking after her victory on Wednesday night, said she had spoken to Ostapenko to “help her face it more in a mature way”.

Sabalenka said: “She just sometimes can lose control. She has some things in life to face and some struggles.

“I was just trying to help her to settle down and just was someone she could speak to and just let it go.

“I really hope that one day she will figure herself and she will handle it much better. I’m pretty sure, looking back, she’s not happy with her behaviour.”

Raducanu, 22, was aiming for a statement win over an elite player to underline her recent progress, but found herself outclassed in a 6-1 6-2 defeat.

Ninth seed Rybakina pummelled Raducanu’s serve, returning with devastating effect to break four times.

“It was a difficult experience facing her when she playing so well. I just feel that in every department she was better,” Raducanu told BBC Sport.

Raducanu’s slow start on her serve – broken at the first attempt in the match after falling 0-40 down – set the tone for what followed.

After quickly falling behind, the world number 36 looked devoid of belief and struggled to get into the rallies before losing in 62 minutes.

Raducanu has won only three of her 18 career matches against top-10 players.

The 2021 US Open champion was the final Briton to fall in the women’s singles, although Cameron Norrie continues to fly the nation’s flag in the men’s draw.

Norrie, 29, takes on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the third round later on Friday.

This year, Raducanu returned to New York – the scene of her 2021 title success as a teenage qualifier – riding a wave of optimism.

Looking more carefree and content, she has played some of her best tennis since that extraordinary triumph and is close to climbing back into the world’s top 30.

But this defeat provided another reality check.

Leading into the match, Raducanu warned of 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina’s ability to take the racquet of an opponent’s hand with her enormous serve and penetrating returns.

“Today I felt I was on the receiving end of that – which was hard to take, of course,” said Raducanu, who lost the first set in 27 minutes.

“I need to try my best to not let this match overshadow all the good work I’ve been doing.”

Rybakina’s groundstrokes were clean and crisp off both wings, with a stream of winners painting the baseline and leaving Raducanu looking rather helpless.

A total of 23 winners from 26-year-old Rybakina underlined her dominance from the back of the court.

Raducanu’s serve had been the bedrock of her game in two clinical opening wins against lowly ranked qualifiers Japan’s Ena Shibahara and Indonesia’s Janice Tjen.

But she did not land anywhere near as many first serves on Rybakina, which instantly put her under pressure against an opponent who represented a huge step up in class.

Having her serve broken from 40-0 in the first game of the second set was another damaging blow.

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, whose power from the baseline is among the very best when she finds her groove, continued to redline as she raced to victory.

It was felt Raducanu stood a chance if she managed to get Rybakina moving around the court, but the pace of her opponent’s ball meant she was not given the time to do so.

Despite winning numerous WTA titles on hard courts, Rybakina had never gone past the third round at Flushing Meadows before.

Next she will face Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini or 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova for a place in the quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old Spaniard had won his first two matches of the tournament during the evening sessions on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but opened play on that court at 11:30 local time on Friday.

Italian 32nd seed Darderi, appearing in the third round of a Grand Slam for only the second time, was swept aside 6-2 6-4 6-0 in one hour and 44 minutes.

“I’m not an early person,” said Alcaraz. “For me, it’s difficult to wake up in the mornings.

“That’s one of the good things about today – I woke up early, did the warm-up and played good.”

He continued: “I just tried to start awake. Starting at 11:30 is something I’m not used to, so my first goal was to start well, focused, with energy and a good rhythm.

“I started pretty well, pushing him to the limit and trying to play long rallies. I played great tennis and I’m really proud about it.”

Alcaraz received treatment to his right knee and quadricep muscle while leading 5-4 in the second set, but he said afterwards that the discomfort soon disappeared and he was “not worried about it”.

He said: “I’m feeling good. I asked for the physio because when he broke my serve, on the last point I just felt something that was not working good in the knee.

“After five or six points, it was gone.”

After the medical time-out, Alcaraz broke serve in the very next game to move two sets up, before rattling quickly through the third set to complete victory.

Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open as a teenager in 2022 and is aiming to win his second major of the year after retaining his French Open crown in June.

He will return to the top of the world rankings if he matches or betters Jannik Sinner’s performance in New York.

His fourth-round opponent will be the unseeded Arthur Rinderknech, who is into the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

The world number 82 recovered from losing the first set to beat fellow Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2.

Gauff, 21, was reduced to tears by more double faults before settling to win 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 on a supportive Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Seven-time Olympic gold medallist Biles was among the New York crowd as third seed Gauff toiled in a first set which was excruciating to watch at times.

On seeing Biles providing support in the stands, Gauff said: “She helped me pull it out.

“I thought if she can go on a six-inch beam with all the pressures in the world then I can hit the ball into this court.

“It brought me a little bit of calm. She is an inspiration to me and her presence helped me win.”

Days before her home Grand Slam, Gauff made a bold move to reshuffle her team in a bid to stem the flow of double faults.

Gauff made what she described as a “sudden decision” after hitting 16 double faults in her Cincinnati exit against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.

Grip specialist Matt Daly paid the price as the American player brought in biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who helped rival Aryna Sabalenka overcome her serving yips.

The drastic measure has brought increased scrutiny at what is already a high-pressure tournament for the 2023 champion.

Gauff started sobbing underneath a towel at the changeover after a double fault contributed to Vekic breaking back for 4-4.

It was one of eight she hit in the first set and, while she eventually came through a messy opener featuring eight breaks of serve, Gauff felt the need to compose herself in a bathroom break before the second.

Overcoming adversity is one of Gauff’s greatest strengths and she limited the double faults to wrap up a straight-set victory.

Gauff, who played cleanly off the ground, broke down again during her on-court interview.

“I’ve never felt like that on the court before,” she told ESPN.

“With learning a new thing, you don’t feel comfortable and I think it affects everything else.

“I played really well, the serving can be improved, but it was better than my last match.

“There are a lot of positives to take and I need to remember that side of things.”

Gauff moves on to play Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech in the last 32.

Swiatek toils in second-round win over Lamens

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek admitted she “made some mistakes” in a laboured three-set victory over world number 66 Suzan Lamens to reach the US Open third round.

Second seed Swiatek raced through the first set against her Dutch opponent and looked on course for the sort of dominant early-round win that has become her trademark.

The 24-year-old was twice a break of serve up in the second set, but her frustration grew as her level dipped significantly, giving Lamens a route back into the contest.

The Pole moved a double break clear in the decider and eventually wrapped up a 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory in two hours and six minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Swiatek will play 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya in round three after the Russian beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-1 7-5.

Speaking on court after the match, six-time major champion Swiatek said: “It wasn’t an easy match and I made some mistakes. I’m happy that at the end I could be more proactive.

“I felt like it depended on me and whether I was going to make mistakes or not.

“It was not easy, but the third set is a reset. You’ve got to start from the beginning and I knew I could play a little more precisely, so I just tried to do that.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Iga Swiatek won the US Open title in 2022

Osaka battles ‘stress’ in strong performance

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka admitted to being “stressed the entire time” as she defeated Hailey Baptiste 6-3 6-1.

A break apiece early in the first set teed up an intriguing contest, but Osaka’s quality and Baptiste’s struggles on serve – the American committed nine double faults and won just 19% of her second serves – proved the difference.

“I played her [Baptiste] last in Miami and it was probably the most difficult match of the year,” recalled Osaka, who won a three-set battle between the pair in March at the Miami Open.

“I was trying to focus on not giving her any free points.”

The 27-year-old has struggled for consistency and fitness since returning from maternity leave last year, but continued her good form after reaching the final of the Canadian Open earlier this month.

“I’m excited to be moving better and I feel really healthy,” added Japan’s Osaka, who is looking to win a major for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open.

Having lost just four games in a dominant first-round win over Vit Kopriva, defending champion Sinner produced another efficient display against world number 36 Alexei Popyrin.

It was another ominous message to Sinner’s rivals – Popyrin, who beat Novak Djokovic in the third round in New York last year, had been seen a potentially tricky opponent for the Italian.

But Sinner broke Popyrin’s serve early in each of the three sets and wrapped up a clinical 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium in just over two hours.

Sinner has not lost a match at a hard-court major since the 2023 US Open, when he lost in the fourth round to Alexander Zverev.

He won the title at Flushing Meadows last year and is the two-time defending Australian Open champion.

Wimbledon champion Sinner said he was unhappy with the way he served against Popyrin, having landed only 51% of his first serves.

“I felt like we both didn’t serve great but I was returning very well, especially on the second serve,” he said.

“I’m very happy about today. Obviously I’m aiming to improve the serve but, about the rest, I feel quite comfortable.”

Sinner will face Denis Shapovalov, the 27th seed from Canada, in the third round as he bids for a third major of the year.

Sinner’s ruthlessness was demonstrated midway through the second set when, serving at 3-2 up with a break, he saved three break points to secure an important hold.

In the very next game, Sinner broke to love, quashing any hope of a Popyrin fightback.

There was a similar pattern at the start of set three when Popyrin failed to capitalise from 15-40 on Sinner’s serve, and the top seed again made his opponent pay with a break to love in the next game.

Majchrzak & Cobolli win five-set epics

Elsewhere, Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak produced a superb comeback to knock out Russian ninth seed Karen Khachanov in an epic second-round contest.

Majchrzak came back from two sets down, overturned a 5-2 fifth-set deficit and saved five match points to come through 2-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-5 7-6 (10-5).

Meanwhile, Russian Andrey Rublev came through a tough four-set encounter with American Tristan Boyer.

Boyer, ranked 113th in the world, extended the match by taking the third set before 15th seed Rublev completed a 6-3 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-4) victory .

Rublev’s next opponent will be Coleman Wong, who backed up his history-making first-round victory against Aleksandar Kovacevic with a four-set win over Australia’s Adam Walton.

Wong’s first-round success made him the first male player from Hong Kong to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open era.

Lorenzo Musetti was a 6-4 6-0 6-2 winner over Belgian veteran David Goffin and the 10th seed will face fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli next.

Cobolli, the 24th seed, won a match tie-break to beat American Jenson Brooksby in a marathon second-round match that lasted more than four and a half hours.

It is a question hundreds of players have asked themselves over the past two decades – and many have never been able to answer it.

Cameron Norrie can count himself among that number.

The 29-year-old Briton goes into their US Open third-round meeting on Friday having lost all six of his previous meetings with the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

With Djokovic looking flustered in his first two rounds in New York, Norrie hopes he can benefit from the effects of time on the 38-year-old Serb.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Novak Djokovic won his last Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open

“The chances are getting better as the years ago on – although not by much,” said Norrie, who is ranked 35th in the world.

“The level he brings and the competitiveness he brings is crazy. Every time I’ve played him he changes tactics and makes it difficult.

“I’m ready for anything – him playing unreal, or him not playing great and stopping the match for something, then playing good.”

Djokovic looked unsteady on his feet in humid conditions during his first-round win over Learner Tien and needed treatment for a blister on his toe.

Seventh seed Djokovic had not played for six weeks before the US Open and showed more signs of rustiness on Wednesday, dropping a set against American qualifier Zachary Svajda.

It is always dangerous to suggest Djokovic looks vulnerable, and Norrie is certainly wary.

But Norrie’s brand of tennis – trying to make things physical and drag Djokovic into an energy-sapping scrap – could be key if the former world number eight is to snap his losing streak against the Serb great.

“”I will have to beat him with physicality,” said Norrie, who showed his own survival instincts in a four-set battle against Argentina’s Francisco Comesana on Wednesday.

“I did see the blister but he’s the king of adversity. He fights and pushes through it.

“I’m not going to be a servebot and serve him off the court.”

Lopsided head-to-head records are not unusual against Djokovic, given he is widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the game.

Take Gael Monfils. The 38-year-old French entertainer, a former world number six and one of the most talented shot-makers of his generation, has a 20-0 losing record against Djokovic – the worst head-to-head record in ATP Tour history.

Norrie, a laid-back character off the court, does not seem to become occupied by his poor record.

Instead he is continuing to focus on enjoying life on the tour – a vow he made to his team after reaching a crossroads in his career earlier this year.

Since then he has reached the French Open fourth round – where he lost to Djokovic – and the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

In New York, he has spent time “people watching” at regular dinners in the East Village neighbourhood as he bids for a deep US Open run.

“Focusing on enjoyment is what has worked for me,” Norrie added.

“I’m so happy to be with my team, enjoying New York and having a crack one of the best players in history.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Novak Djokovic first beat Gael Monfils at the 2005 US Open

Second seed Swiatek raced through the first set against her Dutch opponent and looked on course for the sort of dominant early-round win that has become her trademark.

The 24-year-old was twice a break of serve up in the second set, but her frustration grew as her level dipped significantly, giving Lamens a route back into the contest.

The Pole moved a double break clear in the decider and eventually wrapped up a 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory in two hours and six minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Swiatek will play 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya in round three after the Russian beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-1 7-5.

Speaking on court after the match, Swiatek said: “It wasn’t an easy match and I made some mistakes. I’m happy that at the end I could be more proactive.

“I felt like it depended on me and whether I was going to make mistakes or not.

“It was not easy, but the third set is a reset. You’ve got to start from the beginning and I knew I could play a little more precisely, so I just tried to do that.”

All the signs before the match pointed to a comfortable Swiatek win.

She had lost only five games in her previous three Grand Slam matches – including a 6-0 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova in July’s Wimbledon final – and had won 14 successive sets at the majors.

US Open debutant Lamens, meanwhile, had not been beyond the second round of a Grand Slam before.

That gulf was evident early on, with Lamens failing to hit a single winner in the opening set.

But Swiatek, who won the Cincinnati Open in the build-up to Flushing Meadows, lost her way in set two.

The six-time Grand Slam champion and her coaching team began to show the frustration of some wayward groundstrokes, which contributed to a match total of 29 unforced errors.

Swiatek, though, regained some control in the decider and shrugged off handing back one of her breaks of serve to set up a tie with Kalinskaya.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared subdued in the early stages of the match but eventually powered through to a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-3 6-1 win.

A 25th major trophy would secure the Serb the standalone record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in history.

He has already set another record in New York in reaching the third round at a major for the 75th time – one more than Roger Federer’s tally.

“I didn’t feel that great to be honest,” Djokovic, 38, said.

“I wasn’t happy with my tennis for the first part of the match, but also credit to Zach for playing some really high-quality tennis.”

Prior to his first-round victory, Djokovic had not played since losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals to Jannik Sinner in early July.

“I’m hoping the deeper I go into the tournament the better I feel about my game,” Djokovic said.

“It’s obviously a little different in the past couple of years for me body-wise.

“I get wear and tear quicker than I ever used to so I have to deal with that, a lot of recovery stuff to try to make myself able to perform at the highest level.”

Playing in the morning session on Arthur Ashe Stadium – an unfamiliar timeslot for a player accustomed to headlining the tournament’s coveted night session – Djokovic seemed out-of-sorts in the bright sunshine.

The seventh seed had looked fatigued in his first-round match and seemed hampered by similar issues early on against home hope Svajda.

The world number 145 went viral before the match after posting a video of his excitement about playing Djokovic but he showed no signs of being overawed, holding his nerve to edge the first set.

But Djokovic, as he so often does, immediately responded, and reeled off 11 of the final 12 games as Svajda struggled with cramp.

Fritz advances but Ruud beaten

Like Djokovic, last year’s runner-up Taylor Fritz also dropped the first set but came through 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 6-4 against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris.

Fourth seed Fritz, the highest-ranked American in the men’s singles draw, will now face Jerome Kym after the Swiss qualifier upset 30th seed Brandon Nakashima of the USA in a marathon four hours and 20 minutes.

Twelfth seed Casper Ruud became the second-highest men’s seed to fall so far, losing in five sets to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.

World number 107 Collignon, playing in his first Grand Slam main draw, came back to win 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-5 against the 2022 US Open runner-up.

It completes a miserable year of Grand Slam results for Norwegian Ruud, who also lost in the second round of the Australian and French Open, and missed Wimbledon with a knee injury.

Collignon now meets 20th seed Jiri Lehecka, who progressed with a 3-6 6-0 6-2 6-4 win over Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Meanwhile, 21st seed Tomas Machac saw off rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca in 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3.

The 19-year-old Fonseca, backed by a boisterous fan base on the Grandstand court, had a set point in the opener but Machac held firm to prevail.

Raducanu, 22, oozed confidence in a 6-2 6-1 victory which took exactly an hour to secure.

Strong serving and consistently deep groundstrokes were the key for the world number 36, who has won eight of her 11 matches since Wimbledon.

All but one of these victories on the North American hard courts have been against opponents ranked lower than Raducanu.

“I’m happy – I think I’m embracing the pressure and expectation a lot more now,” the 2021 US Open champion told BBC Sport.

“I don’t think it is the same as before – I’m not top five or top 10 – but there is still eyes on what I’m doing and my results.

“It’s a good sign that people think I’m playing better and doing better and can win matches. I’m all round pretty positive.”

Raducanu knows well about the dangers of facing little-known qualifiers – having come through to reach the main draw on her way to the New York title four years ago.

But she quickly stamped her authority against 149th-ranked Tjen, who was playing in her first tour-level event.

The only real moment of concern for the 2021 US Open champion was when she was bothered by “stiffness” in her back niggle during the second set.

“I have been doing a lot of training, and I’m just happy it didn’t affect me too much,” said Raducanu, who could face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina next.

“I was still able to compete and to perform well and keep putting out good serves, good returns.

“I didn’t really come into the match too much, which I’m happy with.”

How ‘strong serving’ laid the platform

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Raducanu, ranked 36th, fell just short of a seeding at the US Open

Tjen might be inexperienced at the top level but her opening round win over 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova showed she had the ability to cause problems.

The 23-year-old only turned professional last year after completing her sociology degree at university in the United States but has attracted attention after winning 13 titles on the entry-level ITF World Tennis Tour.

Tjen’s style is reminiscent of crafty former world number one Ashleigh Barty, but Raducanu refused to allow her opponent to find her stride.

Raducanu is looking to further develop her serve as a weapon under new coach Francisco Roig – and it was very effective against Tjen.

She hit eight aces, landed 79% of her first serves and won 76% of those points to put Tjen on the back foot from the very start of the point.

Raducanu’s power from the baseline continued to push Tjen deep in the court and prevented the Indonesian from using her slice and variety.

“It always helps me when I’m serving well. It just kind of seeps into the rest of my game,” said Raducanu.

While tougher tests lie ahead – particularly if she faces Rybakina in the third round – it was an impressive display and continues the upward trajectory Raducanu has forged this season.

Ninth seed Rybakina takes on Czech world number 96 Tereza Valentova later on Wednesday.

Tension between the pair escalated after a net cord went in Townsend’s favour during a 7-5 6-1 second-round win – and 25th seed Ostapenko accused her of not apologising.

The pair had a curt handshake after Townsend clinched victory before Latvian Ostapenko made a comment at the net.

Both players continued to express their views in an animated argument at Ostapenko’s chair.

Asked what happened at the net, Townsend said: “She told me I have no education, no class, and to see what happens if we play each other outside of the US.

“I said, I’m excited, bring it on.”

On-court microphones picked up 29-year-old Townsend telling Ostapenko to “take the L [loss]”.

Townsend, the world number one doubles player, then whipped the crowd into a frenzy by celebrating with them wildly.

Boos rang around Court 11 as Ostapenko departed.

“There’s no beef,” added Townsend.

“But I didn’t back down because you’re not going to insult me, especially after I carried myself a certain type of way, with nothing but respect.

“If I show respect to you, I expect respect as well. That’s just the fact of the matter.”

Ostapenko, 28, is well-known for allowing her frustrations to spill over and has previously received fines for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Afterwards, she posted a message on Instagram accusing Townsend of being “very disrespectful”.

“I told my opponent she didn’t say sorry, but her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all,” Ostapenko, who won the Roland Garros title in 2018, wrote.

“There are some rules in tennis which most of the players follow and it was the first time ever that this has happened to me on tour.

“If she plays in her homeland it doesn’t mean she can behave and do whatever she wants.”

Townsend said she did not expect to receive an apology from Ostapenko.

“Saying I have no education and no class, I don’t really take that personally, because I know that it’s so far from the truth,” Townsend said.

“If I allow what other people have to say about me to affect me in that way, then they win.”

Townsend, an African-American, was also asked if she thought there was a racial undertone to Ostapenko’s comments.

“I didn’t take it in that way,” Townsend said.

“But also that has been a stigma in our community of being not educated, and all of the things, when it’s the furthest thing from the truth.

“Whether it had racial undertones or not, that’s something she can speak on.”

Ostapenko posted again on Instagram later on Wednesday to deny her comments had a racial element.

“I was never racist in my life,” she wrote. “I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

Medvedev, 29, was knocked out of the Grand Slam tournament after a meltdown sparked by a photographer walking on to the court during his defeat by France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

The former world number one has been fined almost £31,500 ($42,500) by the United States Tennis Association.

He was docked $30,000 for unsportsmanlike behaviour and another $12,500 for obliterating a racket against a chair.

It means the Russian will have to forfeit about 40% of the first-round prize money he received.

After the incident on Sunday, Medvedev said he was prepared for a hefty punishment.

“I’m getting a big enough fine, so if I speak, I’m in big trouble, so I’m not going to speak,” he said.

As the Russian faced match point at 5-4 in the third set, a photographer encroached the playing surface between Bonzi’s first and second serves.

Medvedev, who won the New York title in 2021, was incensed when umpire Greg Allensworth awarded another first serve to Bonzi following the bizarre moment.

Staring defeat in the face, Medvedev marched over to the official and incited a frenzied New York crowd before shouting at Allensworth.

The match was delayed for more than six minutes before the crowd calmed down sufficiently for Bonzi to resume.

He was unable to serve out in a febrile atmosphere and Medvedev fought back to take the match into a deciding fifth set.

After eventually losing a chaotic encounter, Medvedev brutally destroyed a racquet before sitting dejectedly on his chair for several minutes until eventually leaving the court.

At the age of 45, Williams returned to her home Grand Slam tournament for a record-extending 25th time earlier this week.

She exited the singles in a gallant first-round defeat by Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova on Monday but will return to the Flushing Meadows courts with Fernandez, 23 years her junior.

They will face the sixth seeds – Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Australian Ellen Perez – in the first round.

Williams won the US Open doubles title in 1999 and 2009, both with younger sister Serena.

Earlier on Tuesday, Serena paid tribute to her sibling on social media, writing on Instagram: “Strength, courage, determination, class, perseverance, inspiration… there’s not enough words to describe how proud I am of you.

“P.S. I hope to be like you.”

Earlier this season, former world number one Williams was officially considered an inactive player, having gone a whole year without competing.

Then, out of nowhere as the eyes of the tennis world were trained on Wimbledon, she announced she was ready to play again at the Washington Open.

Williams beat 35th-ranked Peyton Stearns on her comeback in Washington, whetting her appetite for more competitive action.

Despite an opening defeat in Cincinnati, Williams received a wildcard for the US Open singles, in which she is also a two-time champion.

After her 6-3 2-6 6-1 defeat by Muchova, she cast an emotional figure as she reflected on how she has battled back from serious health issues to push the world’s best players to their limit – against the odds.

In 2011, Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disease with symptoms including pain, numbness and fatigue.

Last month, she revealed how she had also been affected by the severity of painful fibroids – abnormal growths that develop in the uterus.

Fernandez, 22, is seeded 31st in the women’s singles in New York and beat compatriot Rebecca Marino 6-2 6-1 in the first round.

She reached the singles final in 2021, where she finished runner-up to Britain’s Emma Raducanu.

The defending champion wrapped up a 6-1 6-1 6-2 victory over Czech player Kopriva, ranked 89th in the world, in an hour and 38 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Most notably, the 24-year-old Italian showed little sign of the illness which forced him to retire early from his Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz last week.

“I’m very happy that I’m healthy again and that we did our best to be in the best possible shape here,” Sinner said after his win.

Kopriva, making his main-draw debut in New York, failed to pose any serious threat to Sinner, who has now won 22 consecutive matches at hard-court Grand Slams.

The Italian has won three of the past four majors, having followed last year’s US Open success with victories at January’s Australian Open and at Wimbledon last month.

Sinner’s only Grand Slam loss so far this year was to Spaniard Alcaraz in an epic French Open final in June.

“I have amazing memories,” said Sinner, when asked about returning to Flushing Meadows as defending champion.

“Every year is different and you come here starting this tournament hopefully in the best possible way, which I have done.

“Coming back to a Grand Slam, where the emotions are still running – I’m very happy to come back here and compete against the best players in the world.”

Sinner’s second-round opponent will be Australia’s world number 36 Alexei Popyrin, who defeated Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland in straight sets.

Elsewhere in the men’s singles first round, Sinner’s compatriot Lorenzo Musetti beat big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4.

The Italian 10th seed lost the first set on a tie-break but did not face a break point as he registered only his second match win since retiring injured from his French Open semi-final against Alcaraz in June.

Kazakhstan’s 23rd seed Alexander Bublik beat veteran Croat and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-4 6-1 6-4, while Denis Shapovalov, the 27th seed from Canada, was a 6-0 6-4 6-4 winner against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.

Third seed Gauff was far from convincing but did enough to win 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 in almost three hours during Tuesday’s night session at Flushing Meadows.

The 21-year-old American’s serve came under particular scrutiny given the ongoing troubles with her opening shot.

Days before her home Grand Slam, 2023 champion Gauff reshuffled her team – sacking coach Matt Daly and hiring biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who helped rival Aryna Sabalenka overcome her serving yips.

“It was a tough match, I had chance to win it in straight sets. It wasn’t the best but I’m happy to get through,” Gauff said.

On attempting to improve the reliability of her serve at a critical time, she added: “It has been really tough – mentally exhausting – but I’m trying.”

Gauff made what she described as a “sudden decision” after hitting 16 double faults in her Cincinnati exit against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.

The reigning French Open champion’s serve was put under pressure again in a long battle against 79th-ranked Tomljanovic.

While 18-time major winner Chris Evert believed Gauff’s service motion was generally more in “unison” and “balanced” than previously, she was still broken six times and hit 10 double faults.

The ongoing frailty came to the fore as she tried to serve out the match at 5-4 in the deciding third set.

Tomljanovic broke back before Gauff, after taking advice from MacMillan, served out at the second attempt with a safer tactic of going deeper down the middle.

The passionate celebration after securing victory – roaring to the heavens – demonstrated her relief at getting over the line.

“She’s got a way to go, confidence-wise, even though she won this match,” added Evert, who was analysing on US television.

Swiatek begins title bid with comfortable win

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Iga Swiatek has won four French Open titles, one US Open and one Wimbledon

World number two Iga Swiatek began her bid for a second US Open title with a comfortable straight-set victory over Colombia’s Emiliana Arango.

The Pole, who won a maiden Wimbledon title last month and is the favourite to add a second title at Flushing Meadows to her 2022 triumph, cruised to a 6-1 6-2 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Swiatek hit 26 winners to world number 84 Arango’s five and won 76% of her points on serve without facing a break point.

“It felt great – first matches are not easy to get used to the rhythm and it was a solid match,” she said.

“I am happy that I wasn’t trying to overpower and I was solid.”

The six-time Grand Slam champion warmed up for the final major of the year with victory at the Cincinnati Open – a WTA 1000 event – and looks in fine tune in New York.

Just one day later, she featured in the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles event alongside Casper Ruud – where the pair reached the final but missed out to defending champions and doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

Swiatek took early control of her match against Arango with a break of serve in the fourth game before breaking again for a 5-1 lead and holding to clinch the opening set.

That ruthless form continued into the second set as Swiatek immediately broke her opponent’s serve in the opening game, then again in the seventh, and sealed a dominant win in just over an hour.

Swiatek will face the Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens, ranked 66 in the world, in the second round.

Mixed fortunes for Americans

Elsewhere, eighth seed Amanda Anisimova made it safely through to the second round by beating Australian Kim Birrell 6-3 6-2.

American Anisimova, playing her first Grand Slam match since being beaten 6-0 6-0 by Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, hit 17 unforced errors in the opening set but improved markedly in the second.

She won the last five games of the match to set up a second-round meeting with another Australian, teenager Maya Joint.

However, her compatriot Danielle Collins made an early exit for the second consecutive year, winning just two games as she was beaten by Jaqueline Cristian of Romania.

World number 50 Cristian prevailed 6-2 6-0 against 2019 Australian Open semi-finalist Collins, who was hampered by a back injury.

Meanwhile, two-time champion Naomi Osaka – seeded 23rd – cruised past Belgium’s Greet Minnen in a 6-3 6-4 win.

Russian Diana Shnaider, the 20th seed, also went out after Germany’s Laura Siegemund secured a 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-3 victory over the 21-year-old.

Kartal suffered with debilitating cramp in a 6-3 1-6 6-1 defeat against Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Katie Boulter lost to Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk, while qualifier Francesca Jones was beaten by Germany’s Eva Lys and lucky loser Billy Harris was knocked out by Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“It was tough. I’ve never lost a match from cramp before ever – it was a little bit odd for me,” said 23-year-old Kartal, who was making her New York main-draw debut.

A bizarre deciding set saw a limping Kartal trail 3-0 before being handed a lifeline when Haddad Maia’s movement also became hampered by cramping.

Points became slow and laboured in testing conditions – but both players refused to give in.

Haddad Maia lost serve for 3-1 as she could barely walk but recovered sufficiently, helped by the vocal support of a boisterous set of Brazilian fans, to serve out a remarkable victory.

Asked where the cramps were affecting her, Kartal replied: “Where wasn’t I feeling it? Calves, quads, hamstrings and my fingers on the racquet.”

Kartal has struggled with a knee injury in recent months, wearing strapping on her right leg during a memorable run to the Wimbledon last 16, but said it did not contribute to her physical problems.

The British number three also believes the hotter conditions at Flushing Meadows were not a significant factor, nor were any pre-match nerves before her main-draw debut.

Speaking shortly after the match, she said she suspected it was down to her intake of salts and electrolytes.

Taking on a replenishing mineral drink – which she said “didn’t taste nice” – during the deciding set alleviated the issue.

“I think I’ve fuelled well over the past few days – kept hydrated – but I will have to analyse everything I ate and drank and see if I need to make changes,” said Kartal, who is ranked 51st in the world.

“When everything is locking out and you have to peel your thumb off the racquet to let go, it is tough.

“You feel helpless on court. My body didn’t let me finish it how I wanted to feel it.”

Boulter regains ‘buzz’ but searching for serve solutions

This time last year, Boulter was a seeded player at Flushing Meadows but is now in danger of slipping out of the world’s top 50 after a difficult season.

The powerful baseliner has never reached the second week of a major and seemed to lack confidence at times in a 6-4 6-4 against Kostyuk – seemingly systematic of her lack of her form.

Despite only winning once in her past eight matches, Boulter said she had regained her “buzz”.

Boulter believed she had found a new perspective after taking “days off away from the sport” following the Canadian Open last month.

“You can look at the results and think ‘she’s having a tough time’, but I’m actually really excited,” she said.

“I lost it a couple of weeks ago in Montreal and I’d say that is a pivotal moment in my career.

“It was a full reset in the middle of the US hard-court swing and I think I’m in a good place to move forward.”

Saving five match points as she served at 5-3 illustrated how Boulter will not stop fighting and helped her create three break points in the 10th game.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Boulter has not beyond the second round of a Grand Slam tournament this season

However, Kostyuk recovered to serve out the match and let a huge roar of relief.

Afterwards Boulter put her struggles down to the tweaks she has been trying to make to her serve.

“I’m trying to find rhythm and don’t fully commit to the serve I’m going for,” added Boulter, who was broken four times.

“At this level, putting the serve in the court is not going to get it done.

“Otherwise, on the court, I matched Marta well and returned decently well. Considering my form it was a relatively competitive match.”

British number four Jones fought through qualifying to make her debut in the main draw, but was ground down by 59th-ranked Lys’s solidity in a 6-0 7-5 defeat.

Jones, 24, has climbed to 86th in the rankings after winning two titles on the second-tier WTA 125 Tour post-Wimbledon.

However, the way she was moved around by Lys in the rallies – and forced into mistakes – was a reminder of the level she needs to find to go even higher.

Harris, 30, moved into the main draw after losing in the final qualifying round because of withdrawals and acquitted himself well against 2021 semi-finalist Auger-Alissiame.

While he lost 6-4 7-6 (10-8) 6-4, the British number six pushed his opponent in each set and things might have turned out differently had he converted any of his two set points in the tie-breaker.

The 35-year-old suffered a 6-1 6-0 loss to France’s Diane Parry on a sparsely-filled Grandstand Stadium on Monday.

Czech Kvitova said in June that she would end her 18-year career in New York.

Kvitova triumphed at the All England Club in 2011 and 2014, claimed a total of 31 WTA Tour titles and reached a career-high of second in the world rankings.

“I wanted to put out a better performance but it was tough to know that maybe it was my last one – [I’m] emotional,” Kvitova said on court afterwards.

“It’s been a long and amazing journey.”

Meanwhile, French former world number four Caroline Garcia also brought her career to an end after a 6-4 4-6 6-3 defeat by Kamila Rakhimova at Flushing Meadows.

Kvitova has been a fan favourite for many years thanks to her huge groundstrokes and booming left-handed serve.

There were fears her career would end prematurely after she was stabbed in her left hand by an intruder at her home in 2016.

The attack damaged tendons and nerves in her playing hand but she returned to playing in June 2017 and went on to reach the Australian Open final two years later.

In recent years she has fallen down the rankings and last made the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam in 2020.

Kvitova missed the entire 2024 season to have her son, Petr, and only returned to action in February.

It took her five tournaments to register her first victory – which came against Irina-Camelia Begu on clay in Rome in May – but that was her only win since becoming a mother.

Almost two months on from bidding a tearful goodbye to Wimbledon – which she called her “special place” – Kvitova called time on her career at the tournament where she twice reached the quarter-finals.

After quickly going down a break against world number 107 Parry, she rallied to reach 40-0 on serve then saved a break point to get her first game on the board.

But that proved to be her only success in a one-sided first set that Parry wrapped up in just 25 minutes.

Kvitova exited the court between sets to regroup – already visibly emotional at the prospect of this being her last match – but the second followed a similar pattern.

Winning just four points behind her own serve, Kvitova suffered a second-set bagel as Parry saw out a clinical victory.

“Since I wake up this morning, I felt it. I felt it would be not good,” Kvitova added.

“I couldn’t eat. I was really nervous. couldn’t move, I couldn’t swing, I couldn’t do anything.

“It was really difficult but I’m glad I did it.”

‘Time to move on’ for Garcia

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Garcia won the French Open doubles title twice alongside partner Kristina Mladenovic

Garcia, who had her best Grand Slam singles result in New York with a semi-final showing in 2022, announced in May that it was “time to move on” from tennis.

The 31-year-old has spoken openly about her mental health struggles, ending her 2024 season early after being left “exhausted” by anxiety and panic attacks.

As well as managing a shoulder injury, Garcia said she had been suffering from the mental toll of life on the tennis tour.

Despite winning 11 WTA Tour singles titles and two Grand Slam doubles trophies in her career, Garcia said she was fixated on her failures, rather than her successes.

She has previously spoken out about the “damaging” abuse tennis players suffer after going out in the first round at last year’s US Open.

“The last couple of years for me were hard and kind of dark,” Garcia said.

“I almost left last year by hating tennis, and I thought it was the worst sport out there.

“But I did a lot of work on myself to understand what was going on, do one more season and leave it my own way.”

Sixth seed Keys, competing in New York for the first time since becoming a Grand Slam champion, put in a error-strewn performance in a 6-7 (10-12) 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 defeat by the Mexican.

The American made 89 unforced errors, hit 14 double faults and saved just four of the 10 break points she faced.

“I feel like today for the first time in a while, my nerves really got the better of me, and it kind of became a little bit paralysing,” Keys said.

“You always kind of feel first-round jitters, and as the day is getting closer, you’re feeling more and more nervous.”​​​​​​​

Keys started the year in superb fashion, beating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne to win a first Grand Slam title.

But after reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open, the 30-year-old suffered a surprise third-round Wimbledon exit to 37-year-old Laura Siegemund.

In New York, Keys made 37 unforced errors in the first set alone but managed to take it on a tie-break after Zarazua spurned five set points.

The match looked there for the taking for Keys as she breezed to a 3-0 lead in the next set, but the 2017 runner-up in New York then lost four games in a row.

She managed to take the set to a tie-break but double faults and errors helped Zarazua force a decider.

Keys’ coach and husband Bjorn Fratangelo offered advice and encouragement throughout – at one point saying: “It’s just a sport, nothing’s riding on the line” – but the American’s play remained erratic.

“I want to win, but [I was] just feeling like winning matters way too much. I just couldn’t quite separate myself from that,” Keys added.

“Once you start playing badly, it just kind of all snowballs.

“I felt like I was just slow, I wasn’t seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel like resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork.”

Zarazua secured her first victory against a top-10 player when Keys netted on match point, sparking wild celebrations among the Mexican’s support team after a contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.

Mboko out but Rybakina eases through

Victoria Mboko’s fairytale 2025 will not get the perfect ending after she lost 6-3 6-2 to 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.

The 18-year-old defeated four Grand Slam champions on her way to winning the Canadian Open earlier this month, and is now ranked 23rd in the world having begun the year down in 333rd.

But her inconsistency cost her at Louis Armstrong Stadium as the teenager struggled on second serve and committed 10 double faults.

Krejcikova looked much like her old self after slipping to 62nd in the rankings during an injury-hit year.

Elsewhere, ninth seed Elena Rybakina handed a harsh lesson to 16-year-old Grand Slam debutant Julieta Pareja, wrapping up a 6-3 6-0 win in one hour and two minutes.

The world junior number one held her own in the opening stages, but soon succumbed to the 2022 Wimbledon champion looking to progress beyond the US Open third round for the first time.

American Pareja earned a wildcard spot after reaching the semi-finals in Bogota as a qualifier in her WTA debut, before finishing runner-up in both singles and doubles at this year’s Wimbledon juniors event.

Draper needed to dig deep to beat Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4 7-5 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 in the first round.

The fifth seed, who reached the New York semi-finals last year, was playing his first singles match since Wimbledon in early July after suffering an arm injury.

“I needed tennis in my legs. I needed to play a three-hour match,” Draper said.

“I was almost a bit happy when I lost the third because my level wasn’t amazing.

“Then I felt like towards the end of the fourth I started to get better and better.”

Draper, 23, is seen as one of the contenders for the title on his return to the scene of his breakout Grand Slam run.

While not quite at his reliable and powerful best, the left-handed Englishman was ultimately content with how he largely negated Gomez’s explosive game.

Draper soaked up a lot of pressure at the baseline, asking questions that his 203rd-ranked opponent was not able to answer consistently.

After saving a match point in the tie-break, Gomez managed to extend the contest before Draper regrouped to seal victory with his second match point.

“I wasn’t too sure if I was going to make it here,” Draper said when asked about the injury.

“I’m not putting too much expectation on myself. I’m so happy to be able to compete.”

Fellow Briton Cameron Norrie is also through to the second round after American opponent Sebastian Korda was forced to retire injured.

How arm injury affected Draper

All eyes were on Draper’s upper left arm as he took to the singles court for the first time since a shock Wimbledon second-round exit almost eight weeks ago.

The attention was not necessarily to evaluate his beefed-up muscles, but to see if there were any issues with the bruised humerus that has troubled him recently.

Draper did not play the recent ATP 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati to give himself time to recover, but competed in last week’s revamped US Open mixed doubles competition to build sharpness.

On his singles return, Draper wore a compression sleeve – which provides support and comfort – on his troublesome serving arm.

Draper insisted before the match he would not hold back, although his serve speeds were slightly slower than usual.

“I’ve definitely had to rein in my serve a little bit to keep the pain down,” he said.

“At the same time, though, I feel like my accuracy is almost a bit better.”

An average of 111mph in the first set, dropping to 108mph, 110mph and 106mph in the next three, indicated he was not going full throttle.

The precision of Draper’s kick serve contributed to not being broken until the end of the second set – which he went on to win – and was crucial again as he dominated the fourth.

While his forehand winners were outnumbered by Gomez’s own blistering weapon, there were gasps when he did produce ferocity off that wing.

Flatter hitting from that side in the fourth brought Draper more success as he teed up a second-round clash against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs – another explosive, fearless opponent.

‘Nervous’ Norrie through after Korda retirement

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Cameron Norrie has never progressed past the fourth round at the US Open

A “nervous” Norrie was worried about being first on court at 11:00 local time and need to fuel up before playing an opponent who was ranked inside the top 20 a year ago – and against whom he had lost three of four past meetings.

Ultimately the 30-year-old did not need to be overly concerned, as Norrie was leading 7-5 6-4 when Korda, 25, ended the match early.

American Korda only returned to tour action last week following a near three-month shin stress fracture lay-off.

He called a medical timeout at the start of the second set against Norrie when he appeared to be struggling with an abdominal issue.

Although Korda persevered for the remainder of the set he was unwilling to go any further, sending Norrie through to face Argentina’s Francisco Comesana.

“I was very nervous for the match,” said Norrie.

“Playing a Grand Slam match at 11am and trying to get rice down at 10am is not easy!”

Medvedev has produced some extraordinary moments at Flushing Meadows over the years – but what happened on the 2021 champion’s way to another humbling defeat was perhaps the most incredible.

As the Russian faced match point at 5-4 in the third set, the cameraman walked on to the playing surface between his French opponent Bonzi’s first and second serve.

Cue bedlam as the incident – and Medvedev’s reaction – changed the course of the match.

Medvedev, 29, raged after umpire Greg Allensworth decided Bonzi could have another first serve, whipping the New York crowd into a frenzy and forcing a delay of six minutes and 24 seconds.

Bonzi understandably lost focus as boos rained down and could not serve out victory.

Almost two hours later, shortly before 1am local time, he eventually secured a remarkable 6-3 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 0-6 6-4 win.

“I just expressed my emotions, my unhappiness with the decision, and then the crowd did what they did without me asking them too much,” said Medvedev, who has won just one Grand Slam match this year.

“It was fun to witness.”

The photographer, who appeared to be trying to find a position in the long-lens pit at the side of the court, was later escorted out of Louis Armstrong Stadium by security.

“His credential has been revoked for the 2025 US Open,” United States Tennis Association organisers told BBC Sport.

‘The energy was wild’ – how the drama unfolded

When an inspired Bonzi served for the match in the third set, Medvedev’s recent struggles looked set to continue with a straightforward defeat.

Then the tone of the match – and the whole night – switched in an instant because of the mistake by the unsuspecting photographer.

Allensworth instantly shouted at the man to get off court and gave another first serve to Bonzi, because he deemed the interference to be an unreasonable delay.

Medvedev, who had been subdued to that point, became furious with Allensworth – whipping up the crowd with his hands as he skipped towards the umpire’s chair to protest.

The former world number one accused the official – who was criticised by American player Reilly Opelka over a decision earlier this year – of “wanting to go home”.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Medvedev was described as the US Open’s “friendly villain” by former American player Sam Querrey in his role as an ESPN analyst

By now, the crowd was frenzied in its support of Medvedev and a chant of “second serve” rang around Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Medvedev continued to act as the ringleader before eventually attempting to quieten the boisterous crowd.

During the tense delay, Bonzi told Allensworth that Medvedev should be given a time violation because “he caused this”.

When Bonzi eventually stepped on the baseline to serve, he was disrupted by more boos before finally resuming – and hearing cheers when he missed his first serve.

There were more roars seconds later when he lost the match point with a backhand into the net.

“The energy was wild. It was a crazy scenario,” Bonzi said.

“I have never experienced anything like that. It was so difficult to play, so noisy. But I tried to stay calm – it was not easy.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Bonzi also beat Medvedev in the Wimbledon first round last month

Medvedev antics take centre stage again

This is not the first time Medvedev has been the central character on an entertaining night in New York.

On his way to reaching the 2019 final, the he assumed the role of pantomime villain as he wound up the American fans.

He was booed for trolling the crowd with his provocative post-match celebrations and interviews, before winning them over with a heroic performance in a five-set defeat by Rafael Nadal in the final.

Two years later, Medvedev received their acclaim after beating Novak Djokovic to win his first major title – and celebrating with a comedic fall to the court inspired by a computer game.

In 2023, he argued with some supporters in a late-night battle against Australia’s Chris O’Connell – but this time Medvedev ensured the crowd was behind him in an attempt to turn the match around against Bonzi.

Medvedev recently opened up about his on-court antics in an enlightening interview with BBC Sport, describing his outbursts as like “honking a car horn”.

But his reaction to losing in the first round of a Grand Slam for the third time in a row was a concerning sight.

Instead of making a quick exit, Medvedev sat disconsolately on his chair before destroying a racquet by repeatedly smashing it against the metal bench holding his racquet bag.

The six-time Grand Slam finalist broke down in tears and stayed sat as Bonzi began his on-court interview.

Afterwards Medvedev, who looks set to drop out of the world’s top 20, said he felt during the match he wanted to “finish his career”.

Asked if it was the end, he replied: “Not today, but when I’m finishing my career, you never know where you want to do it. Today I was, like, ‘this could be a nice place to do it’.”

The 38-year-old Serb, who earned a 6-1 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 win over American teenager Learner Tien, had not played since losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals in early July.

During the second set Djokovic’s level dropped considerably as he looked increasingly flustered and unsteady on his feet in a humid New York.

The 24-time major champion needed treatment for blisters on his toe after securing the second-set tie-break, but said the issue was not the reason behind his dip.

“I don’t have any injury or anything. I just struggled a lot to stay in long exchanges and recover after points,” said Djokovic, who is seeded seventh.

“I haven’t played an official match in six weeks. I had to deliver my A-game, which I think I did in the first set.

“In the second, particularly, it was surviving on the court. In the important moments I just put one ball more in the court than he did.”

As Djokovic heads towards retirement, he has continued to scale back his schedule.

The former number one’s focus has been increasingly centred on the Grand Slam tournaments as he aims to land a standalone record 25th major title.

Djokovic skipped the ATP Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati leading up to the US Open.

In his pre-tournament news conference, Djokovic made a frank admission that he does not “enjoy” the elongated format of the Masters tournaments, which have been stretched to two weeks over recent seasons.

But when it comes to the biggest prizes, his appetite to win Grand Slam tournaments remains undimmed.

Beating the precociously-talented Tien, who is ranked 50th in the world, was Djokovic’s 75th consecutive first-round win at a Grand Slam event – the first singles player to achieve the feat in the Open era to achieve the feat.

“I wish I had Learner’s age – but when you come to the late 30s it’s about learning how to preserve the energy for what matters,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview.

“I still have the flair, I still have the drive, and you guys give me the energy. Hopefully I can keep it going.”

Shelton & Fritz begin bids to end 22-year wait

American pair Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz cruised into the second round as they began their latest bids to end the USA’s 22-year wait for a Grand Slam men’s singles champion.

Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a major singles title with his 2003 US Open triumph.

Fritz, 27, has come closest to breaking the drought, having reached the final at Flushing Meadows last year – making him the first American man in 15 years to reach a major showpiece.

Seeded fourth this year, Fritz beat compatriot Emilio Nava 7-5 6-2 6-3, while sixth seed Shelton dispatched Grand Slam debutant Ignacio Buse 6-3 6-2 6-4.

It is the first time since the 2007 US Open that two American men have been seeded inside the top eight.

“We’re in a great place in American tennis,” Fritz said.

“The women have been really carrying for a long time, but the men – we’re coming.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Ben Shelton (left) and Taylor Fritz (right) are the two highest ranked American men

Shelton, 22, was the first player of this year’s tournament to play on the iconic Arthur Ashe show court, taking just over two hours to wrap up victory.

The former semi-finalist is in good form, having won his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open earlier this month.

“The US Open is the pinnacle of tennis for me and what I dreamed about as a kid,” Shelton said.

“It is starting to feel like home for me.”

Fritz will face either Sebastian Beez or qualifier Lloyd Harris in the second round, whilst Shelton will take on Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta.

Mensik advances on opening day

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Jakub Mensik has reached a career-high rank of 16

Teenage sensation Jakub Mensik had to work hard for a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 6-4 victory over Chile’s Nicolas Jarry as play got under way on Sunday.

Mensik, seeded 16th, won his first ATP Tour title back in March, beating Djokovic in the Miami Open final, and has twice reached the third round in New York.

The 19-year-old Czech will face Ugo Blanchet next after the French qualifier beat Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 6-4 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2.

Elsewhere, Spanish 18th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina needed only 89 minutes to beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-1 6-1 6-2.

Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor was the only men’s seed to fall on the opening day, losing 7-5 6-4 6-0 to French veteran Adrian Mannarino.

The amount for the eventual singles champions is a 39% increase on 2024 when it was $3.6m (£2.8m), while the total purse has gone up 20% from the $75m (£57.8m) awarded last year.

In comparison, the total prize money at Wimbledon this year was £53.5m, with the men’s and women’s singles winners getting £3m apiece.

Players who are knocked out in the first round at the US Open will get $110,000 (£82,400), which is an increase of 10%.

Earlier this year, the top 20 men’s and women’s players sent a letter to the four Grand Slams asking for a greater share of the revenue generated by the major tournaments.

“The US Open has made a deliberate and concerted effort to ensure double-digit percentage increases from 2024 in all rounds of all events for all players, while at the same time significantly increasing the percentage of prize money for athletes playing deep into the singles draws,” said a statement from the tournament organisers.

The pot of money on offer in men’s and women’s doubles at the US Open this year will be $4.78m (£3.6m) – an increase of 23% from 2024.

The tournament said that “for the first time ever” the winners of the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles would get $1m (£749,000) in prize money per team.

The US Open will also be providing $5m (£3.7m) in support for costs, including travel and expenses, for players in the main draw, while the prize money for the men’s and women’s qualifying tournaments will rise by 10% to $8m (£6m).

The 2025 US Open at Flushing Meadows runs from 24 August until 7 September.

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This 125th edition of the US Open will see defending champion Bryson DeChambeau looking to become a three-time winner of the tournament – a club currently occupied by Tiger Woods, Hale Irwin (3 titles each), Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, and Willie Anderson (4 each).

“I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve that I’m going to be working on and hopefully bring for the US Open,” said DeChambeau, who is the most recent LIV Golf player to win a major.

DeChambeau’s main threat will come from World No.1 and winner of the last major, the PGA Championship in May, Scottie Scheffler.

The 28-year-old American has also taken a shot at the current split in the golf world between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf – insisting that players in the latter camp have the power to unify the sport.

“I have said it a few times this year. If you want to figure out what’s going to happen in the game of golf, go to the other tour and ask those guys,” said Scheffler.

He added, “I’m still here playing the PGA Tour. We had a tour where we all played together, and the guys that left, it’s their responsibility, I think, to bring the tours back together. Go see where they’re playing this week and ask them.”

Another potential showdown will be between Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. The pair battled right to the wire in last year’s US Open before Scheffler triumphed, and they re-matched for The Masters earlier this year, with McIlroy emerging victorious.

Scheffler complained that he and McIlroy didn’t exchange any words in their tense Masters battle, but the Northern Irishman was unmoved: “”I don’t know what he was expecting. We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there.”

Other contenders to watch out for include Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland.

The Oakmont Country Club features a 7342-yard par 70 course, with the record score, 63, set by Johnny Miller in the 1973 US Open. Oakmont will be hosting the US Open for the 10th time, more than any other course in the tournament’s history.

It has also hosted three PGA Championships, six US Amateur Championships, three NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships, and two US Women’s Opens.

Don’t miss the best sports action on DStv. Visit www.dstv.com to subscribe or upgrade, and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can watch live action on DStv Stream.

US Open broadcast details

All times CAT

Thursday 12 June

14:00: Day 1, Featured Group – LIVE on SuperSport Events and SuperSport Golf

18:00: Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Friday 13 June

14:00: Day 2, Featured Group – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2 and SuperSport Golf

18:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Saturday 14 June

16:00: Day 3, Featured Group – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

18:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Sunday 15 June

16:00: Day 4, Featured Group – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2 and SuperSport Golf

17:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf

Italy’s Sinner, who won his first major title at the Australian Open in January, held off a late charge from American 12th seed Fritz to win 6-3 6-4 7-5.

It comes just 19 days after it was revealed he had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive for a banned substance in March.

The 23-year-old held his arms aloft and looked up to the sky as he became the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season.

He is also the first Italian man to win the singles title at Flushing Meadows.

Sinner said the title “meant so much because the last period of my career was not easy” before he became tearful and dedicated the victory to his aunt.

“My aunt is not feeling well health-wise and I don’t know how much longer I have her in my life,” he said.

“It’s nice I can still share these moments with her. She is an important person in my life and still is.

“If there was a wish I could make, I would wish good health on everyone but unfortunately it’s not possible.”

Fritz, meanwhile, was unable to become the first American male Grand Slam singles champion in 21 years.

Andy Roddick, who was watching from the stands, remains the last American man to lift a major singles trophy, having won the US Open in 2003.

“I know we have been waiting for a champion for a long time so I’m sorry I couldn’t get it done this time,” said Fritz.

American 12th seed Fritz promises to delight the New York crowd if he can end the United States’ 21-year wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion.

If he triumphs against world number one Sinner, Fritz would become the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.

Sinner, meanwhile, could become the first player since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 to win his first two Grand Slam titles in the same season after clinching a maiden major at January’s Australian Open.

He would also be the first Italian man to win the Flushing Meadows singles title.

The final begins at 19:00 BST, with commentary available on BBC 5 Live and the BBC Sport website and app.

Speaking after his semi-final win over compatriot Frances Tiafoe, Fritz said it was “a dream come true” to become the first American man since Roddick in 2006 to reach the singles showpiece at Flushing Meadows.

“I’m in the final so I’m going to come out and give everything I possibly have and I know that for a fact,” he added.

Fritz has beaten higher-ranked players Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud over the past two weeks, but he faces his toughest task yet against Sinner.

Sinner has won all five ATP Tour-level finals he has played this season, with four of those victories arriving on hard courts.

However, Sinner is aware that he will have a partisan crowd against him on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“Being in America for sure, the crowd will be a little bit more on his side,” he said.

“But it’s normal. It’s like when I play in Italy, so I’m going to accept that.”

Sinner v Fritz head-to-head

Despite facing top seed Sinner, Fritz says he expects the final to be less stressful than his gruelling five-set win over Tiafoe.

“It was to make a US Open final, whoever won it was the American that made it to the final. It’s a stressful situation to be in,” Fritz said.

“It’s different from playing the world number one, who you’re probably not going to be the favourite against.”

The 26-year-old won his first encounter with Sinner at Indian Wells in 2021, but he fell to a 6-4 4-6 6-4 defeat by the Italian at the same tournament last year.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing him [Sinner]. To be honest, I don’t think I’m going to be put in a more stressful situation than I was today,” Fritz added.

Sinner, 22, arrived in New York in top form and is on an 11-match winning streak having won his third ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati last month.

By reaching the US Open final, he has seemingly put the controversy of testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year behind him.

“We went just day by day, really, with not so many expectations,” said Sinner, who beat British number one Jack Draper in the semi-finals.

“I was just trying to find confidence throughout the days. We practised very hard in the days in between trying to prepare each match in the best possible way.”

There will be a focus on Sinner’s left wrist, which he appeared to injure after falling in the second set against Draper.

“The physio loosened it up very fast on court, so I felt OK in the beginning. Then it went away by playing, which is good,” Sinner said in his post-match news conference on Friday.

“Hopefully it’s nothing to be concerned about. I’m quite relaxed, because if it’s something bad, you feel it straightaway a bit more.”

The Belarusian was reduced to tears following her loss to Coco Gauff in last year’s final after winning the opening set comfortably.

In 2022, she let a 4-2 lead slip in the deciding set of her semi-final against Iga Swiatek, while she fell to a shock defeat by Leylah Fernandez at the same stage a year earlier.

But the 26-year-old said she was “the happiest person in the world” after beating American Jessica Pegula 7-5 7-5 in the final to finally triumph at Flushing Meadows.

“I’m speechless. I remember all the tough losses here,” Sabalenka said.

“They say you’re going to see the reason later. I see the reason right now.

“That’s why it’s very special, because no matter what, every time I was coming back stronger and I was learning. I never gave up on this dream.”​​​​​​​

Sabalenka ‘living her best life’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Sabalenka jokingly patted the replica of her tiger tattoo on her fitness trainer Jason Stacy’s head

Before this year’s US Open, Sabalenka said she was trying to find “things which bring joy” after a tough year.

In March, her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov died in what Sabalenka called “an unthinkable tragedy”.

She later said, with hindsight, she should have taken a break from playing. She went on to struggle with a stomach problem in her French Open quarter-final defeat in June, before withdrawing from Wimbledon a few weeks later with a shoulder injury.

The injury-enforced break allowed her to refresh and, in New York, she has shown a fun and relaxed approach with her team off the court.

When she successfully defended her Australian Open title in January, she made it a tradition to write her signature on her fitness trainer Jason Stacy’s head.

Instead of her signature, Stacy stuck Sabalenka’s iconic tiger tattoo on the top of his head for the final against Pegula.

The second seed was seen poking fun at Stacy’s head in her celebrations, while she joked during her post-match news conference that he should have placed the image in the middle of his forehead.

“She is living her best life,” former British number one Laura Robson told Sky Sports.

“You just have to look at the environment she has around her. She has her physio tattooing a lion on his head and you see them all laughing and joking.

“It translates into her game on the court because everything is going to plan off the court.”

Behind her cheerful approach, however, is a bigger motivation for Sabalenka to keep pursuing Grand Slam success.

She has spoken about the impact of losing her father, Sergey, who died in 2019, and says it is her goal to “put our family name in the history of tennis”.

“Every time I see my name on that trophy, I’m so proud of myself, I’m proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream,” she said.

“They were doing everything they could to keep me going.”

‘The best hard court player in the world’

A three-time Grand Slam champion on hard courts, Sabalenka has lost just one of her past 28 major matches on the surface.

Sabalenka has quickly returned to the top of her game during the summer hard-court swing – winning the title in Cincinnati last month before succeeding at Flushing Meadows.

Former world number one and 18-time major singles winner Martina Navratilova has described her as the “best hard-court player in the world”.

Sabalenka can now challenge world number one Iga Swiatek – the ‘Queen of Clay’ after winning a third straight French Open title in June – for the year-end world number one ranking.

“It’s so much more interesting now with the way that Sabalenka is playing because before it felt like Swiatek was just a level above everyone around her,” former British number one Annabel Croft said on BBC 5 Live.

“It feels like Sabalenka has got that inner confidence and belief. She has added more to her game and become very interesting.

“She really is going to challenge Swiatek for that world number one [ranking].”

American Pegula had lost her past six major quarter-finals but she overwhelmed Polish top seed Swiatek 6-2 6-4 in New York.

She will face Karolina Muchova on Thursday for a place in the final after the Czech beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4.

“I’ve been [to the quarter-finals] so many freaking times but I kept losing,” Pegula said.

“Finally – finally – I can say I’m a semi-finalist. Thank you to the crowd, you carried me through that last game.

“To do it at prime time against the number one player in the world – it’s crazy, but I knew I could do it.”

Pegula’s success caps a strong showing for Americans at their home Grand Slam, with compatriot Emma Navarro facing Aryna Sabalenka in the other semi-final.

There is also guaranteed to be an American man in the singles final, with Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe meeting in the last four on Friday.

It was an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance by 2022 winner Swiatek, who made 41 unforced errors as she struggled to control her forehand in particular.

By contrast, Pegula was locked in from the start and broke in the opening game, courtesy of a Swiatek double fault.

Another gave Pegula her second break to go 3-0 up in a flash and she proceeded to take the first set in just 37 minutes.

The 30-year-old New Yorker continued to delight her home crowd, with her crisp, accurate groundstrokes keeping the pressure on Swiatek.

There was an improvement from Swiatek in the second set and, having been broken again, the Pole hit back immediately.

But Pegula kept up the pressure and secured the decisive break at 3-3 before she pressed on towards victory.

Nerves finally emerged as Pegula served for the match but she converted her third match point to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Muchova overcomes illness to beat Haddad Maia

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Muchova has not dropped a set in her impressive run to the last four

Muchova overcame illness to reach her second consecutive US Open semi-final with a straight-set win over Haddad Maia.

Muchova, who only returned to action in June after having wrist surgery, first left the court after wrapping up the first set with ease.

The unseeded 28-year-old then ran off court at 2-1 and again at 3-2 in the second and was seen by the doctor and physio at 4-3.

“It was a weird match,” said Muchova. “I had some problems I don’t want to comment on but I had to keep running to the bathroom and back.

“Sorry if it disturbed anyone but I had no other choice.”

Haddad Maia also had problems and seemed to be in tears before receiving treatment from the doctor at 5-3 down in the second set.

The 22-year-old showed all of his youthful talent along with grit and determination to win 6-3 7-5 6-2.

He received treatment for a leg problem early in the second set, while Australian 10th seed De Minaur seemed hampered by injury issues of his own.

But Draper, playing his first match on the famous Arthur Ashe Stadium, was by far the better player as he became the first British man to reach the last four in New York since Andy Murray’s title win in 2012.

He will play world number one Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals on Friday.

“Honestly, to be out here in my first match on the biggest court in the world is a dream come true,” Draper said.

“I think he was maybe struggling which may have helped me.”

Draper delivers on huge potential

Draper’s run is beginning to bring back memories of fellow Briton Emma Raducanu’s stunning victory at the US Open three years ago.

Like Raducanu, Draper has reached the last four without losing a set, moving through the draw with ease.

But while Raducanu’s remarkable win came from nowhere, Draper’s showing comes after a year in which he has delivered on his long-heralded talent.

He was a Wimbledon runner-up as a junior and took a set off Novak Djokovic on Centre Court when he made his Grand Slam debut aged 19.

Injuries last year meant that, despite reaching the fourth round in New York, he was outside the world’s top 100 just 12 months ago.

But this year he has risen steadily, becoming British number one in June and now making his name on the biggest stage ranked 25th in the world.

After a serene run to the last eight, he had to deal with the distractions of both his own physical issues and those of his opponent, who was struggling badly by the end.

When the final point was won Draper remained remarkably calm, carefully rearranging his belongings rather than being overcome with emotion – a suggestion he feels there is more to come.

He will go into the match against Sinner or Medvedev as a huge underdog, but history suggests special things can happen to Britons in New York.

How Draper reached the last four

There were doubts about De Minaur’s fitness before the match even started after his practice session lasted just 15 minutes earlier in the day.

Appearing in his fourth Slam quarter-final, the Australian, 25, was sluggish as Draper breezed through the first set and went up an early break in the second.

As Draper clinched that advantage, De Minaur clutched his hip in a potential reoccurrence of the injury that forced him to withdraw from his quarter-final against Djokovic at Wimbledon.

The physio appeared on court at the subsequent change of ends – but that was to treat Draper rather than De Minaur, with the Briton having his upper thigh taped.

Draper did not seem too troubled and soon had five break points for a 5-2 lead, only for each to be saved by his opponent.

That began a run of three consecutive games which threatened to swing the momentum of match in the favour of a resurgent De Minaur.

At that stage it was Draper who was struggling physically but his powerful, swinging left-handed serve returned at the crucial time to halt his opponent’s momentum.

That fearsome strike helped him close out the set and a huge forehand – his other main weapon – earned another break of serve early in the third.

De Minaur mustered one last challenge a game later but after Draper’s serve again saw off two break points at 3-2, the Australian faded badly.

The final set was over in just 32 minutes to make Draper the third British man since Murray to reach a major semi-final.

He will have 48 hours to recover and treat any injury issue before attempting to do what Kyle Edmund at the 2018 Australian Open and Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon in 2022 could not – progress from the last four to the final.

Russia’s Medvedev, champion in New York three years ago, was barely troubled by the Portuguese in a 6-0 6-1 6-3 win.

Medvedev is the only former US Open champion left in the draw in New York, and the only Grand Slam singles champion other than Jannik Sinner.

He could potentially face world number one Sinner – who beat him from two sets down in the Australian Open final in January – next.

It is the fifth time in the past six years that Medvedev has reached the last eight at the US Open.

Medvedev was interviewed on court afterwards by Nick Kyrgios, who was the last player to beat him before the quarter-final stage.

“The last time I lost in the fourth round was against you, right? Good memories,” the 28-year-old joked.

“I try to work hard. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.

“I have the mentality that if the other guy practises more than me, I have less chances to win, and I want to win all the time.”

Medvedev was broken just once in the match, as he went down 2-1 in the third set, before play was delayed after a fire alarm went off in the building where the electronic line calling team is.

The US Open does not have line judges, with all the calls made by the Hawkeye technology.

The building was evacuated, leading to a brief pause in play, before fifth seed Medvedev immediately broke back and won five of the next six games to advance.

Sinner faces Tommy Paul in the night session on Arthur Ashe later on Monday.

Britain’s Jack Draper earlier advanced with an impressive straight-set victory over Tomas Machac to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Second seed Sabalenka, beaten by Coco Gauff in the New York final last year, saw off her former doubles partner Mertens 6-2 6-4.

The Belarusian hit 41 winners and saved all eight of the break points that Belgium’s Mertens created.

Sabalenka is the first woman to reach four consecutive women’s singles quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2016.

She has now made the quarter-finals or better in her past eight Grand Slam appearances.

Her last defeat before that stage came at the 2022 Australian Open, where she was beaten by Kaia Kanepi in the fourth round. She has not lost a match in Melbourne since, winning the title in 2023 and defending it in January this year.

Sabalenka will face China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who beat silver medallist Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 6-2, in the last eight.

A match which lasted two hours 50 minutes ended at 2.15am local time on Monday, the latest finish to a women’s US Open match.

Sabalenka beat Zheng in the Australian Open final this year.

Paula Badosa earlier breezed past Wang Yafan 6-1 6-2 to set up a quarter-final against Emma Navarro, who ended Gauff’s title defence in a three-set win.

‘A few months ago I wanted to quit tennis’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Paula Badosa was born in New York before moving to Barcelona aged seven

Former world number two Badosa is into a second Grand Slam quarter-final after a difficult few years.

Badosa first broke through in 2021, winning the Indian Wells title before a run to the last eight of that year’s French Open.

However, a stress fracture in her back ruled her out of the second half of the 2023 season and has troubled her since.

She has not won a title since January 2022 and considered retirement after struggling with the impact of the injury.

“A few months ago, I was thinking to quit this sport because I stopped believing in myself and my injury wasn’t responding,” Badosa said.

“The low point for me was at the middle of the season. There were moments that I didn’t know what to do.

“In my mind I was thinking, maybe I should quit because if I’m not in the highest level, I don’t want to play this sport.

“So to be back is a dream come true.”

In the women’s doubles, Britain’s Heather Watson and American partner Asia Muhammad lost their third-round match against Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend 6-1 5-7 7-5.

Muchova, who made the semi-finals in New York in 2023, recovered from being 3-1 down in the opening set to secure a 6-3 6-3 victory over the Italian.

Paolini, 28, has had a great 2024, reaching the final of both the French Open and Wimbledon. But she struggled to deal with her Czech opponent’s serve as Muchova lost just five points when serving.

“I was a little bit nervous from the start so I was trying to get my shots to feel the ball,” said the 28-year-old. “Jasmine Paolini is an incredible player. I’m just really happy it’s worked again for me here.”

Muchova lost to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open final and reached the final four of the US Open three months later, losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff.

However, a wrist injury kept her out of action for 10 months but she is now finding her best form again.

“This was my worst and most serious injury I would say but I love the sport,” added Muchova. “I’m really grateful to all the people that helped me and yeah, I’m just a really happy kid now.”

She will next play either former world number one Caroline Wozniacki or 22nd seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

American sixth seed Jessica Pegula also reached the last eight as she opened play on the main show court with a 6-4 6-2 win over Russia’s Diana Shnaider.

Swiatek aims to continue dominant form

The top seed is in action in the evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Iga Swiatek, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, goes up against 16th seed Liudmila Samsonova at 00:00 BST.

The Polish world number one has already won five Grand Slam titles at the age of 23 and is looking for her second success in the United States after winning the 2022 US Open.