Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer remain on a collision course to meet in the US Open semi-finals after they each claimed straight-sets wins to reach the last 16. Djokovic came through a decent test from against Denis Kudla, winning it 6-3, 6-4 and 6-2 while Federer got the better of Britton Danny Evans 6-2, 6-2 & 6-1.
Missed Federer in action?
Never fear, the highlights are all here…?#USOpen pic.twitter.com/czpE3tZhTL
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2019
Djokovic defied a shoulder injury to defeat American Kudla in straight sets on Friday night. The Serbian star was superb in dispatching the home player on the Arthur Ashe court.
Despite going into the match with a shoulder injury, Djokovic looked flawless at times with his energetic play and strong serving.
Now, he will have a rematch of the 2016 final, as he prepares to take on Swiss star Stan Wawrinka. Wawrinka defeated Paolo Lornezi in straight sets in the second in a back-to-back set of matches.
Former champion @stanwawrinka looking back to his best at the sight of his last Grand Slam title win…#USOpen pic.twitter.com/VlPfqUhNCt
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2019
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev wrapped up the men’s draw on Day 5 at the US Open with a highly entertaining victory over Feliciano Lopez. A physical clash from first ball to last, Medvedev outlasted Lopez 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 and 6-4, after three hours and 19 minutes of hard-hitting tennis.
The World No. 5 equalled his best result at a Grand Slam, having also reached the Round of 16 at the Australian Open in 2019. It marks his first second-week appearance in New York.
In the Women’s Singles draw, in an all-American clash under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium; it was former US Open finalist Madison Keys that emerged victorious against Sofia Kenin to book her spot into the fourth round.
No.10 seed Keys, who claimed the biggest title of her career in Cincinnati at the Western & Southern Open a few weeks ago, saved all eight of the break points she faced en route to a 6-3 & 7-5 win – her ninth consecutive match win.
On a mission.@Madison_Keys storms into R4 with a straight sets win over Kenin.
Catch all the best bits ?#USOpen pic.twitter.com/J9le4lriKM
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2019
All Eyes though are on what has been dubbed Super Saturday.
Coco Gauff is on another captivating run at a Grand Slam tournament and now she has get through defending champion Naomi Osaka to continue it. At 15, Gauff is the youngest woman to reach the third round of the US Open since 1996, when Anna Kournikova, a younger 15-made it to the fourth round falling to then No.1 Steffi Graf.
Welcome to Day 6!
See what lies in store for Saturday…#USOpen pic.twitter.com/8Cf1MhfuHc
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2019
She’s also trying to become the youngest woman to beat a world No. 1 since the final of the WTA event in San Diego in 1991, when Jennifer Capriati-also a younger 15-beat then-No.1 Monica Seles.
Osaka beat Poland’s Magda Linette 6-2 and 6-4, to extend her winning streak at the hard-court majors to 16 matches in a row-seven match to win the 2018 US Open, another seven matches to win the 2019 Australian Open and two more wins so far here.
Osaka also needs to win the title to have any chance of keeping the No.1 ranking, so a loss to Gauff would mean No. 2 Ashleigh Barty or No.3 Karolina Pliskova would take over after the US Open.
