US Open 2024 Day Four Recap

The spherical of 64 on the 2024 US Open is full, and Thursday’s play featured the upset of the event as far as Botic van de Zandschulp ended Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of profitable a second US Open crown and his third Grand Slam of the season.

Elsewhere, the highest guys’ performances primarily went in line with plan, with Sinner, Medvedev, de Minaur, and Paul all progressing in straight units. 

Nonetheless, sixteenth seed Seb Korda and seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz, two perennial underachievers in New York who’ve by no means progressed previous the second spherical in a number of makes an attempt, misplaced.

Arthur Fils was the opposite seeded participant to crash out, falling to qualifier Gabriel Diallo. This high half of the draw is now extensive open for somebody on the periphery to have a career-best event.

Day 4 US Open 2024 Spherical of 64 Outcomes

Sinner Slides Previous Michelsen

Jannik Sinner is thru to the third spherical in New York after a commanding efficiency in opposition to Alex Michelsen, coming by way of 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.

Michelsen performed nicely throughout the US Open sequence however was no match for Sinner’s energy and precision, because the Italian dictated play along with his heavy groundstrokes.

Having beforehand defeated Michelsen on his solution to profitable the title in Cincinnati, Sinner was the large favorite heading in. Regardless of dropping his serve within the match’s opening recreation, he rapidly discovered his rhythm and elevated his depth from the baseline, securing an important break within the ninth recreation to take the primary set.

From that time, Sinner dominated the match, benefiting from Michelsen’s lack of depth and consistency. Michelsen struggled with 31 unforced errors, permitting Sinner to shut the match in only one hour and 40 minutes.

I’m very joyful to get by way of, he’s a really powerful opponent. We had a match in Cincinnati one week in the past, so I knew slightly what to anticipate. I all the time love New York, the primary Grand Slam I performed in the principle draw, so I’ve nice recollections and I all the time take pleasure in enjoying right here. Sinner on his win.

Van de Zandschulp Stuns Alcaraz

Only a few gave Botic van de Zandschulp a lot of an opportunity when he stepped onto the courtroom in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday night time, however the Dutchman pulled off the most important upset of the event thus far, defeating the Spaniard 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 within the second spherical.

Alcaraz arrived in New York hoping to win a 3rd consecutive main title. After a nonclinical opening spherical, he produced an identical stage in spherical two, permitting van de Zandschulp to assault and disrupt his baseline rhythm. 

The loss marked his earliest exit from a serious since Wimbledon in 2021 when he fell within the second spherical to Daniil Medvedev. Whereas he didn’t play terribly, his stage was far beneath par and the worst I’ve seen from him shortly: 27 unforced errors, together with 12 on his forehand, and he didn’t even hit a winner within the first set.

We’ve seen earlier than that the Spaniard’s recreation generally is a bit hit-and-miss, however it’s not a catastrophic loss by any means; the large 3 created the phantasm that the highest seeds by no means lose early in slams, however that’s not the case. As I stated in my US Open draw preview, given Carlos’s season thus far, profitable two slams and enjoying loads of tournaments, it isn’t simple to take care of that type into the second half of the yr. 

As for Mr van de Zandschulp, he had a breakout just a few years in the past with some spectacular wins, however after an harm final yr, he’s had a reasonably garbage time on tour. He even acknowledged earlier this yr that he was contemplating retirement as a result of he was not having fun with it.

Nonetheless, he definitely loved final night time and performed a near-flawless match, profitable 78% of his first-serve factors and 28 out of 35 internet factors, so I believe his retirement plans are at the moment on maintain. Can he produce the identical vs Draper subsequent spherical? 

I’m slightly bit misplaced for phrases. It’s been an unbelievable night. It was my first night time session on Arthur Ashe. The group was wonderful. I gained confidence from my final match in opposition to Denis Shapovalov. I performed stable, and from level one tonight, I believed I might have an opportunity, and also you see the way it typically seems. Van de Zandschulp on his shock win.

Medvedev Outmanouvers Marozsan

Daniil Medvedev is thru to the third spherical, comfortably defeating Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(5). The 2021 US Open champion showcased his trademark consistency from the baseline, and the Hungarian was not capable of finding a solution to disrupt Meddy’s play, 

One space of concern, nonetheless, is the Russian’s serve. The opening set contained six breaks of serve, with each gamers buying and selling three consecutive breaks to start out, and I believe Medvedev is being damaged with an excessive amount of regularity this season, which is why he’s not received extra.

Yesterday, he solely landed 47 per cent of his first serves, so like Djokovic in his match, it’s all about how nicely you possibly can grind from the baseline. Happily for him, Medvedev does that supremely nicely, and he dominated the rallies to get the job completed.

The match right now, I felt like an Italian restaurant. The meals is nice, the aftertaste is nice however your head is like — so noisy. All of the match I used to be like, ‘Attempt to focus! Attempt to focus!’ It was a enjoyable feeling. I managed to remain actually stable, some nice moments, and I’m actually joyful to be by way of to the subsequent spherical. Medvedev on his win over Marozsan.

Different Matches of Observe

Paul Powers Previous Purcell: Tommy Paul is wanting good in New York thus far; the American is likely one of the greatest athletes on tour and proved far too robust for Purcell. He received the primary set 7-5 and dominated the second set 6-0, with Purcell unable to proceed after the primary recreation of the third set.

Evans Negates Navone: After a gruelling 5-hour and 35-minute first-round match in opposition to Karen Khachanov, Evo might have completed with a extra routine match, and he obtained one, bagging a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Mariano Navone. He’ll face Alex de Minaur subsequent.

Borges Beats Kokkinakis: As I predicted, Kokkinakis couldn’t go any additional after his win over Tsitisipas as Nuno Borges took him out in straight units, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5.

US Open Day 5 Spherical of 32 Matches