Third seed and last year’s finalist Danil Medvedev cruised past Christopher O’Connell 6-3 6-2 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium to advance to the third round at the US Open in New York. Medvedev has not dropped a set on his serve in his first two matches.
Medvedev fended off both break points he faced and converted on four break point chances. The Russian player broke in the eighth game of the opening set, twice in a row in the third and fifth games of the second set and once in the first set of the third set.
“The biggest positive is that I won in three sets. Late match, so I didn’t want to finish too late. Great level and he is not an easy opponent. I am happy with my performance to go through”, said Medvedev.
Medvedev set up a third round clash against US wildcard JJ Wolf, who beat Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-4 6-3 after 1 hour and 57 minutes. Wolf broke twice to open up a 4-0 lead and won five of the last six games in the second set.
Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics came back from 1-2 down on sets to beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4 6-1 after four hours and five minutes in the longest match of the tournament so far. Fucsovics earned eight breaks. Dimitrov wasted four set points at 5-4 in the second set. Dimitrov got the break to take a 3-1 lead in the fourth set. Fucsovics got three consecutive breaks in the third set, becoming the first Hungarian player to reach the US Open third round since 1975.
Vasek Pospisil upset last week’s Western and Southern Open finalist Milos Raonic 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 after 3 hours and 18 minutes.
Pospisil saved all five break points and converted two of his ten break point chances. Both players fended off four break points in the opening game before earning three break points at 4-3. Pospisil saved them to set up a tie-break. Raonic got three mini-breaks to win the first set 7-1 after 54 minutes. Pospisil lost six points on his first serve in the second set and earned a break at 3-2. Pospisil wrapped up the first set with a forehand winner in the ninth game. All five break points were saved in the third set, which came down to the third set. Pospisil claimed the tie-break with two winners at 5-4.
Both players held their serve in the first seven games of the fourth set. Pospisil broke serve in the eighth game to open up a 5-3 lead, as Raonic netted a forehand and sealed the win in the ninth game with an ace.
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic overcame Norbert Gombos 6-3 1-6 7-6 7-5 in just under three hours. Cilic reeled off the last three games to win the opening set 6-3. Gombos broke twice to win the second set 6-1. The Slovakian player broke serve to take a 4-2 lead. Cilic pulled the break back to force the third set to the tie-break. The Croatian player cruised through to winning the tie-break 7-2. Cilic fended off two set points at 4-5 in the fourth set and broke serve in the next game before holding serve in the 12th game.
