Alex de Minaur is into the last 16 at the US Open for the first time since 2020 after an impressive win over 23rd seed Nicolas Jarry.
De Minaur won 6-1 6-3 6-2 with just 10 unforced errors in the match, breaking six times and remaining unbothered on his own serve despite four double faults and a first serve percentage of just 49.
He joins fellow Australian Rinky Hijikata in the next round, where he’ll play the winner of Daniil Medvedev’s match with Sebastian Baez for a spot in the quarter-finals.
“I don’t think any of us expected him to be that clinical enough to put away Jarry like that,” Woodbridge said on Channel 9.
Jelena Dokic said on TV that de Minaur’s methodical playing tactics had been a “nightmare” for Jarry, who had been widely expected to deliver a close contest against the Aussie world number 13.
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Alcaraz survives scare from Evans | 01:28
World number one Carlos Alcaraz surged into the last 16 of the US Open on Saturday as second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka advanced safely in the women’s draw.
Alcaraz, looking to become the first man to successfully defend the title since Roger Federer in 2008, polished off British 26th seed Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in 3hr 11min.
It was another stylish victory for the 20-year-old Spaniard, who will face Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the fourth round on Monday.
The Spaniard kept Evans on the back foot with his booming forehand while delighting the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with several of his signature forehand drop shots.
Alcaraz also produced one of the shots of the tournament to clinch a decisive break in the fourth set, curling a logic-defying forehand up the line past Evans for a 4-2 lead.
“He’s a tricky opponent,” Alcaraz said. “I think when we play each other it’s a show on the court. We made great points, great shots, a lot of different kinds of situations.”
Alcaraz, who will surrender his world number one ranking to Novak Djokovic at the end of this tournament, admitted he was motivated by matching Federer in defending his crown.
“Obviously defending the title is a goal for me,” he said. “I’m looking for that. Nobody’s done it here since Roger so I’d love to be part of tournament history with him.”
Alcaraz’s last-16 opponent Arnaldi, meanwhile, advanced after upsetting 16th-seeded Briton Cameron Norrie, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in just under two hours.
Arnaldi, 22, had never played in the main draw of a Grand Slam before this season, with a brief run to the second round at Roland Garros his best performance in a major championship.
There was better luck for another member of Britain’s US Open contingent elsewhere though, with Jack Draper reaching the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over American world No. 89 Michael Mmoh.
The win was especially sweet for the 21-year-old Briton, who was forced to withdraw with an injury at the same stage of the tournament last year.
“It was a tough match,” Draper said of Saturday’s victory. “I knew it would be a real challenge and I was proud of the way I came through.” Draper will face either France’s Arthur Rinderknech or eighth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner knocked off former champion Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday to book his place in the US Open fourth round.
The 22-year-old Sinner next faces either 2020 runner-up Alexander Zverev or 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov as he closes in on a potential quarter-final rematch with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner was beaten by Alcaraz in five sets last year in New York in a match which set a record for the latest ever finish at the tournament of 2:50 in the morning.
– Sabalenka speeds through –
In the women’s draw, Australian Open champion Sabalenka maintained her dominant start to the tournament with a 60-minute demolition of France’s Clara Burel, winning 6-1, 6-1.
“I’m super happy with the performance today,” Sabalenka said afterwards. “I think I played great tennis today.”
The Belarusian right-hander will play Russia’s 13th seed Daria Kasatkina on Monday in the last 16. Kasatkina booked her place in the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen.
“Always tricky matches against her,” Sabalenka said. “I have to be focused and I don’t have to overrush things against her.
“I just have to stay calm and just wait for the opportunity and take it.”
Meanwhile 17th seed Madison Keys became the second American woman into the last 16 after Coco Gauff with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over Russian 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova.
American third seed Jessica Pegula fought off Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in three sets to clinch her place in the last 16 of the US Open on Saturday.
Pegula broke twice in the final set to brush the 26th-ranked Svitolina aside and seal a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory.
“I knew no matter what she wasn’t going to go away,” said Pegula, a quarter-finalist at five of the past seven Grand Slams.
She beat Svitolina for the fourth time in a row, having also defeated her in three sets in Washington last month.
“I feel like every time I play her it’s so close. She definitely picked up her level and forced me to come out strong in the third.” The 29-year-old Pegula will play compatriot and 17th seed Madison Keys for a place in the quarter-finals