Quick Served: Day 6 — American Ups & Downs
What better way to start your weekend than with Andy Roddick’s daily US Open recap?
He breaks down Friday’s primetime results, highlights Taylor Townsend’s incredible performance, and weighs in on which player has looked the sharpest through Week 1.
Andy also reacts to a tough day for American stars and considers how they can regroup moving forward.
And since it’s Andy’s birthday, celebrate by watching his full Day 6 recap!
*Results from end of play on August 29.
‘Taylors’ Carry American Torch
Following a rough afternoon for home favorites, Taylor Townsend & Taylor Fritz held steady in primetime.
Townsend upset No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-2. It’s the second time she’s advanced to the Round of 16 at a major in singles (2019 US Open). The World No. 1 in doubles takes the court Saturday with partner Katerina Siniakova in the second round.
Fritz, the men’s No. 4 seed, rallied after losing the second set to qualifier Jerome Kym by closing out the match in four. The 2024 US Open finalist has reached at least the Round of 16 in six of the last eight majors.
Djokovic, Sabalenka Advance
Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round at a major for the 69th time, tying Roger Federer’s all-time men’s singles record. Djokovic’s record-breaking 192nd career win at a hard-court Grand Slam came after firing 18 aces and defeating Cameron Norrie in four sets.
The No. 7 seed will face World No. 144 Jan-Lennard Struff after he pulled off the upset over Frances Tiafoe.
Revenge was on the World No. 1’s mind as Aryna Sabalenka got even with Leylah Fernandez after losing their 2021 semifinal match at Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka won 6-3, 7-6 (2) to reach the Round of 16 at the US Open for the fifth consecutive year. She’s now won 18 consecutive tiebreaks.
Sabalenka will face Cristina Bucsa who upset No. 19 Elise Mertens to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time at a major.
Shelton, Tiafoe, Navarro Out at Home Slam
Ben Shelton, the No. 6 seed, was forced to retire before the fifth set against Adrian Mannarino due to a shoulder injury. It was the first retirement of his career. Shelton later said he’d “never felt anything like [it] before."
Soon after, Frances Tiafoe was stunned by Struff 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7). The qualifier has beaten top 20 seeds in consecutive matches (No. 17 Tiafoe & No. 11 Holger Rune).
No. 10 seed Emma Navarro, a 2024 semifinalist, took the first set and led 3-0 in the third, but fell to Barbora Krejcikova. Some revenge for the two-time major winner as Navarro beat Krejcikova at Wimbledon.
On the bright side…
At least one American woman will reach the quarterfinals. 2024 finalist Jess Pegula earned her third straight-set win of the tournament by beating Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5. Then, Ann Li swept Priscilla Hon to set up a fourth round clash with Pegula. Li, ranked No. 58, reached the Round of 16 for the first time at a major.
More positivity: No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 8 Amanda Anisimova and No. 14 Tommy Paul can all advance to the fourth round on Saturday.
Results Rundown
Carlos Cruises
Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Round of 16 needing just one hour and 44 minutes to beat No. 32 Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. It marks the Spaniard’s 20th win at the US Open in 23 matches.
He’ll face Arthur Rinderknech, who pulled away from fellow Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi by winning the last three sets to secure his first Round of 16 appearance at a Slam.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw: No. 20 seed Jiri Lehecka is into the fourth round at the US Open for the first time, sweeping Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. No. 21 Tomas Machac is also through and will play Fritz.
Major Winners, Major Statements
2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina swept 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes. Believe it or not, it’s the first Sweet 16 appearance in New York for the the No. 9 seed.
Then, Marketa Vondrousova, who won Wimbledon in 2023, upset No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (4), 6-1. One of these major champions will reach the quarterfinals as they’ll meet on Sunday.
Are You Keeping Up With Quick Served ?
1 — Elena Rybakina is the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach the round of 16 in women's singles at all four Grand Slam events.
3 — Three men aged 35+ (Novak Djokovic, Adrian Mannarino and Jan-Lennard Struff) have reached the R16 at a Grand Slam for the first time since the US Open in 1982.
4 — Jessica Pegula is oldest player to reach the fourth round in four consecutive US Opens since Serena Williams between 2011-2016.
Quick Served Day 5 poll results: 67% of respondents said Iga Swiatek is their pick to reach the women’s final from the bottom half of the draw.
Primetime Preview: Saturday, August 30
7:00 PM: No. 29 Anna Kalinskaya vs. No. 2 Iga Swiatek
7:00 PM: No. 3 Alexander Zverev vs. No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime
8:30 PM: No. 23 Alexander Bublik vs. No. 14 Tommy Paul
9:00 PM: No. 18 Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Maria Sakkari
All match times are in Eastern Time.
Saturday’s Full Schedule of Play.
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