TENNIS NEWS – THE CALM AFTER THE STORM: ANDY MURRAY AND OTHER FAVORITES ENJOY ROUTINE LABOR DAY AT THE 2016 U.S. OPEN

Written by: Staff on 6th September 2016

TENNIS NEWS - THE CALM AFTER THE STORM: ANDY MURRAY AND OTHER FAVORITES ENJOY ROUTINE LABOR DAY AT THE 2016 U.S. OPEN

epa05519462 Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland hits a return to Alessandro Giannessi of Italy on the fourth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 01 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

By Ricky Dimon

Labor Day weekend at the U.S. Open was not without drama in the men’s singles tournament. On Saturday, Stan Wawrinka saved a match point in his fourth set against Dan Evans but eventually survived 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(8), 6-2. As tense as that contest was, it served as little more than the appetizer to the main course. That, as nobody will soon forget, took place on Sunday afternoon–and into the night session–between Rafael Nadal and Lucas Pouille. After four hours and seven minutes of entertaining, nail-biting action, Pouille pulled off a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(6) stunner of the 14-time Grand Slam champion.

One day later, there seemed to be no more room for drama.

The second day of fourth-round action in Flushing Meadows featured a trio of three-set beatdowns and just one four-setter. Wawrinka could have made it four for four in the straight-set department but he failed to serve out his match against Illya Marchenko at 5-4 in the third. Although for a moment it looked like things would get seriously interesting when Marchenko seized a quick break in the fourth, Wawrinka steadied the ship and soon finished off a 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 win.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina hits a return to Dominic Thiem of Austria on the eighth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

Next up for the third-ranked Swiss is a quarterfinal showdown against Juan Martin Del Potro. The 2009 champion’s brilliant summer run continued with an abbreviated day at the office. A worn-out Dominic Thiem saw his physical struggles reappear and the 23-year-old Austrian was forced to retire with a knee injury while trailing 6-3, 3-2.

“I didn’t expect to be in quarters in my second Grand Slam after my comeback,” said Del Potro, who missed the first two majors in 2016 as he slowly made his way back from yet another wrist surgery. “I’m playing good tennis. My level is [improving] every day. I’m so glad to be part of the last eight in this tournament.”

Andy Murray, to the surprise of no one, is also part of the last eight. The Olympic gold medalist, who beat Del Potro in the Rio final, maintained his momentum with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Grigor Dimitrov on Monday night. Murray had struggled just a bit in a four-set defeat of Paolo Lorenzi last Saturday, but the second-ranked Scot needed only two hours to dispose of Dimitrov.

“I played very well,” Murray assured. “Tactically I played a very good match. I don’t think I made any mistakes there. I kept good concentration throughout. Yeah, I mean, it was a really good match. I (don’t) think Grigor played his best, but I didn’t really give him a chance to get into the match.”

Speaking of never getting into the match, Ivo Karlovic’s serve was unable to stand up against Kei Nishikori’s return as the Japanese world No. 7 cruised 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). Karlovic had a chance to extend the last-ever singles match in the current Louis Armstrong Stadium when Nishikori served at 4-5, 15-40 in the third, but the 6’11” Croat could not convert.

Nishikori’s reward is a quarterfinal date with Murray on Wednesday.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Kei Nishikori of Japan hits a return to Ivo Karlovic of Croatia on the eighth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 05 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JASON SZENES

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, Atp, Dan Evans, Dominic Thiem, Flushing Meadows, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Illya Marchenko, Ivo Karlovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Kei Nishikori, Labor Day, Lucas Pouille, Men's tennis, Rafa Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis News, US Open tennis