NEW YORK: Czech Karolina Muchova, the 10th seed, beat American Taylor Townsend 7-6 (7/0), 6-3 to move into the fourth round of the US Open on Friday.

Although Muchova previously reached the US Open fourth round in 2020, it is the only major at which she is yet to make the quarter-finals.

She’ll get the chance to rectify that against China’s 53rd-ranked Wang Xinyu, who reached the second week of a major for the first time after defeating Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and eight minutes.

After dropping the opening set, Wang came roaring back in the second, breaking Schmiedlova twice to take the set before breaking her opponent three more times in the decider to claim victory.

On Thursday, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev moved quietly into the third round while big-hitting American John Isner delivered his trademark stack of aces in taking his final bow at Flushing Meadows.

Defending champion Alcaraz eased into a last 32 meeting with Britain’s Dan Evans after dispatching South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in 2hr 28min on the Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt.

Third seeded Russian Medvedev survived a late night fright before taming Australian battler Christopher O’Connell 6-2, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2.

Isner, the standard bearer for American men’s tennis during some barren years, never made it past the quarter-finals in 17 US Opens but his towering presence and booming serve made him a crowd favourite.

He signed off his professional singles career with a 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) loss to fellow American Michael Mmoh but did not go quietly, adding 48 more aces to his record total.

The 38-year-old Stan Wawrinka — the 2016 US Open champion — rolled back the years to eliminate Argentine No.30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-2 while Germany’s 12th seed Alexander Zverev booked his place in the third round with a 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of compatriot Daniel Altmaier.

The British charge at the US Open will carry on without 2012 champion Andy Murray, who was outclassed by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-4 6-1.

While Murray tumbled out, 16th seed Cameron Norrie and 26th seed Dan Evans advanced to the third round.

In the women’s draw, another Briton, Jodie Burrage, saw her tournament come to an end after a one-sided defeat to second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, the reigning Australian Open champion. Sabalenka prevailed 6-3, 6-2 in 1hr 14min.

Ninth-seeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who made history by becoming the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon in July, had too much firepower for Italy’s Martina Trevisan, winning 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 20min.

Third seed Jessica Pegula romped to 6-3, 6-1 win over Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig while her American compatriot Madison Keys, the losing finalist in 2017, enjoyed a 6-1, 6-2 win over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

Tunisian fifth seed Ons Jabeur, looking to return to the final and atone for last year’s loss to Iga Swiatek, is through to the third round but was made to work hard by Czech teenager Linda Noskova before sealing a thrilling 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 6-3 victory.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2023