Kevin Anderson maintained his stellar record in New York on Friday, beating Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a five-set thriller at the US Open.
The South African, who reached his maiden Grand Slam final last year in Flushing Meadows, extended his winning streak in New York to seven matches after three hours and 42 minutes. In February, Anderson won four consecutive three-set matches to lift his fourth tour-level crown at the inaugural New York Open on Long Island. Anderson has won 13 of his past 14 matches in the New York.
Despite requiring attention to his upper right leg at the conclusion of the first set, Anderson recovered well to book his place in the last 16 for the third time in four years. The two-time Grand Slam finalist saved seven of nine break points to overcome the #NextGenATP Canadian in the first match played under the roof of the newly-built Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Shapovalov was bidding to return to the fourth round in Flushing Meadows after reaching the same stage on his debut last year. The 21-year-old, who defeated Andreas Seppi in five sets on Wednesday, is currently third in the ATP Race to Milan.
After trading the opening two sets, Anderson made the decisive move in the third set at 3-3 as Shapovalov misfired on multiple forehands. As was the case in the first two sets, that point proved to be the only break opportunity as the World No. 5 moved one set from victory by converting his first set point three games later.
The fourth set appeared to be heading towards a tie-break, with neither man able to make inroads in their return games. But Shapovalov struck late in the 10th game, with aggressive returning and court coverage, to force the match to a deciding set.
Anderson struck early in the fifth set, extracting a crucial error from his opponent after firing a deep backhand return within inches of the baseline. After saving five break points throughout the set, Anderson earned four match points on his opponent's serve in the ninth game.
But Shapovalov held firm, producing his best level under pressure, much to the delight of the crowd, to force his 6'8" opponent to serve out the match. Anderson accepted the challenge, closing the match out to love to end an instant classic.
Anderson will face ninth seed Dominic Thiem for a place in the quarter-finals. Anderson leads Thiem 6-1 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, but it was Thiem who emerged victorious in their most recent meeting in Madrid three months ago.
Thiem, for the second year in a row, defeated #NextGenATP American Taylor Fritz in four sets to advance in Flushing Meadows. The 24-year-old hit 59 winners, including 18 aces, to overcome Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4 in three hours and 19 minutes.
Thiem, who has now reached the Round of 16 on four occasions at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, will bid to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time in New York. The Austrian led Juan Martin del Potro 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round last year and held two match points, before falling in a five-set classic.
After splitting the opening two sets, Fritz charged into a 4-2 lead in the third set. But Thiem responded in emphatic fashion, winning five of the next seven games to move ahead in a tight third-set tie-break.
With a break in the sixth game, Thiem appeared to be closing in on victory before rain began to fall at 5-3. After a brief interruption, the 24-year-old failed to serve out the match, but broke in the very next game to confirm the win as Fritz misfired on his forehand side.
Fritz was bidding to reach the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time in his third-round debut at the level. The American currently occupies the seventh and final automatic qualification spot in the ATP Race to Milan
Did You Know?
Kevin Anderson defeated Dominic Thiem in three sets at the 2015 US Open. The South African navigated two tie-break sets to overcome the Austrian 6-3, 7-6(3), 7-6(3) en route to the quarter-finals.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2ouRX0F
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