It was another blistering day at the US Open, as players suffered in the New York summer heat and humidity. Young American Jack Sock had to retire from his match against Ruben Bemelmans up two sets to love from cramps due to heat illness. 12 men have retired so far this year, an Open Era record for a Grand Slam tournament.
Two-time finalist Victoria Azarenka started the day off on Arthur Ashe Stadium with a tough straight sets win over 2009 semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer. The Belgian Wickmayer played inspired tennis to hang in with the former world number one, but Azarenka was able to move on winning 7-5, 6-4.
2011 champion Sam Stosur blasted Russian Evgeniya Rodina off the court with 29 winners, 6-1, 6-1. The Australian looks to be in similar form to when she defeated Serena Williams in the 2011 final. Second seed Simona Halep also moved on to the third round in straight sets, taking out Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-3, 6-4.
French Open champion Stan Wawrinka survived a tough test from 19-year-old Hyeon Chung on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The rising star from South Korea challenged the Swiss star with impressive serving and net play, but was not able to close sets. The fifth seed hit 62 winners to win 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 7-6(6).
2012 champion Andy Murray fell two-sets-to-love down to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino before kicking his play into high gear. The Brit cleaned up his game and improved his serve to take the next three sets and the match, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1.
The German women had an impressive showing on Day Four. 24th seed Sabine Lisicki reached the third round for the second year in a row taking out Italian Camila Giorgi in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0. 18th seed Andrea Petkovic took out Russian Elena Vesnina, 6-3, 7-6(4) while 2011 semifinalist Angelique Kerber dispatched Karin Knapp, 7-5, 6-2.
12th seed and Wimbledon semifinalist Richard Gasquet hit 47 winners on his way to victory against Robin Haase, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4. Five-time champion Roger Federer made quick work of Belgian Steve Darcis, wiping him off 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
Wimbledon finalist and ninth seed Garbine Muguruza played the longest women’s match in US Open history- three hours and 23 minutes, only to crash out to Johanna Konta of Great Britain, 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-2. Muguruza has struggled immensely recently, winning just one match since her magical run to the Wimbledon final.
Australian veteran and 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt played his final match at the US Open, losing to compatriot Bernard Tomic, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 5-7. Hewitt fought back from two-sets-to-love down, as the crowd urged him on. He had two match points up 5-3 in the fifth set, but was unable to capitalize on either of them. Tomic hobbled on court due to a leg injury late in the fifth, but was able to miraculously come back to win the match. Hewitt’s trademark fighting spirit and lion’s heart were on full display, giving it his all to the New York fans for one last time.
Last year’s runner up Caroline Wozniacki was last up on Arthur Ashe, and met an inspired Petra Cetkovska returning from hip injury. No one in the crowd could have guessed that the Czech had zero WTA main draw wins coming into the US Open. Cetkovska played beautifully aggressive tennis to take control away from the fourth seed, dictating play with her elegant forehand and sneaky drop shots.
Up a double break in the second set, Cetkovska blew it with a plethora of nervous errors. However, Cetkovska magically saved four match points in the deciding set with spectacular forehand winners. She dominated the final set tiebreak to upset Wozniacki, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(1). Now, just three top ten seeds remain in the women’s draw- Williams, Halep and Petra Kvitova.