Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic edged nearer to a semifinal showdown on the U.S. Open on Friday (August 29, 2025) as Aryna Sabalenka avenged the reminiscence of a bitter defeat to energy into the final 16.
Spanish second seed Alcaraz and Serbian legend Djokovic each booked their passage into the final 16 with snug victories and now stand simply two wins away from assembly within the final 4.
Alcaraz breezed previous Italian thirty second seed Luciano Darderi in emphatic style, successful 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium whereas Djokovic, who’s chasing a report twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title, took care of Britain’s Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates successful his third spherical match towards Italy’s Luciano Darderi
| Photograph Credit score:
Reuters
Alcaraz’s one hour 44-minute victory sends the 2022 US Open champion into a gathering on Sunday towards France’s Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated compatriot Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.
The five-time Grand Slam singles champion admitted he had been nervous about having to open the day’s play at 11.30am native time.
“I’m not an early morning particular person so it’s troublesome for me to get up within the morning,” Alcaraz mentioned. “One of many good issues at the moment although I awakened early, did the nice and cozy up and felt good.”
Alcaraz wanted a medical timeout whereas main 5-4 within the second set for therapy on his proper knee, however later mentioned he had no harm issues.
Djokovic milestone
Djokovic, 38, in the meantime was scientific in his win over Norrie within the night session, which sends him right into a fourth spherical tie towards German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff.
“Coming into any match you actually need to win in straight units with none drama however clearly that’s not attainable,” mentioned Djokovic after changing into the oldest man to achieve the US Open final 16 since Jimmy Connors in 1991.
“It’s good that I get examined,” he added. “I’m nonetheless looking for my rhythm and my groove on the court docket.”
Djokovic’s fourth spherical opponent Struff dealt a blow to American hopes of a primary residence U.S. Open champion since 2003 with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) defeat of fashionable seventeenth seed Frances Tiafoe.
“I don’t know learn how to get better from this, to be sincere with you,” Tiafoe mentioned. “I haven’t been this down in a really, very very long time.”
Tiafoe’s exit got here after one other disappointing loss for US followers, with big-serving Ben Shelton departing the Louis Armstrong Stadium in tears after being compelled to retire after the fourth set of his match towards French veteran Adrian Mannarino.
Shelton, 22, was main 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 when he started to really feel ache in his left shoulder. He performed on however threw within the towel after Mannarino took the fourth set.
“I’m not a man who would retire if I might proceed,” mentioned a dejected Shelton.
Sabalenka revenge
Within the ladies’s draw, in the meantime, world primary and defending champion Sabalenka avenged her 2021 U.S. Open semifinal defeat to Leylah Fernandez with a straight-sets victory over the Canadian thirty first seed on Armstrong.
Sabalenka was left distraught after being upset by the unheralded Fernandez 4 years in the past with a spot in what would have been her first Grand Slam ultimate there for the taking.
However the 27-year-old from Belarus made positive there was no repeat on Friday, seeing off Fernandez 6-3, 7-6 (7/2). Sabalenka’s victory noticed her prolong her unbelievable successful streak in tie-breaks to 18.
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka celebrates successful her third spherical match towards Canada’s Leylah Fernandez
| Photograph Credit score:
Reuters
“I wished this revenge badly,” Sabalenka mentioned afterwards. “It was a tricky lesson for me again then. Since then, we by no means performed once more.
“I simply wished to show to myself that the lesson was discovered and that I developed as a participant and I might get this win.”
Sabalenka faces unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa within the subsequent spherical. Bucsa moved on Friday with an upset 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Belgian nineteenth seed Elise Mertens.
Elsewhere, Kazakh ninth seed Elena Rybakina outclassed Britain’s Emma Raducanu, successful 6-1, 6-2 to maneuver into a final 16 tie towards 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 victory over Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini.
In different ladies’s draw matches, American fourth seed Jessica Pegula comfortably defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 to achieve the fourth spherical, the place she’s going to face compatriot Ann Li.
Revealed – August 30, 2025 09:49 am IST
