US Open 2020: Naomi Osaka through, Evans and Norrie beaten and more – as it happened

That’s all for me today, but here is Kevin Mitchell’s updated piece on another strange day of tennis. Thanks very much for following. Until tomorrow.

Fritz may have crumbled after failing to serve out the match, that was a big, big performance by Shapovalov and one of the best wins of his career. He was two points away from defeat numerous times, down a 5-2 deficit in the fourth set and he spent much of this match visibly frustrated, but he buckled down and found a way.

By the end of the fourth set, he was serving incredibly well. Another opportunity awaits against David Goffin.

This is astounding serving from Shapovalov as he moves up 5-2* in the fifth on Taylor Fritz.

His fifth set stats: 7 aces, 67% first serves in, 11/12 first serve points won. 10 winners, 2 unforced errors. One game away.

Shapovalov snatches the set and pushes Fritz to a fifth!

Truly impressive work from the Canadian to break back. The tiebreak was dominated by huge serving: Shapovalov served his 8th ace of the set to reach 4-3*, Fritz responded with two huge unreturned serves for 5-4*, then Shapovalov slammed down another ace for 5-5.

At 5-5, Shapovalov missed his first serve, but no matter, he curled a nice unreturned second serve down the T. On set point, Shapovalov defended for his life and then whipped a forehand down the line when the space opened. Fritz couldn’t reach it.

A great effort from the Canadian after Fritz served for the match at *5-3 and stood two points from victory multiple times. Shapovalov 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6(5) Fritz.

Great effort by Denis Shapovalov to drag himself back to 5-5. Down 15-30, the Canadian slammed dan ace down the T and escaped with some good serving.

Fritz’s mind must be racing, but he responded well with a quick hold to love. He will get a tiebreak at the very worst. Shapovalov 3-6 6-3 4-6 *5-6 Fritz.

Denis Shapovalov dragged himself to 30-30 with some incredible defensive play, put himself in the position to have one more shot at breaking serve, and then he shanked a routine forehand at 30-30. Both criminal and typical.

At 40-30, Taylor Fritz connected with a serve-forehand 1-2 on game point and moved on. He is now one game from his first slam fourth round. Shapovalov 3-6 6-3 4-6 *2-5 Fritz.

Receiving a message of encouragement from the great Rod Laver may well feel better than the fourth round itself.

2 hours 45 minutes and millions of conspiracy theories later, Adrian Mannarino and Alexander Zverev have arrived on Louis Armstrong Stadium. At this point, the match itself feels far less significant than the circumstances around the delay.

It appears that Denis Shapovalov’s burst of anger worked as he immediately breaks back. After dragging Fritz to deuce, the Canadian played a brilliant, disciplined point by defending his backhand for a long period before punishing Fritz with a bruising inside out forehand. Fritz then sprayed a forehand wide on break point.

Shapovalov is so amped up right now – fistpumps after every successful point, groans to his mother in each time he makes a mistake.

Taylor Fritz will serve for a two sets to one lead on Ashe. Great effort from the American, who buried two gorgeous backhand passing shots in three points deep into Shapovalov’s service game, including one at deuce.

Down break point, Shapovalov went for a big second serve and thought he had landed an ace, only for hawk-eye to call it long. He is not happy. Shapovalov 3-6 6-3 3-5* Fritz.

Angelique Kerber, who has quietly navigated the draw, has a big fourth round next with the in-form Jennifer Brady. In my opinion, the top semi-finalist is likely to come from this match and it will be the first true glimpse into whether Kerber, who is ranked 23rd, is capable of rediscovering the form that took her to #1 with three slam titles, including this tournament in 2016:

Q. You know what it takes to be a Grand Slam champion. You already have that flavor. So what do you think you’re lacking or do you think that now you have everything to go back to where you left and to lift the trophy again, Grand Slam trophy again?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think it’s still a long way. I mean, of course I know the way. I have been there already. But now we have a new tournament. Every tournament starts from zero, and it’s still a big challenge to go on top there.

It’s important, you know, to play the best tennis, especially in the important moments and in important matches. It’s impossible actually to play two weeks your best tennis.

So you have to, yeah, find a way to give everything every single day. It is completely new tournament. You know, new situation for everyone. So it’s still a long, long way.

Of course I know the way, but this year it’s a little bit different (smiling).

There were false reports that Kirsten Flipkens, a Belgian player who must quarantine in her room until September 11th, was spotted at JFK Airport in New York. Her two word response:

Meanwhile, here is Luka Mladenovic, brother of Kristina Mladenovic, who is accompanying her in New York as a coach:

“If only you knew everything that is going on here … THIS IS A NETFLIX SERIES I SWEAR TO YOU !!! You are aware of 10% I think …”

“So I’m telling you clearly .. we don’t care about the US ShitOpen 2020, cancel our matches .. Just let us go home. Make us go home.”

What a dramatic sport.

What a great effort from Denis Shapovalov to snatch the second set just as it seemed to be sprawling out of control.

After Taylor Fritz sprayed three consecutive unforced errors to lost his serve to love, Shapovalov then responded with three consecutive errors to start his game down 0-40.

Shapovalov survived triple break point with some good serving and then he survived a brilliant rally at deuce, defending exceptionally before flipping the point and finishing with a lovely drop volley. He took the set with his first opportunity.

Shapovalov 3-6 6-3 Fritz.

The plot thickens.

On Ashe, Denis Shapovalov and Taylor Fritz remain on serve in the second set. Fritz leads 6-3 *3-4.

In-form 14th seed Anett Kontaveit leads Magda Linette 4-1.

Here is Kevin Mitchell on Cameron Norrie’s loss tonight.

For those who may not quite be up to date, a refresher on the ‘bubble within a bubble’. After being in contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for coronavirus, 7 players, including Adrian Mannarino, were allowed to compete this week under strict protocols isolating them from other players. 4 other players are under daily testing.

The defeated players were already learning today that they will have to remain quarantined in their hotel rooms until next Saturday under CDC rules.

An update on Sascha Zverev, who should be playing right now but still looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world. We wait to see what has transpired with Adrian Mannarino.

As well as Corentin Moutet competed and despite a shower of great passing shots from the Frenchman in the tiebreak, I think this has to go down as a poor loss for Dan Evans. Evans is now around the top 30, seeded at slams and he has had considerable success against top players recently. He is 6-4 against top 20 players in 2020, which is a tremendous record.

However, most of those wins have come at ATP 500s and 250s. His next step is to start producing his best tennis when it truly matters at the biggest events.

From ZTE Blade:

Two of the shortest players on tour squaring off. Perhaps only better by the Rochus’s or Ferrer-Fognini.

Yas.

Agreed. It is absolutely refreshing to see two 5’9 guys and so is the the knowledge that no service hold is certain. It is hard not eo enjoy how crafty Evans and Moutet are and in completely different ways.

More Naomi Osaka:

“I’m very tired right now. I don’t know, I just want to go into an ice bath. I’m not sure if this is classed as an emergency but I feel like I’m going to pass out… While I was playing, honestly, I was cursing myself out so you wouldn’t want to know what I was saying.”

Note: Due to current COVID-19 health protocols, players can only use on-site ice baths in the case of an “emergency”.

Naomi Osaka with the highest praise for her young opponent:

“She was very good, like, I’m kinda scared of how she’s gonna be in the future.”

An exceptional performance from Kostyuk, who pushed Osaka hard and has a great future ahead. Osaka once again showed that she is a rare champion who, when in the right mood, can flip a switch and turn any match around.