After a surprise win at Wimbledon, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic win at the US Open came as no surprise. Djokovic has claimed his 14th Grand Slam title after a 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.

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Photo – 2018 US Open Tennis Tournament – Day Fourteen. Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with the trophy after his victory against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the Men’s Singles Final on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2018 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9th, 2018 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Djokovic added to his 2011 and 2015 US Open titles. The Serb has also been a runner-up on five occasions in 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2016.

Djokovic got the only break in the first set converting the one chance that he had while not facing a break point on his serve. In the second set, Djokovic was out to a 3-1 lead after winning six of seven games late in the first set and to the point, he held that lead. del Potro fought back to level the set and the players continued to a tiebreaker after a 95-minute set.

The key game was a marathon 20-minute game at 3-4 in which Djokovic fought off three break points and stayed on serve instead of del Potro serving for the set.

During the tiebreak del Potro’s forehand let him down at times and that allowed Djokovic take a commanding two sets to nil advantage.

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Photo: Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the Men’s Singles Final. His defence won the match (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

The third set again saw Djokovic get the first break only for del Potro to come back to level at 3-3, but on the back of great defence Djokovic hit back with another break before serving out the match.

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Photo: NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 09: Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns the ball during his men’s Singles finals match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

“I’m very sad for being a loser today,” said Del Potro. “But Novak deserved to take the trophy. He played a great match, very smart game. I had my opportunities during the second and third set.

“But I was playing almost at the limit all the time, looking for winners with my forehands, backhands, and I couldn’t make it because Novak was there every time. He’s a great champion. So I’m glad for him.”

While equaling one legend in Sampras, he overtakes another, Roger Federer, as the ATP’s all-time prize money leader ($119 million), after collecting his $3.8 million winner’s cheque.

Djokovic dropped just two sets over the seven matches that it took to claim the championship. They came in his opening match against Marton Fucsovics and his round two match against Tennys Sandgren in a third set tiebreak.

The great Serbian player will now jump to no. 3 in the rankings and could reach no. 1 by year’s end.

After collecting doubles runner-up trophies at all four Grand Slams with fellow Australian Casey Dellacqua, Ash Barty has finally tasted Grand Slam success after winning the US Open doubles title with CoCo Vandeweghe as the no. 13 seeds.

 

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Photo: NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 09: Ashleigh Barty of Australia and Coco Vandeweghe of the United States pose for photos with Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France after the women’s doubles final on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Barty and Vandeweghe defeated Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(6). The Aussie-US duo save three match points before claiming the title against the no. 2 seed and reigning Australian Open champions. They had already accounted for the top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova in the semis. The top seeds are also the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champions.

“Yeah, obviously we’ve only played a handful of tournaments together this year, but we’ve had pretty good success right from the get-go. This last fortnight has been really fun on and off the court. We’ve been relaxed. We’re very hungry to go as deep as we could. It was really nice to be able to play a pretty clean tournament,” said Barty when talking about playing with Vandeweghe.

After the win, the players have hastily been presented their trophies and did not have a proper award ceremony, something they were not happy about. “Well, it should be. It was an American playing in the championship. I’m just bummed we didn’t have any sort of award ceremony. We couldn’t thank anyone. I think that was poor form.

Maybe we’ll get another moment sometime, we’ll have another Grand Slam at Australia. Maybe they’ll do us right in Australia since the U.S. couldn’t do me right”, said Vandeweghe during the press conference.

Barty said, “The men needed to start. To be honest, I don’t think they would have worried if they were 10 or 15 minutes delayed. I think it would have been nice for us to be able to thank our teams and all the people that make it a possibility, and to thank the crowd, as well. They were absolutely phenomenal; they really were. They were a little bit confused as to why we weren’t given the opportunity.

But at the end of the day, I mean, we still played a really good match and get to celebrate with our teams after. I think it would have been nice to voice that straight after the match.”

It pretty much comes down to the power of television as the networks would want the men to start on time.

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Photo: NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 09: CoCo Vandeweghe of the United States and Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrate winning their Women’s Doubles final match against Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for USTA)

Babos and Mladenovic, chasing their second Slam after winning at the Australian Open, had this to say on the part they played in a thrilling final in their post-match press conference. The match had ended on a double fault.

“I think it just slipped out of our hands in the second set, and then, after we were down big-time and we were really fighting till the end and this is why they are such a great team,” Babos said, in defeat.

“I don’t have regrets. We gave everything what we had. It was a great opportunity, but 100% sure that the way we play we will have a lot, lot, lot more.”

Mladenovic added: “From both sides were some rallies, some lines, luckier shot here and there. It’s all about this. It’s the magic of tennis. I am only proud…and the way we played tonight was great.”

Naomi Osaka has become the first player from Japan to win a Grand Slam singles title defeating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4. The gloss has been taken off her win after a coaching controversy and the events that followed.

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Photo: NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 08: Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with the championship trophy after winning the Women’s Singles finals match against Serena Williams of the United States on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The problems started when Williams received a code violation for receiving coaching, something that her coach Patrick Mouratoglou admitted to doing after the match.

During the post match press conference Williams was asked about the coaching incident. She responded by saying, “So, I don’t know. I literally just heard that, too, when they prepped me to come in. I just texted Patrick, like, What is he talking about? Because we don’t have signals. We have never discussed signals. I don’t even call for on-court coaching.

I’m trying to figure out why he would say that. I don’t understand — I mean, maybe he said, You can do it.

I was on the far other end, so I’m not sure. I want to clarify myself what he’s talking about.”

Mouratoglou was seen by umpire Carlos Ramos giving hand signals which suggested coming to the net more. That resulted in a warning. After receiving the warning Williams demanded an apology from the umpire insisting she is not a cheat and would rather lose than need to cheat.

Next Williams had broken serve, something that had not happened to Osaka since the fourth round against Aryna Sabalenka when she was broken three times. In the semifinal, she saved 13 from 13 break points against Madison Keys and three from three in the quarterfinal against Lesia Tsurenko.

In the game that followed Williams gave up two double faults and was broken. In a moment of frustration, Serena smashed her racquet. That resulted in another code violation and a point penalty.

As Osaka stepped up to serve the umpire announced the score as 15-0 from the penalty. On hearing that Williams went to Carlos Ramos and tells him: “Every time I play here, I have problems. I did not have coaching, I don’t cheat. You need to make an announcement. I have a daughter and I stand for what’s right. You owe me an apology.”

Even more was to come. During the change of ends Williams said “For you to attack my character is wrong. You owe me an apology. You will never be on a court with me as long as you live. You are the liar. You owe me an apology. Say it. Say you’re sorry.

“How dare you insinuate that I was cheating? You stole a point from me. You’re a thief too. ”

That resulted in another code violation, the third of the match and a game penalty. The scenes were now chaotic and the crowd reacted in support of Serena and boos rained down for Ramos.

Williams after being penalised a game then served and won her game to take the score to 4-5. Now Osaka was serving for her first Grand Slam title. Being so young she could have easily lost focus, but with the crowd against her Osaka served out the match and became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

In the first set it was Osaka that broke Williams two times while she fought off two break points. In the second game, Osaka was down 0-30 but fought back.

In the next game the first break came after Williams double-faulted at 30-40. Serena was broken in her next service game after hitting into the net. Osaka was out to a 4-1 lead. Williams was able to hold before Osaka served out the set.

Speaking after the match Osaka said she was not aware of what was going on between the umpire and Williams, she was just staying focused on what she needed to do to play at her best.

Unfortunately, the gloss has been taken from Osaka’s win, but you have to give her credit for doing all she could do to win, and win she did. Despite the controversy, Osaka is now always the 2018 US Open women’s champion.

Osaka spoke about Williams’ woes at the post-match press conference. “Well, I mean, the crowd was really noisy, so I really didn’t hear. Like, I really didn’t hear anything that was going on.

And when I turned around, uhm, it was 5-3, so I was a little bit confused then. But for me, I felt like I really had to focus during this match because she’s such a great champion, and I know that she can come back from any point.

I was just trying to focus on myself at that time”, she said.

Despite showing little emotion after her win Osaka got a bit emotional in the press conference when she was talking about how she reacted at the end of the match. “Okay, because I know that, like, she really wanted to have the 24th Grand Slam, right? Everyone knows this. It’s on the commercials, it’s everywhere. Like, when I step onto the court, I feel like a different person, right? I’m not a Serena fan. I’m just a tennis player playing another tennis player.

But then when I hugged her at the net (tearing up)…

Anyway, when I hugged her at the net, I felt like a little kid again.” she said fighting back the tears.

Osaka also spoke about how important it was to get the break back straight away in the second set. ” I think when she broke me, I think trying to get the break back was, for me, the most important thing, when I had to concentrate the most.

I think if she broke me and then she held, then the crowd would definitely be, like, super for her, and she would get very pumped up, which is kind of dangerous. I thought it was really important to break back.”

Videos

Below are videos from the press conferences and a highlight video.

Naomi Osake Captures First Grand Slam Title at 2018 US Open

2018 US Open Press Conference: Naomi Osaka

2018 US Open Press Conference: Serena Williams

Naomi Osaka’s coach, Sascha Bajin said he had not been coaching during the final, and praised Osaka’s performance.

“It was beautiful, to see how composed she stayed during this whole match, how she didn’t drop her level of play,” he said. “And yeah, kind of stayed calm, the whole crowd going against her. Then the delays with whatever happened on court, she knew what she had to do.”

Also read – Osaka ends Kvitova fairytale as she claims the Australian Open title and world no. 1

After Australia’s John Millman sent Roger Federer packing in the fourth round of the US Open the big question after who is that guy? was can he do it again?

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Photo: Australia’s John Millman has put his hand up for another big upset (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

You have to admit Federer was not at his best against Millman, he started well but then the energy-sapping humidity ate away at the great man. Federer served below 50%, something that is rarely seen.

You have to give credit to Millman, Federer was serving for two sets to nil advantage and was 40-15 up. Millman didn’t give in, he kept the ball in play when needed and worked his way into the match. From there we know history was made and Millman booked a spot in his first grand slam quarterfinal against former world no. 1 Novak Djokovic.

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Photo: Novak Djokovic goes into the quarterfinal match against Millman as a hot favourite. (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Djokovic has won the US Open in 2011 and 2015 and is one of the great players in tennis. After a long injury layoff, Djokovic announced that he was back to his best when he won Wimbledon earlier this year.

In the US Open lead-up events Djokovic lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the round of 16 at the Rogers Cup in Canada and then he won the Cincinnati Masters defeating Federer in the final. Along the way to the title, he played four three-set matches, an ideal preparation for the US Open.

In his first two matches, Djokovic had reasonably comfortable four-set wins, followed by two three-set wins. You would say he is primed to defeat John Millman.

Millman had a nice easy opening round match when he defeated young America wildcard recipient Jenson Brooksby. He then took out the no. 14 seed Fabio Fognini who is more of a clay court specialist. Next up was world no. 84 Mikhail Kukushkin from Kazakhstan. Millman won that match 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

We know what happened next.

Going into the US Open, Millman had lost in his first round matches against Taro Daniel at the Winston-Salem Open and the Cincinnati Masters against Tim Smyczek.

Djokovic and Millman have met just one time in their careers. That match came on grass at the Queen’s Club with Djokovic winning in a canter 6-2, 6-1.

Now we come to the quarterfinal match between Millman and Djokovic at the US Open. All the stats point to a straight sets win for Djokovic. As much as I want Millman to win I think a straight set Djokovic win is the most likely outcome.

It would take another top of his game performance from Millman, and for Djokovic to have an off game. The weather is not as hot, so that card is most likely not going to be dealt with.

Players have off days, so it is not completely out of the question for Millman to win. He has been troubled by injuries over the years, so you never know, there could be a grand slam champion hiding within.

Australia’s John Millman has played the match of his life to defeat an out of sorts Roger Federer. The five-time U.S. Open champion looked to be heading towards a comfortable straight sets win but John Millman had other ideas.

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Photo: Australia’s John Millman pulls off one of the upsets of the US Open after defeating Roger Federer (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The US Open radio proclaimed this the biggest upset in sport. That is perhaps overstating the win. John Millman has defeated Roger Federer in a huge upset in the fourth round at the US Open. The world no. 55 took the match 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 7-6(3).

Before the match, Millman was asked what has made the difference for him as he had reached the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time. He said “staying fit and healthy, you know I have had an extended period of time where I have been able to play matches and stay on court and the results have come with it”.

Federer was 35-2 in night matches at the US Open.

Millman had a break point against the Federer serve in the very first game of the match, but an ace saved that. On the next point, Federer slipped after playing an overhead that Millman got to but hit wide.

Federer was looking sharp at the start of the match and broke his opponent in the second game to love. It was a hot and humid night in New York conditions that Federer later said affected his game.

The great Swiss player again had a break point in the fourth game before Millman fought that off and then got on the board for 3-1 with Federer to serve. At 1-4 with Millman serving Federer again had a break point. An unforced error from Federer as he hit sliced the service return into the net saved the game for Millman.

Federer eventually took the first set 6-3.

With Federer serving for a two love lead at 40-15 Millman fought back to break Federer, this was helped by several unforced errors including a double fault on break point. Millman held service and broke again to claim the second set 7-5. Federer was serving poorly at just 36%.

The third set was a repeat of the second Federer again had a set point but failed to convert at 6-5 in the tiebreak letting Milman fight back for a 9-7 win. We were now seeing the unthinkable, Federer was down two sets to one.

In the fourth set Federer was up a break but then played a sub-standard game to allow Millman to break him again.

The match then headed into a tiebreaker and Federer played as if he was the lower ranked player. Federer won the opening point before Millman jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Federer was just making uncharacteristic errors including two double faults. It was unforced errors galore from Federer.

Federer got back to 6-3 before making yet another unforced error hitting well long to give Millman his biggest ever victory.

Federer was not playing his normal game he was intent on rushing to the net and converted 63% of points at the net he gave Millman the chance to pass to frequently. In the first two sets Ferderer was serving at just 36% as he struggled to find rhythm he did, however, improve in the third set but still there were too many unforced errors from the great Swiss player.

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Photo: NEW YORK, USA – SEPTEMBER 4: John Millman (R) of Australia congratulates Roger Federer (L) of Switzerland after defeating him during US Open 2018 tournament in New York, United States on September 4, 2018. (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Despite Ferderer not playing at the peak of his powers you have to give credit to Millman he kept the unforced error count down and made Federer work for every point.

“I have so much respect for Roger, he is a hero of mine…Today he wasn’t at his best but I’ll take it,” Millman said.

For Millman this was his first win versus an ATP top 10 player from 11 attempts and Federer’s first loss to a player outside the top 50 at the US Open, he was 40-0.

Federer hit 76 unforced errors to 28 from Millman, with the winners going 65 to 47 to Federer. The Swiss player served at only 49% to 64% for Millman. This was a rare stat to see from Federer.

Millman said he felt like a deer in headlights early on in the match, but after digging his way out of the second set he really found his feet and started serving better.

Speaking at the post-match press conference Federer said, “I just thought it was very hot tonight. Was just one of those nights where I guess I felt I couldn’t get air. There was no circulation at all. I don’t know, for some reason I just struggled in the conditions tonight. It’s one of the first times it’s happened to me.

Yeah, it’s uncomfortable. Clearly just keep on sweating more and more and more and more as the match goes on. You lose energy as it goes by.

But John was able to deal with it better. He maybe comes from one of the most humid places on earth, Brisbane. I knew I was in for a tough one. Maybe when you feel like that, as well, you start missing chances, and I had those. That was disappointing”.

Millman is just the second Australian to defeat Federer in a grand slam match and the first since Pat Rafter in 1999.

The win by Millman denies the tennis world of the blockbuster matchup between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

The big test now will be to see how Millman backs up from his huge upset when he takes on Djokovic in the quarter-finals.

Millman said, “Yeah, why not? Again, I’ll have to improve a lot on the last time I played him. He’s an incredible player. I think he’s in some really good form right now, too.

Yeah, but why not? I think it’s a disservice to who I am if I go out there and don’t have that belief.” when asked about his upcoming match with Djokovic.

Millman is now in uncharted waters having never gone past the third round at a Grandslam tournament.

Australia’s Ash Barty has been bundled out of the US Open after a career-best run to the fourth round. The world no. 17 lost to world no. 8 Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-4.

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Photo: Ashley Barty of Australia serves during the women’s singles fourth round match against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic on Day 7 of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2, 2018, in New York City. (Photo KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images)

Barty had eight break points throughout the match but did not convert a single point. Pliskova, on the other hand, had two break points and converted once in each set, the first in the opening game and the second in game three of the second set.

Barty hit more winners with 29 to 16 but that was balanced out with her 30 unforced errors to Pliskova with 20. Barty won 80% of first serve points. This really was a match she should have won.

“Every game was tough and I won the important points,” said Pliskova, who lost in the quarterfinals last year.

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Photo: Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic returns a shot during her ladies singles match against Ashley Barty of Australia on Day 7 of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2, 2018 in New York City. (Photo KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images)

In the eighth game of the first set Barty raced to 0-40 against Pliskova but then a string of errors allowed the former world no. 1 to escape. In the second set, Pliskova fought off two break points in the second game and then three more in the fourth game.

Pliskova will play Serena Williams in the quarterfinals after she defeated Kaia Kanepi 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. Pliskova and Williams are 1-1 in the head-to-head with Pliskova having defeated Williams in the 2016 US Open semifinals.

Barty is still in the doubles with CoCo Vandeweghe.

Australia’s Alex de Minaur faced off against Croatia’s Marin Cilic in a night match on Louis Armstrong Stadium. 208th at the start of the year de Minaur has risen to no. 45 going into the US Open. Cilic is ranked at no. 7 and had reached the Australian Open final in 2018. Cilic is also the 2014 US Open champion.

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Photo: NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 01: Alex de Minaur of Australia returns the ball during the men’s singles third round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on Day Six of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Cilic got off to a good start by breaking the Australian early. You could have expected Cilic to power away to a comfortable win. de Minaur had other ideas. The 19-year-old quickly broke back and would break again to be able to claim the first set 6-4. de Minaur was out hustling Cilic and the big Croatian was missing a lot of shots.

The second set was much the same with de Minaur forcing Cilic to hit one more ball and forcing errors. The Australian would take a commanding 6-4, 6-3 lead.

Into the third set, de Minaur was looking a step slower and wasn’t making the same shots as he had in the first two sets. To go with that Cilic was finding his range more often and he worked his way back into the match after winning the third set 6-3. The 2014 US Open champion hit 15 winners to 34 errors in the first two sets and struggled to find the range on his forehand. Cilic gifted the second set to de Minaur with a doublefault on set point.

Cilic still continued to pressure the Australian and the errors started to flow from de Minaur. The Australian saved plenty of breakpoints in the fourth set, but it was the one from seven that was enough to see Cilic level the match after taking the fourth set 6-4.

de Minaur was playing just his third five-set match and was clearly tired. He was not getting around the ball and shots that would go in earlier in the match were going out. Cilic raced away to a 5-2 lead with de Minaur serving to keep the match alive. Cilic worked de Minaur from side-to-side and the Australian could be seen to pause each time as he changed direction, earlier in the match he was lightning fast.

Cilic had three-match points and was in command on each occasion, working de Minaur all around the court, but the Australian dug deep to get to Ad, but then double-faulted to see the score back at deuce. More fighting got the Ad. A few errors later from de Minaur and it was a fourth match point for Cilic. After a long rally, it was the Croatian that buckled, hitting long.

Just as the clock ticked over to 2 am Cilic had a look at his fifth match. de Minaur again dug deep and stayed alive after Cilic hit into the net. A big serve got de Minaur the Ad. Another long rally saw de Minaur’s shot clip the top of the net before it fell back on his side. The tension was building and Cilic gave de Minaur a game point when he hit wide. Some good angled hitting got Cilic to deuce before a Cilic error saw de Minaur step up to serve with a game point. de Minaur slugged away to eventually hit a winner and stay in the match.

Cilic was now serving at 5-3. He opened with an ace. That was followed up by an unplayable serve for 30-0. de Minaur was not going away. He hit two flat down the line shots, the second was a winner. A double-fault followed for 30-30. The next serve de Minaur jumped all over it to blast back a return that Cilic hit into the net. Breakpoint for de Minaur. Cilic answered with a serve and volley combination to save the break. Cilic brought up match point no. 6 with a wide serve that de Minaur hit wide.

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Photo: Croatia’s Marin Cilic returns the ball to Australia’s Alex de Minaur during their 2018 US Open men’s round 3 tennis match on September 1, 2018 in New York. (Photo EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Cilic missed the first serve and then de Minaur charged the second serve to force an error from Cilic. Another missed first serve and another charge from de Minaur on the second. As de Minaur closed on the net, Cilic hit just wide. The next point saw de Minaur mistime his return and Cilic ran to the service line to hit to an open court, he missed wide for de Minaur to get the break and step up to serve at 4-5.

de Minaur won the first two points then Cilic hit a down the line winner, followed by a drop shot winner for 30-30. de Minaur still found the energy to serve an almost unplayable serve for game point. After a long rally with plenty of slice shots, it was Cilic that cracked. After 3 hours 53 minutes, it was 5-5 in the fifth.

Cilic held to love to take a 6-5 lead. Thanks to a ball that landed a fraction wide Cilic had three more match points at 0-40. This time it was too much for de Minaur to fight back from and at 15-40 Cilic found it in himself to hit a forehand winner to complete his comeback from two sets to love down. The final score was 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 after 3 hours and 59 minutes. The match ended at 2.25 am.

“It was just an insane atmosphere. [De Minaur] has an incredible fighting spirit… He played some insane tennis and I was just a little bit luckier today,” said Cilic in his on-court interview. “I’ve played a few matches in my career in the night sessions, [but] this is a moment to remember.”

A great effort from the young Australian, and a fighting effort from Cilic. A match worth sitting up for in the US, but a good afternoon of tennis in Australia. de Minaur did himself proud but came up just short.

World no. 2 Roger Federer has provided Australia’s world no. 30 a tennis lesson to set up a fourth-round meeting with another Australian, John Millman.

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Photo: NEW YORK, USA – SEPTEMBER 1: Nick Kyrgios of Australia competes against Roger Federer of Switzerland (not seen) during US Open 2018 tournament in Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York, United States on September 1, 2018. (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Kyrgios held three break points with Federer serving at 3-3 in the first set. After he failed to convert it was Federer who took control of the first set. Feeling more confident with a set in the bag, and as conditions cooled Federer romped away in the second set.

The third set was a tight affair and Kyrgios almost gave away with the match with poor shot selection which would lead to him being broken late in the third set. Federer to the match 6-4, 6-1,7-5 in just 1 hour and 44 minutes.

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Photo: NEW YORK, USA – SEPTEMBER 1: Roger Federer (R) of Switzerland shakes hands with Nick Kyrgios of Australia (L) during US Open 2018 tournament in Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York, United States on September 1, 2018. (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Federer was able to out ace the Australian, firing down 16 to 13. Federer also won 87% of first serve points. The big stat was Federer winning 4 of 10 break points compared to Kyrgios not converting from the four that he earned.

“I think he didn’t come up with the goods when he really had to, and I was good, I think, by making him hit that extra shot,” Federer said. “Things worked well for me today.”

In the after match press conference Federer spoke about Kyrgios’ shot selection in the third set and said, “Well, I was thinking about it while he was doing it, you know. Other guys play the shot you’re supposed to hit, and then if you get beat, you’re, like, Maybe I should have hit Nick’s shot.

Nick goes the other way around. He hits that shot, but then if he doesn’t win that point, maybe he tells himself, Well, maybe I should have hit a normal shot. It just goes the other way around. And he’s very good at doing these shots, too.

Clearly at 40-15, he should have hit a normal forehand in the open court, and he chooses to go for sort of the dropshot, which at the end cost him the match.

So clearly when you play that way and you lose, it’s always, like, you feel like he’s so much to blame, but that’s just how he plays.

Yeah, that’s why we go back to being super consistent, make him hit that one extra ball, because when you play like this, it can also work against you. Rather than someone just going for it, you have a tendency to play safe, as well, which can be an advantage for him.

But today I think he didn’t come up with the goods when he really had to, and I was good, I think, by making him hit that extra shot. Things worked well for me today.”

Next up for Federer is world no. 55 who beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time. Federer leads the head-to-head 1-0. For Millman he will be attempting to earn his first victory against a Top 10 player.

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 01: John Millman of Australia celebrates a point during his men’s singles third round match against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan on Day Six of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

In his after match interview Millman talked about the prospect of playing Roger Federer on Arthur Ashe. He said, “The good thing is if I do get drawn on Ashe, I managed to have a hit on it first time with Andy before the tournament, so that was actually pretty cool. I didn’t necessarily think I’d end up potentially playing on Arthur Ashe, but if I do, I think it’s one of the more iconic courts in the world, so I think that’s really cool.

I managed to play on some of the biggest courts now, you know, Wimbledon Centre Court and Australian Open, Rod Laver Arena.

If I play against Roger, you know, I think he’s the best that’s played the game, in my opinion. I’ve got a lot of respect for Roger. I’ve got a lot of respect for his team. Have a really good respect for Seve, or I should say Severin Luthi.

I did a little bit of training with them after the French Open. Hit a little bit on the grass. He’s got an aura about him. Definitely a player I’ve looked up to throughout my career. But it’s like anything. I have never been a fan of playing anyone’s reputation. When you go out on court, I think it’s about engaging in a battle. I definitely won’t be, you know, thinking about those things if I play against him.

I want to start off at 0-All and not already being behind the 8 Ball and playing someone’s reputation. If you do that, I think you can get bogged down and you’re in a bit of trouble.”

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Photo: NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 01: Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a shot around the post against Nick Kyrgios of Australia in the third round of the US Open (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

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Photo: The reaction from Nick Kyrgios after Federer hit around the post to win a point. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Australia’s Ash Barty has gone all the way to grand slam finals at all four grand slam tournaments in doubles. In singles, she was yet to go beyond the third round.

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Photos: NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 31: Ashleigh Barty of Australia returns the ball during her women’s singles third round match against Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic on Day Five of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

That changed today when Barty moved past Czech player Karolina Muchova, the last remaining qualifier in the draw. In round two Muchova had upset no. 12 seed Garbine Muguruza. In this match Barty won 6-3, 6-4 against a player in her maiden grand slam event.

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Photo: NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 31: Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic returns the ball during her women’s singles third round match against Ashleigh Barty of Australia on Day Five of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

In both sets the Australian no. 18 seed was in a more commanding position than the score suggest. Barty was up 4-1 in the first set and 5-1 in the second set.

“It’s really cool,” Barty told the press, regarding her first Grand Slam fourth-round showing. “I felt like we haven’t been far off a few times now, but to finally get this, it’s pretty cool.”

The Australian used her first serve as the key to victory, winning nearly 80 percent of points when she got it into play.

“The whole summer, I felt like I’ve served pretty well,” said Barty. “So when I can hit my spots on serve and try and dominate the court with my forehand as best I can, I feel like I can control most of my service games.”

Barty took two attempts to serve her way into the fourth round. The first time she tightened up and let Muchova back into the match. The second time Muchova helped to ease the pressure when she hit a shot into the net to gift Barty a 15-0 lead. A well-constructed point saw Barty draw Muchova into the net before chipping over her head, the next shot from Muchova was volleyed away for 30-0. A well-hit forehand that forced an error from Muchova saw Barty with three match points.

Barty needed all the match points she had earned after letting Muchova back to 40-30 with back-to-back errors, but on match point no. 5 Barty hit a forehand winner to seal the win.

Barty served at 68% and won 73% of her first serve points. She had 28 unforced errors to 38 and hit 20 winners to 18.

Up next is former world no. 1 Karolina Pliskova, also from the Czech Republic.