ATP 2016 US Open

Edmund Upsets Isner in US Open R3

The United Kingdom's Kyle Edmund keeps his 2016 US Open tournament alive by going past higher ranked John Isner in their round of 32 match.

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The United Kingdom's Kyle Edmund makes it through John Isner for his first-ever round three Grand Slam appearance.
The United Kingdom’s Kyle Edmund makes it through John Isner for his first-ever round three Grand Slam appearance.

The United Kingdom’s world no. 84 Kyle Edmund reaches the round of sixteen of the 2016 US Open with an upset win over American world no. 21 John Isner. The 21-year old Edmund steps past Isner with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7(7)-6(5) four-set victory in a two hour and forty-three minute second round match. This is the first round of sixteen Grand Slam appearance for Kyle Edmund in his four year professional career. The victory ties Edmund 1-1 against the top ranked Isner in their career singles head to head record. Edmund also avenges a Grand Slam loss to Isner, suffered during the pair’s first ever meeting in this year’s French Open.

John Isner draws first blood over Kyle Edmund to start their US Open second round meeting. Isner takes an early 2-1 lead over Edmund, as the American takes two of the set’s first three games early in the first frame. Edmund ties with Isner, 2-2, with a 40-15 win in the fourth game, as he goes on to win three straight games to establish to retake the lead with a 4-2 advantage. Isner manages to cut the lead down to one, 4-3, with a 40-0 win in the seventh game. However, Edmund takes the opportunity for set point at 5-3 with a 40-30 win in the following game. Isner manages set point once with by taking the ninth game 40-0, but fails to do so for a second consecutive time, as Edmund wraps up the opening frame, 6-4, by winning the tenth game.

Isner finished with a slim lead on the aces, as he fires 4 aces to 3 from Kyle Edmund. Isner lagged Edmund in the opening frame, winning just 1 of 6 917%) second serve points to 6 of 14 (43%) from Kyle Edmund. Isner was unable to capitalize on Edmund in the first set. Edmund comes out on top with the only break point of the thirty-one minute match opener; as he converts on his lone break point try. Kyle Edmund did not give John Isner any break point opportunities throughout the entire first frame.

John Isner begins the second set with a three-win rampage to lead 3-0 over Kyle Edmund to start the second frame. Edmund finally notches a point, 3-1, with a 40-30 win in the fourth game, but Isner immediately answers with a 40-0 win in the following game to regain a two-point, 4-2 lead. From this point of the match, Isner wins two consecutive games to even the second round match with Kyle Edmund.

The American fired 7 aces to 4 over Kyle Edmund. This time around, John Isner takes over the set through the returns. He was able to get the lone break point of the frame, as he breaks Kyle Edmund once in three break point attempts. John Isner was also able to save the lone break point opportunity coming from Kyle Edmund in the thirty-seven minute second set.

The third set sees a reversal of roles with Kyle Edmund winning the first three games to lead Isner 3-0 to start the third frame. Edmund goes on to win four of the next six games to regain the lead in the second round match at 2-1. Kyle Edmund needed a mere thirty-minutes to win the third frame over John Isner.

Kyle Edmund took over the third set mostly through the service game. Edmund finished the set with 12 of 14 (86%) first serve points won against just 7of 9 (78%) from Isner. This time Kyle Edmund had the only break points of the set, as he converts both of his break point opportunities against the American. Edmund was also able to deflect all three of Isner’s break point tries during the third frame.

The 21-year old Kyle Edmund begins fourth set of the match by winning two of the first three games to lead Isner 2-1. Just as Edmund seemed poised to take over, Isner manages to tie, 2-2, with a 40-30 win in the fourth game. Edmund and Isner then exchange wins to tie on four more occasions, ending up with a 40-0 win for Isner in the twelfth game to force the set to a decider. The American had to save match point two consecutive times in the tenth and twelfth games. However, Isner fails to save match point for a third consecutive time, as Kyle Edmund wraps up the second round match with a 7-5 win in the fourth and final frame.

Kyle Edmund survives 11 aces from John Isner, as well as 3 double faults to zero from the American. Edmund recovers through the second serves, as he finishes the frame with 12 of 22 (55%) second serve points won compared to just 9 of 14 (64%) from Isner.

The final sixteen of the US Open holds perhaps the biggest challenge of Kyle Edmund’s New York Grand Slam campaign, if not his career, as he sets up a fourth round match with world number one Novak Djokovic. Heading into their US Open meeting, Djokovic has a 1-0 lead over Edmund in their career singles head to head matches. The Serb took first blood over Edmund earlier this year, during the round of 64 of the 2016 Miami Masters last March.

Novak Djokovic meanwhile, enters the round of sixteen of the US Open with a first round walkover after just thirty-two minutes. Djokovic was leading Russia’s world no. 61 Mikhail Youzhny, 4-2, when the 34-year old Moscow-born Youzhny was forced to call of the match due to injuries. This second round retirement from Youzhny makes it he second consecutive walkover for Novak Djokovic in this year’s US Open.

Two-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal
Two-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal triumphs over Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov in their third round match to reach the final sixteen.

Two-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal also makes it through to this year’s final sixteen by defeating Youzhny’s Russian compatriot Andrey Kuznetsov. Nadal sweeps the 25-year old Kuznetsov 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in a one hour and fifty-nine minute second round match. Nadal was able to break Kuznetsov seven times, as well as winning the service game with 38 of 53 (72%) first serve points won to just 21 of 37 (57%) from his Russian rival. Both Nadal and Kuznetsov finished the contest with 6 double faults committed each.

Rafael Nadal goes on to face France’s world no. 25 Lucas Pouille in round four. Their upcoming meeting will be just the second-ever for Nadal and Pouille. The world no. 5 Nadal defeated Pouille in their maiden match during last year’s Monte Carlo Masters.

Lucas Pouille survives a five-set battle with Spain’s world no. 17 Roberto Bautista Agut to stamp his fourth round entry. Pouille wins back-to-back sets, after falling behind 2-1, to claim a 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory in a marathon three hour and twenty-four minute match. The lower ranked Pouille unleashed 14 aces over Bautista Agut during the third round contest. Pouille was able to break the Spaniard five times, while managing to save ten of Bautista Agut’s fourteen break point tries.

France's Gael Monfils
France’s Gael Monfils will face Marcos Baghdatis in the US Open round of sixteen.

Pouille’s French compatriot Gael Monfils advances to the round of sixteen, by also going past a Spaniard. The 2016 Washington Open champion Monfils defeats world no. 48 Nicolas Almagro with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 straight sets victory after a one hour and fifty-minute third round battle. Monfils fired 9 aces against just 1 coming from Nicolas Almagro. He also came out ahead on the returns by converting seven of his sixteen break point attempts. Monfils was able to save three of Almagro’s six break point tries during the contest.

Gael Monfils will face Cyprus world no. 44 Marcos Baghdatis in the round of sixteen. Gael Monfils holds a 2-1 advantage over Baghdatis in their singles head to head matchup. Baghdatis’ last win over Gael Monfils came 10 years ago, during the round of thirty-two of the 2006 Cincinnati Masters.

Marcos Baghdatis makes his way to the last sixteen of the tournament by ending the USA’s Ryan Harrison. Baghdatis takes a four-set, 6-3, 7(7)-6(4), 1-6, 6-1 victory over the world no. 120 Harrison in a two-hour and fifty-three minute round three match. Both players combined for 18 aces; 10 for Baghdatis and 8 for Harrison. The veteran Baghdatis pulls through with the returns, as he breaks the American six times during the match. Marcos Baghdatis was also able to save five of Harrison’s nine break point tries.

Jack Sock eliminates 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic to enter the final sixteen of the tournament.
Jack Sock eliminates 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic to enter the final sixteen of the tournament.

Harrison’s American senior, world no. 21 Jack Sock, manages to advance to the round of sixteen unlike his next generation compatriot. Sock sweeps 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in a one hour and forty-two minute match. Jack Sock finished the third round match ahead on the returns, as he breaks Cilic four times in six break point opportunities. Sock also took control of the service game by winning 37 of 44 (84%) first serve points to just 25 of 35 (71%) from Marin Cilic.

Jack Sock will be matched up against France’s world no. 11 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the round of sixteen. Their upcoming US Open match will be second-ever meeting for Sock and Tsonga. The Frenchman took first blood against Sock by winning their round of thirty-two 2015 Madrid Masters meeting last year.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advances to the final sixteen of the US Open by going through South African world no. 35 Kevin Anderson. Tsonga routs the 30-year old Anderson with a 6-3, 6-4, 7(7)-6(4) straight sets win after a two hour and forty-two round three match. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the battle through the service game, as he finishes with 52 of 65 (80%) first serve points won as well as 20 of 47 (60%) second serves. By comparison, Anderson was only able to come up with 49 of 63 (78%) first serve points won and 19 of 43 (44%) second serve points. Tsonga also had the only break points of the match, as he break Anderson two times during the third round matchup. The Frenchman was able to deflect all seven of Kevin Anderson’s break point opportunities.