U.S Open '21: Djokovic Through, Osaka Out

NOVAK DJOKOVIC d KEI NISHIKORI

6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2

Novak Djokovic made a slow start but wrestled momentum in the second set to eventually steamroll his opponent. The 56th ranked, unseeded Japanese player won the first set in a tie break, before capitulating to the Serbian world number 1. Kei Nishikori has not beaten the all-conquering Serbian in 7 years at this point

In front of a packed Arthur Ashe stadium, Djoker moved to within just four matches of not only a record-breaking 21st grand slam title but also a historic calendar year grand slam. The first since Rod Laver completed the feat in 1969.

Next up in his search for iconic status, Novak will face either Russian Aslan Karatsev or American Jenson Brooksby in the round of 16. They were locked in a titanic 3rd round battle as this article was published.

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ d NAOMI OSAKA

5-7, 7-6, 6-4

In one of the biggest shocks in the women's side of the draw, world number 3 Naomi Osaka was knocked out by world number 73 Leylah Fernandez.

After winning the first set in a tie break, things went to hell for the troubled Japanese superstar. The Canadian 18-year-old Fernandez then broke her serve in the second set to win 7-5, before wrapping things up with relative ease 6-4 in the third.

Following her shock defeat, Osaka kept the shocks coming when she announced she was taking a sabbatical from the tour. Clearly emotional she said -

“Basically, I feel like I’m at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match,” said Osaka

Next up for the 18-year-old giant slayer Fernandez is a match-up with German world number 17 Angelique Kerber who is looking to make the quarter-finals for the first time since she won the US Open in 2016.

EMMA RADUCANU d SARA SORRIBES TORMO

6-0, 6-1

In what is developing as perhaps the biggest story at the US Open this year, 18-year-old Brit Emma Raducanu absolutely demolished her Spanish opponent. She took just over an hour whilst only dropping one game in one of the more breathtaking performances at the Open so far.

What makes it even more stunning is the teenager only made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon. There she became the youngest British player to make the 4th round in the open era. There are big things in store for the burgeoning talent.

Stay tuned to thepyrrhic.com for daily updates from the U.S Open.