The Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker succeeds in a coup against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open. On the other hand, Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek are not naked.
After a little more than four hours, the sensation was perfect.
Dominic Stricker fell to the ground, for a few seconds he let himself be overcome by happiness after the biggest win of his career so far. Then the young Swiss got up, let himself be cheered by the amazed audience and congratulated by his opponent: Stefanos Tsitsipas congratulated his conqueror fairly, wrote a few more autographs – then he left the stage on the grandstand to Stricker.
7: 5, 6: 7 (2: 7), 6: 7 (5: 7), 7: 6 (8: 6), 6: 3, the 21-year-old qualifier defeated the seventh in the world rankings in an exciting marathon match – it was the first big upset at Flushing Meadows on day three of the US Open.
“I’m just happy,” said Stricker, only number 128 in the world rankings, and added: “It’s a great win, it gives me a lot of self-confidence.” after exactly 4:04 hours, the carefree left-hander used his first match ball – Tsitsipas didn’t have one.
Stricker is in the third round for the first time in his third Grand Slam, and he could meet Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic with problems in the first set: “It was tough”
The three-time US Open winner and Grand Slam record champion was also sovereign in the second match of his title mission in New York. After a few teething problems in the first set, he defeated the Spaniard Barnebe Zapata Miralles at Arthur Ashe Stadium in just under two hours 6: 4, 6: 1, 6: 1.
“It was tough in the first set,” Djokovic admitted, “it was very humid. But in the second and third my level was higher, so I’m very happy.” He could also be: two matches, twice only three sets – the 36-year-old saved his strength in the challenging external conditions in Flushing Meadows on his way to the final against Carlos Alcaraz, which many were hoping for, whom he would definitely play as a number at the end of the tournament will replace one of the world rankings.
Swiatek and Gauff in the third round
Two title contenders also showed no weaknesses. Last year’s winner Iga Swiatek easily won 6:3, 6:4 against Daria Saville from Australia, who is only ranked 322nd in the WTA ranking. Previously, after her emotional three-set win against Laura Siegemund from Metzingen, 19-year-old Coco Gauff from the USA had reached the third round.
The in-form sixth in the world rankings defeated the Russian tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva, who was three years younger, at the start of the third day of the tournament 6: 3, 6: 2. The match only lasted 75 minutes. Gauff needed almost three hours to win against Siegemund.