New York (AFP) – Jack Sock sent 2014 champion Marin Cilic crashing out while Madison Keys mounted an epic final set comeback to give the hosts a double US Open celebration on Friday.
Sock, the 26th seed, reached the fourth round for the first time by knocking out a cramping seventh seed Cilic, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in tie where he did not face a single break point.
The 23-year-old, whose last two appearances at the US Open had ended in retirements, goes on to face French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Sock had defeated Cilic from two sets down in America’s losing effort in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup.
Tsonga, a two-time quarter-finalist, made the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.
Eighth-seeded Keys won the latest-ever finishing women’s match at the tournament on Monday when she completed victory over compatriot Alison Riske at 1:48am.
On Friday, the 21-year-old was involved in more drama when she rallied from 1-5 down in the final set to defeat Japan’s Naomi Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3).
The 18-year-old Osaka was reduced to tears as she twice served for the match but choked under the immense pressure.
“This is the greatest comeback of my career, hands down,” said Keys who will face two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki for a quarter-final spot.
– Djokovic, Nadal eye last 16 –
Wozniacki, who knocked out ninth-seeded former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round, clinched a seventh win in seven meetings over unorthodox Monica Niculescu of Romania.
The Dane’s 6-3, 6-1 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which featured eight breaks of serve, was another noise-affected affair.
But instead of a din caused by chattering fans or rain on the roof, this time it concerned Wozniacki complaining that her opponent was making too much noise every time she employed her bizarre forehand slice.
“It’s fun but also frustrating,” said 2009 and 2014 runner-up Wozniacki of her opponent’s unusual style.
Roberta Vinci, the Italian seventh seed and runner-up to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in 2015, overcame a second set blip to defeat 21-year-old Carina Witthoeft 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.
The 33-year-old Vinci led 5-4, 30-0 in the second set before her 84th-ranked German opponent dug deep to take the tie into a decider.
But Vinci prevailed on the back of 40 winners and will meet Lesia Tsurenko of the Ukraine for a quarter-finl place.
Tsurenko, the world 99, made the last 16 at a Slam for the first time by beating 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The 27-year-old Tsurenko, with her right knee heavily strapped, committed 44 unforced errors. Fortunately for her, newly-married Cibulkova hit 54.
Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova backed up her shock victory over third seed and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza by making the last 16 for the first time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Kateryna Bonaderenko of the Ukraine.
World number 48 Sevastova, who briefly retired in 2013, has matched her best run at a Slam and next faces British 13th seed Johanna Konta who put out Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-1.
Later Friday, Novak Djokovic, well rested after not playing since Monday, resumes his title defence against fiery Russian Mikhail Youzhny, a two-time semi-finalist in New York.
World number one Djokovic claimed a laboured win over Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz in his opening match in which he required treatment on his right upper arm.
Fortunately for the two-time champion, he was able to rest up for the rest of the week after scheduled second round opponent Jiri Vesely handed him a walkover into the third round.
Rafael Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion, takes a 3-0 lead over Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia into their night-time clash on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
German second seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber closes the night session against American 17-year-old CiCi Bellis.
Victory for Kerber would take her to a season-leading 50 wins for 2016.
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