New York | Rublev avoids upset; Djokovic benefits from retirement

Weather wise it was a mixed day at the US Open with extremely hot conditions changing to thunderstorms which in some ways, reflected the action on court with plenty of marathons, a number of three setters and three retirements making up the 16-results played to complete round two of the bottom half of the men’s draw.

It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover Novak Djokovic

Andrei Rublev, the sixth seed found himself embroiled in a four-hour plus battle as he was forced by Frenchman Arthur Rinderknecht, into making an incredible five-set fight-back as, for much of the match, he looked to be making an early exit.

The Russian, the world No.6 who has surprisingly never got past the quarter finals of a grand slam in five years, found himself on the brink of maintaining that record but, aided by an arm injury which the Frenchman picked up during the contest, he was given a ‘get out of jail’ card!

The match turned after a tightly fought two sets into a bit of a romp for Rublev who then cleared round two with a 4-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 6-2 result following four-hours and 9-minutes of play with the 26-year-old producing two aces to settle the encounter and set up a meeting with Jiri Lehecka, the Czech seeded 32, who also required five sets to progress.

The 22-year-old beat Mitchell Krueger of the US 7-6(5) 0-6 6-4 6-4 7-5 and must fancy his chances against Rublev having achieved a career best by reaching the third round.

Two other players who battled through five-setters are Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Lorenzo Musetti.

Etcheverry had to contend with his Argentine compatriot, Francisco Cerundolo, seeded at 29, and finally outlasted him 6-3 4-6 6-4 1-6 6-3.

Neither player seemed able to gain an advantage over the other until finally the world No.33 pocketed the deciding set in what proved to be a roller coaster of an affair.

Italy’s Musetti, seeded 18, eventually got past Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, 6-3 4-6 4-6 6-2 7-5 and will need to maintain a high level when he takes on the home crowd and Brandon Nakashima who cruised past Arthur Cazaux of France, 6-4 6-4 6-2.

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Etcheverry faces Alexander Zverev next after the German fourth seed produced a powerful performance to dispatch Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-4 7-6(5) 6-1 and declared himself happy with his form.

For a few minutes it looked like the Frenchman might level the match in the second set tiebreak but Zverev responded with a sequence of five consecutive points to extinguish any hopes Muller might have had.

And remembering that two years ago the 27-year-old suffered major ankle injuries in the semi-finals at Roland Garros which could well have brought his career to an end, he now believes he has truly got his form back.

“Two and a half years ago, when I got injured at the French Open, I didn’t know when I was ever going to be back playing at this level,” Zverev remembered post-match.

“I had so many doubts in my mind and question marks whether I was ever going to be top 10, top five in the world.

“And to be honest, what changed is I’m enjoying every single moment on these beautiful courts in front of thousands of fans.

“That was something that was taken away from me two and a half years ago and I’m extremely glad to be playing at this level. I go into these kind of tournaments with the mindset to win.”

And with regard to the match, he added: “I thought he played some amazing tennis, especially in the second set. I thought he was actually the better player than me.

“I fought, I found a way and I’m happy to do be done in three sets and to have some rest. It’s very tough conditions, very hot today.”

The only seed to fall on Day Three was Ugo Humbert who fell to Francisco Comesana of Argentina, despite edging the first set.

The 5-7 6-4 6-4 6-4 win earned the Argentinian a match against Taylor Fritz, the 12th seeded American, who took out Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-3 7-6(1) 6-1.

No drama for Grigor Dimitrov seeded 9, who made light work of Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in straight sets, 6-1 6-1 7-6(4).

The popular Bulgarian will face world No. 40, the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who was the beneficiary of Sebastian Baez’s retirement midway through the second set.

Frances Tiafoe also benefited from a retirement following his opponent, Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko pulling out when two sets and a game down.

Ben Shelton will be Tiafoe’s opponent in the third round, after his straight sets victory over Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut, a feat that Australian Alexei Popyrin, the Canadian Open Masters champion, also managed in his battle with Spain’s Pedro Martinez.

Novak Djokovic was made to work before opponent retired

Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

And the day ended with Novak Djokovic being handed his place in round three when his Serbian compatriot Laslo Djere retired with some abdominal problem after two hours and 16-minutes of play.

Djokovic was relieved after being pushed hard for nearly two hours, but sympathetic.

“It’s not what we want. It’s not what the crowd wants, to see a walkover,” Djokovic said later.

“He’s such a good player, especially in these conditions. It should have been his second set, honestly. He was up 4-2. It was a big fight, over two hours for two sets. I served awful. Without a serve, you have to grind, you have to run. I had to rely on my baseline game.

“Of course, I have to be happy with a win and in the important moments that I played one more ball over than the net than him.

“The matches are only going to get tougher from here. But I’ll be fine. I’ll find my way as I have many times in my career.”

And so to Day Four of this year’s last Grand Slam.