Day 4 at the US Open was the end of the line for Grand Slam champions Andy Murray and Garbiñe Muguruza. But it was smooth sailing for Serena Williams, 2020 Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin, 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
For the first time this fortnight, rain interrupted play as the roofs were closed for the evening's play in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Four second-round singles matches were halted on the field courts, pushing the conclusion of Round 2 to Day 5. Friday's third-round action will see seeded players square off for the first time in the men's and women's singles tournament, as we move towards the business end of the fortnight.
Here's our look at the highlights from Thursday.
Serena powers through: Williams was again a winner in straight sets, but she had to dig deep to hold off a late charge from Russia's Margarita Gasparyan in the Ashe evening opener. We've seen Novak Djokovic bring an extra dose of energy to the empty stadium court, and Serena followed suit today by making some noise of her own, with sister Venus and husband Alexis Ohanian watching from the stands.
Auger-Aliassime ends Murray fairytale: The 20-year-old Canadian fully earned this victory, playing some top-level tennis in his Arthur Ashe Stadium debut. Auger-Aliassime had watched Murray play in Ashe as a youngster. Tonight, he showed he belongs on the game’s big stage.
Pironkova stuns Muguruza: The shocker of the day. After the No. 10 seed started strong and had a chance to serve for the opening set, Tsvetana Pironkova won nine of the match’s final 12 games to eliminate Muguruza. Pironkova, 32, has not played since Wimbledon in 2017, after which she stepped away from tennis and gave birth to her first child. The Bulgarian, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 31 a decade ago, has not dropped a set thus far in her return. Next up is another seeded opponent, No. 18 Donna Vekic, who beat Patricia Maria Tig in straights.
Thiem in the concrete jungle: Dominic Thiem cruised against Sumit Nagal, the first Indian man to record a Grand Slam singles win in seven years, and the last man to make the cut for the initial US Open field. A semifinalist or better at the French Open in each of the last four years, he’s also been getting it done on the hard courts of late. He won Indian Wells in 2019 and reached the Aussie Open final in January. The Austrian is one to watch in New York, especially in his third-round match against the No. 31 seed Cilic, who's played nine sets (to Thiem's five, after a first-round retirement) in the first two rounds.
Friendly fire: Victoria Azarenka gained a measure of revenge on Aryna Sabalenka in an all-Belarusian battle, and Milos Raonic was popped in four sets by fellow Canadian Vasek Pospisil, who ended the run of the ATP’s most in-form player (outside of the undefeated Novak Djokovic).
Kenin keeps cruising: The only women’s Grand Slam singles champion of 2020 is wearing that distinction well at her home major. After a disappointing first-round loss to Alize Cornet in the Western & Southern Open, Kenin is now clicking in New York. Against 17-year-old Canadian lefty Leylah Fernandez, she scored an early break in both sets of a 6-4, 6-3 victory, and has now dropped just 11 games in two US Open matches. Her third-round opponent, No. 27 seed Ons Jabeur, has not dropped a set either. Also advancing were Americans Madison Keys (on a roll), Sloane Stephens (cruise control) and Amanda Anisimova (battling back).
Getting to Know: There's more to J.J Wolf than his Agassi-inspired coif. The 21-year-old American, a former Ohio State Buckeye star, is through to Round 3 after a straight-set win over Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena.
Doubles Wrap: Sock and Withrow survive, seeds roll | Photos: Doubles action, Day 4
Shot of the Day: No net? No problem. Matteo Berrettini delivers an unreal winner against Ugo Humbert in their second-round match, a 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 win for the 2019 US Open semifinalist. Watch below.
Game, Set and Match: Watch some of the top match points from Day 4. (Volume up for some big celebrations from Roberto Bautista Agut and Cilic.)
Tweet of the Day: We're all flipping for tennis pancakes! Which of the 19 fluffy masterpieces is your favorite?
Quote of the Day: “I've lost some heartbreakers here at the Open. Yeah, man. I didn't even think about that. I lost some heartbreakers. It was nice to get over the line here in New York.” — Frances Tiafoe, on winning his first five-set match in Flushing Meadows. He had previously lost to Alexander Zverev (2019), Roger Federer (2017) and John Isner (2016) in deciding sets.
Quotebook Archive: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
As it Happened: Relive Day 4 with our blog, Live at the Open, new for 2020.
Photo of the Day: Olga Govortsova sets up for an overhead against Sloane Stephens, as Lady Liberty looks on.
View more on the US Open Photo Stream.
