As the fields thin at the 2020 US Open, Day 5 provided the first opportunity for seeded players to square off at the 2020 US Open. It was certainly worth the wait.
A pair of dramatic five-setters stole the men’s singles headlines, while we witnessed more domination from seeded women, who occupy seven of the eight spots claimed so far in the Round of 16.
Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka were both victorious in Arthur Ashe Stadium, while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Borna Coric battled until 1:10 a.m. in the match of the day in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Here’s our look at how it all unfolded at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Djokovic levels up: Now a perfect 26-0 in 2020 singles matches, Novak Djokovic played his best match of the tournament in a straight-set win over Jan-Lennard Struff in Ashe. The Serb is a master at building his game up throughout a major, and tonight's showing put down a marker for the rest of the field, including his fourth-round opponent, Pablo Carreno Busta. The No. 20 seed from Spain was also a straight-set winner, over the unseeded Ricardas Berankis.
Osaka turns it on late: Naomi Osaka won her second three-setter of the fortnight, this time getting past Marta Kostyuk in Ashe. Like Djokovic, she has played all three of her matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 18-year-old Ukranian had chances to go up 3-1 in the decider, but Osaka held serve and then held court by winning the match’s final five games.
Coric works late vs.Tsitsipas: This match was all but over when Tsitsipas led, 5-1, in the fourth set. But Coric saved six match points as he reeled off six straight games to send this one to a fifth set. After the gladiators traded breaks early in the decider, it ended, fittingly, in a tiebreak. The Croat was still standing after four hours, 36 minutes.
WATCH: Highlights from the match of the day
Zverev finds form: Alex Zverev is into the Round of 16 for the second straight year in New York, after recovering from a set down to dismiss No. 32 seed Adrian Mannarino. The German overcame some early serving trouble as he grew into the match, and was head-and-shoulders above his opponent by the fourth set. The 6-foot-6 Zverev now plays Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, a four-set winner against Cameron Norrie of the United Kingdom.
Shapovalov downs Fritz: American Taylor Fritz lost a heartbreaker in Ashe, going down in five sets to Canada's Denis Shapovalov after earning the chance to serve for the match in the fourth. Shapovalov has been here before, into the fourth round at the US Open. Fritz is one year older at 22, but with slightly less big-match experience, he had no answers for the Canadian’s late charge. Shapovalov next faces David Goffin, a winner over Filip Krajinovic.
Chalk in women’s action: Straight-set wins for No. 6 seed Petra Kvitova (ends Madison Brengle's career run), No. 8 Petra Martic (no Gracheva miracle this time) and No. 17 Angelique Kerber (passes Ann Li test) highlighted another strong day for seeded women. In the lone matchup of seeded players, No. 14 Anett Kontaveit bounced No. 24 Magda Linette, the only seeded player to lose in Day 5’s third-round action.
Americans advance: Jennifer Brady rolled through Caroline Garcia, who’d eliminated top seed Karolina Pliskova in Round 2. Shelby Rogers is into a Grand Slam Round of 16 for the first time, after she denied Madison Brengle her second fourth-round appearance. And Caty McNally booked a late ticket into Round 3 after she won her rain-delayed match against No. 21 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Getting to Know: Iga Swiatek of Poland will face Victoria Azarenka for a place in the fourth round. Learn more about the 19-year-old.
Doubles wrap: “McCoco”—the teenage duo of Caty McNally and Coco Gauff—couldn’t pull off two upsets in a row, falling to No. 3 seeds Nicole Melichar and Yu Xifan in the second round. (Read More: Azarenka/Kenin, Harrisons lose in Round 2)
Shot of the Day: Exactly how did Alejandro Davidovich Fokina hit this winner?
Tweet of the Day: One of our four-legged fans was in attendance for Shapovalov vs. Fritz.
Quote of the Day: "When I get texts from [Billie Jean King] it always surprises me. I always feel very honored. And I feel like the fact that she's backing me up so much means a lot to me." — Naomi Osaka
Quotebook Archive: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
As it Happened: Relive Day 5 with our blog, Live at the Open, new for 2020.
Photo of the Day: The perfect backdrop for a packed day of tennis in Flushing Meadows.
View more on the US Open Photo Stream.
