Novak Djokovic sailed into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday as off-court intrigue forced the delay of a men's singles match over issues linked to coronavirus.
Djokovic outclassed Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in a routine victory for the World No. 1, who is chasing an 18th Grand Slam singles title.
Off-court drama
Far from routine was a last-minute attempt by New York health officials to prevent France's Adrian Mannarino from playing his last-32 encounter against German fifth seed Alexander Zverev.
The intervention led to a back and forth between tournament organisers and the State government and resulted in the match, which Zverev won 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2, starting over three hours late.
Earlier, Japan's Naomi Osaka battled into the last 16 of the women's draw. The two-time Grand Slam winner required three sets and 2hr 33 min to dislodge 18-year-old Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in an early game at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Japanese fourth seed, who threw her racquet in frustration after losing the second set on tie-break, prevailed 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 against the World No. 137.
Germany's 17th seed Angelique Kerber also progressed to the fourth round, making light work of American Ann Li 6-3, 6-4.
Kerber, the 2016 US Open champion, will go up against Jennifer Brady for a quarterfinal spot after the American 28th seed knocked out France's Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-3. Garcia had provided the biggest upset of the tournament on Wednesday when she eliminated top seed Karolina Pliskova.
Houdini act
In the men's draw, Croatia's 27th seed Borna Coric staged a remarkable Houdini act to stun fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a 4hr 36min late-night thriller.
Coric appeared to be heading for certain defeat after Tsitsipas, leading by two sets to one, opened up a 5-1 lead in the fourth.
But Coric rallied superbly, saving six match-points and fighting back to take the set 7-5 to force a decider.
Clinching the tie-break
Tsitsipas went a break up once more in the fifth but couldn't press home the advantage as Coric forced a tie-break before clinching a 6-7(2), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) win.
Lone Indian left
Rohan Bopanna and his Canadian partner Denis Shapovalov, meanwhile, advanced to the second round defeating American rivals Ernesto Escobedo and Noah Rubin 6-2 6-4.
They will next play sixth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies.
Bopanna is the lone surviving Indian player in the tournament after the exits of Sumit Nagal and Divij Sharan.
Coric saves six match-points in the fourth set before going to win the four-hour 36-minute thriller
