The 2025 US Open continued to deliver high-octane tennis action on Friday, August 30, as the third round showcased a mix of dominant performances, injury scares, and heartbreaking exits. Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz and Serbian legend Novak Djokovic powered into the last 16 with commanding victories, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka exacted revenge on Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina demolished Britain’s Emma Raducanu to reach the fourth round for the first time. As the tournament progresses into Saturday, all eyes will be on world No. 3 Coco Gauff, who is battling to master her new serve, and top seed Jannik Sinner and Naomi Osaka, both aiming to maintain their straight-set streaks.
Alcaraz Overcomes Early Start and Knee Scare
Carlos Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion and world No. 2, faced an unusual challenge on Friday: an early morning match slot on Arthur Ashe Stadium, a departure from his typical routine. The Spaniard, who admitted to not being a morning person, had to adjust to an 11:00 AM start, a rarity for him. “I’m not an early morning person, so it’s difficult for me to wake up in the morning,” Alcaraz said post-match. “I just went to bed at 11:00, 11:15. That for me is really weird, to be honest, which I am really proud about. I just woke at 7:00 in the morning just to be ready to warm up well, feeling awake, and feeling good.”
Despite the early start, Alcaraz delivered a near-flawless performance against Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi, cruising to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 victory in one hour and 44 minutes. The match was not without drama, as Alcaraz called for a medical timeout at 5-4 in the second set after feeling a twinge in his right knee. However, he quickly downplayed any concerns, stating, “I’m feeling good. I just asked for [the physio] when he broke my serve because I felt something wasn’t working great in the knee, but after five or six points it was gone.” The trainer’s visit was precautionary, and Alcaraz resumed play with no apparent issues, winning the final seven games to secure his place in the fourth round.
Alcaraz’s performance was a testament to his dominance, as he dropped just two points on serve in the opening set and maintained his focus throughout. His victory sets up a fourth-round clash with France’s Arthur Rinderknech, who reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time by defeating compatriot Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Alcaraz, who suffered a shock second-round exit at last year’s US Open, is determined to avoid a repeat. “I’m just trying not to do the same things as last year,” he said. “Every time that I step on the court, I’m just locked in since the first point until the last one. I’m taking last year as motivation coming into this year, be more hungry, ambitious to do great things here.”
Djokovic’s Milestone Victory
In the evening session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Novak Djokovic continued his pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3 victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie. At 38, Djokovic became the oldest man to reach the US Open last 16 since Jimmy Connors in 1991, earning his 192nd Grand Slam match win on hard courts—a new record. The four-set battle, which saw Djokovic overcome a medical timeout for a lower back issue, showcased his resilience and competitive spirit.
Djokovic broke Norrie’s serve in the seventh game of the first set to take the early lead, but not before summoning the physio for treatment. He returned to serve out the set but faced resistance in the second, where Norrie saved three break points and clinched the tie-break with a double-fault from Djokovic. Undeterred, the Serbian responded emphatically in the third set, winning four straight games after Norrie briefly took the lead with an early break. Djokovic secured another break in the fourth set to close out the match, advancing to face Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round.
“Coming into any match you really want to win in straight sets without any drama, but obviously that’s not possible,” Djokovic said. “It’s good that I get tested. I’m still trying to find my rhythm and my groove on the court.” His victory over Norrie marked his seventh win in as many meetings against the Briton and his 16th appearance in the US Open fourth round. Djokovic’s ability to navigate physical challenges and maintain his focus underscores why he remains a formidable force in the tournament.
American Hopes Dented by Shelton and Tiafoe Exits
The American contingent suffered significant blows on Friday, with sixth seed Ben Shelton and 17th seed Frances Tiafoe both exiting in the third round. Shelton, a semifinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2023, was forced to retire due to a shoulder injury during his match against French veteran Adrian Mannarino. Leading 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, Shelton clutched his shoulder in pain early in the fourth set and called for a medical timeout. Despite continuing, he retired after Mannarino leveled the match by taking the fourth set. The 22-year-old left Louis Armstrong Stadium in tears, later stating, “I’m not a guy who would retire if I could continue.”
Mannarino, 37, acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances, noting, “When he started to have pain, he was leading in the match, he honestly probably would have won that match. It’s very unfortunate for him and lucky for me.” Shelton’s exit ended his hopes of becoming the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist, also fell in straight sets, losing 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. The 35-year-old qualifier, who had already upset 11th seed Holger Rune in the previous round, continued his giant-killing run to reach the last 16 in New York for the first time. Tiafoe, devastated by the loss, admitted, “I don’t know how to recover from this, to be honest with you. I haven’t been this down in a very, very long time.” His earliest US Open exit since 2019 further dimmed American hopes, leaving fourth seed Taylor Fritz as the primary standard-bearer after his 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (9/11), 6-4, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym.
Rybakina and Sabalenka Dominate in Women’s Draw
In the women’s draw, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina delivered a statement performance, overpowering 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 to reach the fourth round for the first time. The ninth seed, who had never advanced beyond the third round in New York, broke Raducanu’s serve in the opening game and never looked back, unleashing a barrage of forehand winners to secure the win in just over an hour. “Throughout the whole years, for some reason the US Open wasn’t a success for me, but hopefully this year that will change,” Rybakina said. Her victory was overshadowed by the presence of her controversial coach, Stefano Vukov, whose recent return to her team following a WTA suspension has sparked debate.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, also advanced with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Leylah Fernandez, avenging her 2021 US Open semifinal loss to the Canadian. Sabalenka’s 18th consecutive tie-break win sealed the match, as she dominated the second-set breaker with three mini-breaks. “I wanted this revenge badly,” Sabalenka said. “It was a tough lesson for me back then. I just wanted to prove to myself that the lesson was learned and that I developed as a player.” She will face unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in the fourth round.
Saturday’s Key Matchups: Gauff, Sinner, and Osaka in Focus
As the US Open moves into Saturday, the spotlight will be on Coco Gauff, Jannik Sinner, and Naomi Osaka. Gauff, the 2023 champion, faces Poland’s Magdalena Frech on Arthur Ashe Stadium, hoping to overcome the challenges posed by her new serving technique. The American, who was reduced to tears after a flurry of errors in her second-round win over Donna Vekic, has been working with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan to refine her serve. “It’s been tough doing it all over and kind of refactoring everything, a motion that I knew very well,” Gauff said. “But I know for the future this is the right step forward.” With a 2-0 head-to-head record against Frech, Gauff will aim to advance to the last 16 with confidence.
Top seed Jannik Sinner, fresh off a straight-sets win over Alexei Popyrin, faces a tough test against Canada’s 27th seed Denis Shapovalov, who defeated him in their only previous meeting at the 2021 Australian Open. Sinner acknowledged Shapovalov’s talent, saying, “He’s unpredictable. He has a big serve. Physically he’s strong. He’s very fast and he doesn’t have holes in his game.” Shapovalov, coming off a four-set win with 15 double faults, expressed excitement for the challenge, stating, “These are the type of matches that I kind of live for.”
Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion, continues her resurgence with a third-round clash against 15th seed Daria Kasatkina. Unbeaten in her two previous meetings with Kasatkina, Osaka is riding a wave of confidence after reaching the Canadian Open final earlier this month. “I am quite confident in myself now, so I think that also is working for me,” she said. A win would mark her first last-16 appearance at a major since her 2021 Australian Open title.
A Tournament of Resilience and Redemption
The 2025 US Open is shaping up to be a tournament defined by resilience, redemption, and rising stars. Alcaraz and Djokovic are edging closer to a potential semifinal showdown, while Rybakina and Sabalenka are asserting their dominance in the women’s draw. Gauff, Sinner, and Osaka, meanwhile, are poised to make their mark on Saturday, each carrying their own narratives of growth and determination. As the third round concludes, Flushing Meadows remains a stage for unforgettable moments and fierce competition, with the promise of more drama to come in the days ahead.
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