Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are on course to meet in the US Open quarter-finals after easy victories in the third round on Saturday.
Federer faced Nick Kyrgios, who controversially needed coaching from the chair umpire earlier in the tournament, while Djokovic faced Richard Gasquet.
Federer put in a vintage display, not dropping a single serve to dispatch Kyrgios 6-4, 6-1, 7-5. What was more impressive is that the Swiss only dropped eight points on his first serve in 15 games, recorded 51 winners and saved all four break points he faced in a peerless display of shot-making.
Federer started off slowly, and had to save four break points at 3-3 in the opening set in an 18-point game that featured five deuces. Kyrgios could not manage another break point in the remainder of the match. Federer earned his first break after 34 minutes, with Kyrgios serving at 4-5. He saved the first, but not the second as Federer claimed the first set 6-4.
Federer completely dominated the second, rushing out to a 5-0 lead after two breaks of serve. He could have made it 6-0, but Kyrgios saved two set points to win his only game of the set. Federer needed just one more set point on his serve to claim the second 6-1.
The only break of serve in the third came with Kyrgios serving at 5-5 and Federer needed only one chance to take a 6-5 lead. He held serve to love to claim an easy straight-sets victory.
Djokovic had an easy evening, also not dropping a single serve en route to a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Gasquet.
If Djokovic and Federer win their fourth-round matches, the pair will meet in a mouth-watering quarter-final match-up.
On the women’s side, Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber suffered a shock loss to Dominika Cibulkova in a see-saw match that saw both ladies struggle to hold serve. In a match that saw 11 breaks of serve, Cibulkova booked her place in the next round with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Maria Sharapova continued her good showing by overcoming world No 10 Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets.
Other selected men’s results:
Marin Cilic defeated Alex de Minaur 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
Phillip Kohlschreiber defeated Alexander Zverev 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
Kei Nishikori defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-1
Other selected women’s results:
Madison Keys defeated Aleksandra Krunic 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
Carla Suarez-Navarro defeated Caroline Garcia 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4)
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Petra Kvitova 7-5, 6-1
Photo: usopen.org
