Day 4 was a tough day for the seeds as many had to go the distance to secure the victory. The question though is how much will today’s battles affect them later in the tournament?
FIVE-SET MARATHON BATTLES
The twenty-sixth seed, Damir Dzumhur, defeated Radu Albot 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 1-6, 7-5.
The second seed, Alexander Zverev, had to fight his way back to victory against a very talented clay court player, Dusan Lajovic. Zverev could have lost in straight sets, but found a way to win the second set after going down an early break. In the end, youth prevailed in five sets: 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
The nineteenth seed, Kei Nishikori, had his hands full against the dangerous Frenchman, Benoit Paire. Nishikori won the first set and then he lost the next two sets. Paire just needed to win one more set; however, he was not able to continue his high level of play. Nishikori fought back to win 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2,6-3.
The number seventeenth seed, Tomas Berdych, lost a heart breaking five settle battle to veteran Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy. Chardy led by two sets before Berdych fought back to even the match; however, he had nothing left in the fifth set and Chardy won 7-6(5), 7-6(8), 1-6, 5-7, 6-2.
AMERICAN MEN
Jared Donaldson lost a heart-breaker against the fourth seed, Grigor Dimitrov. Donaldson had a two sets to one lead before Dimitrov fought back to capture the fourth set. The American was done in by cramps and Dimitrov finished him off: 6-7(2), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
After a red-hot start Sam Querrey was cooled off by the often wily Frenchman, Gilles Simon. Simon won 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 and now there is no need for Querrey to postpone his wedding.
At the end of day four there are only two out of the eleven American men remaining in the draw: John Isner and Steve Johnson.
AMERICAN WOMEN
Jennifer Brady lost to Yulia Putintseva 4-6, 3-6. Caroline Dolehide lost to fellow countrywoman, Madison Keys, 4-6, 1-6.
The match of the day on the women’s side was the match between the number one seed, Simona Halep, and Alison Riske. It was a combination of Halep starting slowly and Riske playing with precision. Riske won the first set 6-2; however, that was exactly what Halep needed to jump-start her game and she turned the tables on the American to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.
The tenth seed, Sloane Stephens, continues to play well and she easily dispatched of her opponent, Magdalena Frech, 6-2, 6-2.
Of interest, S.Williams/V. Williams won their doubles match; they defeated the fourteenth seeds, S. Aoyama/M. Kato 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
SOURCE OF IMAGE: Zimbio.com (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Europe: Simona Halep)
