US Open RECAP: Americans on fire as upset completes magic day

Thanks for joining us for a big day of fourth round matches at the US Open.

Join us again tomorrow as we find out the remaining quarter-final match ups, with the second half of the fourth round matches to play out.

It’s been another sensational day for the locals, with Emma Navarro becoming the fifth USA player to progress to the quarter-finals today.

Navarro came into her clash with Anna Kalinskaya as an underdog after losing her only two previous clashes against her. But she was far too steady for her erratic opponent, who struggled with her second serve and lost her composure after being broken early in the second set.

Navarro gave her opponent a glimmer of hope when she was unable to serve out the match at 5-1 in the second set but she saved herself from a second attempt by breaking Kalinskaya the very next game, to clinch the match 6-4, 6-2.

Navarro next faces fellow American billionaire heiress Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals, guaranteeing at least one local will progress to the last four.

Over on the men’s side, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton and Alex Michelson were the local hopes to progress to the quarter-finals today.

Anna Kalinskaya is one game away from elimination, with Navarro praided by Jelena Dokic for a “clean match” in front of her home crowd.

The American has made just seven unforced errors and it has been her steadiness that has contrasted with Kalinskaya’s erratic shot making that has brought the match close to a conclusion.

However, Kalinskaya put up some resistance in the last game, breaking Navarro when she was serving for the match at 5-1 in the second set.

Will that be a turning point? We’ll find out soon.

There wasn’t much in the first set, but Kalinskaya has looked shaky on her second serve and a double fault was costly as she served to stay in it at 4-5.

Navarro took up an aggressive return stance and Kalinskaya faltered to gift the American two set points at 15/40. Kalinskaya saved the first one with a deep second serve setting up the point, but she dumped a backhand into the net at 30/40, and it cost her the set.

Navarro will serve to start the second set, with one set in her back pocket.

America’s Emma Navarro, the daughter of finance billionaire Ben Navarro, is on court for the last match of the night session, facing Anna Kalinskaya in a mouthwatering clash.

Kalinskaya is the 21 seed and has a 2-0 head-to-head record against 26 seed Navarro but the support of a vocal New York crowd has the potential to swing the pendulum Navarro’s way.

We’re in the early stages of the first set, with both players looking assured on serve. It’s 3-2 to Navarro, with Kalinskaya serving.

After swatting away Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ben Shelton acknowledged that he would need to play “special tennis” to advance beyond the quarter-final stages, with Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz his next opponent.

“For him to not be playing tennis for four or five months and then come out and do what he’s done so far this tournament has been superhuman,” Shelton said in his on court interview.

“We’re happy to have him back on tour. He lights up the stadium every time he plays. I think it’s going to be fireworks on Tuesday night, I hope you guys come back because I’m ready to go.”

Ben Shelton is one of four American men still alive after the 23-year-old world No.9 belted Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in their round of 16 encounter.

The aggressive left-hander was too powerful for Tsitsipas, blasting him off the court 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in front of a raucous home crowd.

The No.8 seed joins Frances Tiafoe and surprise packet Alex Michelsen as the local hopes to have advanced to the quarter-finals. Learner Tien, who has been on fire during the US hard court season, has the opportunity to join them when he faces Karen Khachanov tomorrow in a fourth round clash.

Shelton is arguably America’s best hope of winning a first men’s grand slam since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003 but to do that he’ll need to get past the daunting figure of world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster quarter final clash on Wednesday (AEST).

Ben Shelton is cruising towards victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, which would set up a quarter-final showdown with Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz.

However, that was news to Alcaraz as he chatted to US tennis legend Andy Roddick as part of an ESPN panel chat on live TV.

Shelton is one of America’s most exciting players, so naturally Roddick was keen to hear from Alcaraz what that match up might look like for him.

But after framing a question to ask the Spaniard’s thoughts on playing either Shelton or Tsitsipas in the next round, Alcaraz was initially stumped and clearly confused.

“Oh really, or really?,” Alcaraz asked, leaning over to look at the draw print out Roddick had on the desk in front of him.

“Oh my god, I thought I was playing (Daniil) Medvedev or Fo (Frances Tiafoe).”

“Yeah, you’re welcome,” replied Roddick as both started laughing.

“I didn’t see the draw, oh my god...”

The Americans are on fire at Flushing Meadows.

Jessica Pegula, the third seed, has breezed through to the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over 16th seed Sorana Cîrstea of Romania.

And men’s eighth seed Ben Shelton looks set to join her as he holds a commanding 6-2, 6-3, 2-1 lead over Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Serena and Venus Williams will not be fined for skipping their media duties on Saturday (AEST).

The superstar sisters lost to Australia’s Maya Joint and her partner Chan Hao-ching in the first round of the doubles in New York.

The tennis world was then eager to hear their thoughts, but the press pack was informed they weren’t interested in talking to reporters.

“A standard post-match obligation which is required of all players in the Grand Slam rulebook,” Ben Rothenberg wrote.

“After waving to the crowd as she walked off Ashe, Serena fled the scene as fast as she could. Serena strode straight from the court out of the stadium and into a car, riding away into the New York City night without pause…

“A day later, the USTA told Bounces on Saturday that neither Serena nor Venus would be fined for skipping press a day earlier.”