US Open updates from Day 6: ‘Shocking’ de Minaur blows US away

Aussie star Alex de Minaur has caught fire at the US Open and is blowing America away with a performance that has demanded attention.

5 min read

September 3, 2023 - 4:23PM

Alex de Minaur has blasted his way into the fourth round of the US Open in a masterclass performance that has demanded attention.

The No. 13 seed was a nightmare for Nicolas Jarry on Sunday — becoming the second Aussie through to the final 16, one day after Aussie Rinky Hijikata stunned New York to progress through to the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time.

De Minaur gave a huge show of emotion with a fist pump and roar after winning match point — moving through to the last 16 at the US Open for the first time since 2020 and setting up a heavyweight showdown.

There was huge drama earlier in the day’s play at Flushing Meadows with men’s world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz given a scare against Brit Dan Evans.

Women’s No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka earlier stormed her way through to the final 16 with a crushing 6-1 6-1 win over Clara Burel.

10am - de Minaur on fire in ‘shocking’ performance

A surprisingly pumped up Alex de Minaur was far too much for Nicolas Jarry to handle in their third round match on Sunday morning.

The Aussie recorded just 10 unforced errors for the entire match, leaving his struggling opponent flabbergasted.

Aussie tennis great Todd Woodbridge said on commentary on Channel 9, de Minaur raced through the first set in a “blistering” pace.

The “Demon” was just as hot in the second set as his opponent continued to butcher shots all over the court.

Jelena Dokic said on TV de Minaur’s methodical playing tactics had been a “nightmare” for his opponent.

Wow is this scoreline shocking.

De Minaur has made just 4 unforced errors so far. pic.twitter.com/IElGoyKj4o
— Tennis Updates (@TennisUpdates23) September 2, 2023

I thought this match between Alex De Minaur and Nico Jarry might have had some close moments ... errr, https://t.co/VAx17AvuFc Minaur leads 61 63
— Craig Gabriel (@crosscourt1) September 2, 2023

The level of de Minaur’s play shows he will be a very real threat when he plays Daniil Medvedev for a spot in the quarter-finals.

“I don’t think any of us expected him to be that clinical enough to put away Jarry like that,” Woodbridge said.

Medvedev overcame Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in a late match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, 6-2 6-2 7-6 (8-6).

Just last month, De Minaur beat Medvedev en route to the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto, which the Aussie lost to Jannik Sinner.

Alex De Minaur was clinical. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images.

9am - American brings crowd to their feet

American third seed Jessica Pegula fought off Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in three sets to clinch her place in the last 16 of the US Open on Saturday.

Pegula broke twice in the final set to brush the 26th-ranked Svitolina aside and seal a 6-4 4-6 6-2 victory.

“I knew no matter what she wasn’t going to go away,” said Pegula, a quarter-finalist at five of the past seven grand slams.

She beat Svitolina for the fourth time in a row, having also defeated her in three sets in Washington last month.

“I feel like every time I play her it’s so close. She definitely picked up her level and forced me to come out strong in the third.” The 29-year-old Pegula will play compatriot and 17th seed Madison Keys for a place in the quarter-finals.

7am - Alcaraz video raises eyebrows

A video of Carlos Alcaraz has caused a stir at the US Open after he was passed a tablet in the middle of his match against Dan Evans.

Alcaraz, looking to become the first man to successfully defend the title since Roger Federer in 2008, polished off British 26th seed Evans 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3 in 3hr 11min.

It was another stylish victory for the 20-year-old Spaniard, who will face Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the fourth round on Tuesday.

Carlos Alcaraz pointed to his team for the pill. Photo: Stan Sport.

Carlos Alcaraz was given the pill in the second set. Photo: Getty and Stan Sport.

However, Evans unsettled Alcaraz at times, taking the third set and also going up a break of serve in the second set.

It was early in the second set that Alcaraz called for a member of his team to pass him a tablet from where they were sitting in his courtside box.

A glass vial with one red pill was passed down to a ball kid after Alcaraz went ahead 3-2 in the second set and it was eventually given to Alcaraz as he sat on his seat during the change of ends break.

Apparently Carlos Alcaraz was a little under the weather yesterday, hence getting these pills today from his team ðŸ¤’ pic.twitter.com/Vy0iTHYdHR
— Olly ðŸŽ¾ðŸ‡¬ðŸ‡§ (@Olly_Tennis_) September 2, 2023

The American TV commentary team said Alcaraz was taking his “secret stuff”.

The moment caused plenty of chatter among fans on social media with plenty of conspiracy theories being suggested.

The Spaniard kept Evans on the back foot with his booming forehand while delighting the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with several of his signature forehand drop shots.

Alcaraz also produced one of the shots of the tournament to clinch a decisive break in the fourth set, curling a logic-defying forehand up the line past Evans for a 4-2 lead.

“He’s a tricky opponent,” Alcaraz said. “I think when we play each other it’s a show on the court. We made great points, great shots, a lot of different kinds of situations.”

6am - Sabalenka crushes Burel

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus swatted aside France’s Clara Burel to power into the last 16 of the US Open on Saturday.

Sabalenka — who defeated Burel in straight sets at the same stage of the tournament last year — once again had too much power for 62nd-ranked Burel, winning 6-1 6-1 in a 60-minute masterclass.

The Belarusian right-hander will now face either Russia’s Daria Kasatkina or Belgium’s Greet Minnen on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Sabalenka, who achieved a breakthrough maiden grand slam victory at the Australian Open earlier this year, could replace Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the top of the world rankings if she betters her rival’s performance in New York.

The 25-year-old from Minsk, beaten by Swiatek in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows last year, once again signalled she is ready for a deep run in the tournament with a clinical performance on Saturday.

The Belarusian’s reliable first serve and heavier groundstrokes overwhelmed Burel, whose own problems on serve were punished ruthlessly by Sabalenka.

Sabalenka sent down a stream of 21 winners to Burel’s six, breaking the French woman four times en route to a straightforward win.

US Open results Day 6

Men’s third round -

Carlos Alcaraz (ESP x1) bt Dan Evans (GBR x26) 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) bt Cameron Norrie (GBR x16) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

Jannik Sinner (ITA x6) bt Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2

Jack Draper (GBR) bt Michael Mmoh (USA) 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Andrey Rublev (RUS x8) bt Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5

Alex de Minaur (AUS x13) bt Nicolas Jarry (CHI x23) 6-1, 6-3, 6-2

Daniil Medvedev (RUS x) bt Sebastian Baez (ARG) 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)

Women’s third round -