(September 5, 2015) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Day six of US Open featured a second come from behind victory from two sets down by Donald Young over 22nd seed Victor Troicki 4-6, 0-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4 to reach the round of 16 on Saturday. The American ranked 68th in the world pulled off a similar come from behind stunner against No. 11 seed Gilles Simon on Tuesday in the first round.
“It was 90 percent you guys,” Young told the fans on the Grandstand court, “10 percent me.”
“I was pretty upset the first two sets,” the 26-year-old told media. “Things turned around. The crowd was awesome. They made the court feel like home, like 17 to me. Those fans honestly are the reason I was able to win. If that match would have probably been somewhere else, we probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking.”
“Those two sets were over. I just kind of had to keep feeling. I felt like I was in the first set. Even though I lost 6-0, I had game points in the games. I felt like I still had more to give. The body allowing me to go ahead, a lot more to give. I was going to give it. If that was enough, I would win. If it wasn’t, I would be satisfied with going out there and competing my butt off.”
Young will face fifth seed and two-time major champion Stan Wawrinka for a place in the quarterfinals. The No. 2 Swiss behind Roger Federer defeated the Belgian Ruben Bemelmans 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4.
Wawrinka discussed his upcoming match with Young at his news conference: “It’s going to be exciting match for sure. I watch a little bit his match today. He came back again. After the first round he came back two sets to zero down.
“He’s a tough player. He improved a lot. Especially his attitude on the court, he’s fighting way more. He’s always trying. He has a nice game to watch. He try to get the crowd with him. So it’s going to be, for sure, a great match to play against him.
“I lost a few years ago against him in five sets. I was playing well. I’m waiting for a tough one.”
No comebacks were needed for the high seeds as No. 2 Roger Federer, No. 3 Andy Murray, No. 2 Simona Halep or Petra Kvitova.
Federer defeated the 29th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The Swiss will take on a very tall order next, in the form of 6-foot-10 American John Isner in the round of 16.
“I have done pretty well over the years against big servers, so, I mean, clearly I will think about it. But I don’t think that’s going to be the turning point of the match, to be quite honest. I need to make sure I protect my own serve first.”
Isner reached the fourth round when his opponent Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic retired after the second set due to a neck injury. He is the 16th player to retire from a match at the US Open this year, a record for a major.
As to the thought of playing Federer, Isner said: “I haven’t thought about that too much, actually. So I have probably … I don’t know, 48 hours to think about that.”
“It’s going to be fun. It’s what I work so hard for, to get an opportunity like this. On Monday I’m going to have fun with it.
“At the same time, I’m going to go out there and believe that I can win the match.”
No. 3 Andy Murray defeated No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in the last night match.
No. 20 Victoria Azarenka and No. 22 Sam Stosur also reached the women’s round of 16. No. 2 Hallep beat qualifier Shelby Rogers of the U.S. 6-2, 6-3 and Azarenka, two-time major champion took three hours to stop 11th-seeded Angelique Kerber 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
“I just tried to stay focused and tried to give my best at every point,” Azarenka said.
“You know, she was playing incredible. She was pushing me. I was pushing her. So, you know, from both sides it was just head-to-head. It was amazing, I think.
“You know, every moment to me is special. Just being able to go out there and fight hard and compete, it’s exciting.
“I don’t ever want to take it for granted that I go on Arthur Ashe Stadium and I play no matter which round it is. It’s just that feeling of competition, making yourself better, to improve, you know, really hustle, battle. Whatever it takes, it’s my home. I don’t know, I feel at home when I’m in that moment.”
Azarenka will face-off against British woman Johanna Konta who surprised 18 seed Andrea Petkovic 7-6, 6-3.
“Today was not an easy task,” Kpnta said, “even if she wasn’t feeling her best, she’s still one of the best competitors out there. Yeah, she definitely didn’t give it to me in the end. I’m just happy I was able to come through that.
Women’s Singles – Third Round
[2] Simona Halep (ROU) def. Shelby Rogers (USA) 6-2, 6-3
[5] Petra Kvitova (CZE) def. [32] Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) 6-2, 6-1
[20] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) def. [11] Angelique Kerber 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
[22] Samantha Stosur (AUS) def. [16] Sara Errani 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
Johanna Konta (GBR) def. [18] Andrea Petkovic (GER) 7-6(2), 6-3
[24] Sabine Lisicki (GER) def. Barbora Strycova (CZE) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
[26] Flavia Pennetta (ITA) def. Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) def. Mona Barthel (GER) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Men’s Singles – Third Round
[2] Roger Federer (SUI) d. [29] Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
[3] Andy Murray (GBR) d. [30] Tomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
[5] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) d. Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4.
[6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) d. [31] Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-3
[12] Richard Gasquet (FRA) d. [24] Bernard Tomic (AUS) 64 63 61
[13] John Isner (USA) d. Jiri Vesely (CZE) 6-3, 6-4 ret.
[15] Kevin Anderson (RSA) d. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-3, 7-6(3), 7-6(3)
Donald Young (USA) d. [22] Viktor Troicki (SRB) 4-6, 0-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4