US Open Day 6: Townsend Shines, Seeds Tumble, and American Hopes Dim Hoặc: Townsend's US Open Surge, Tiafoe's Shock Exit, and Djokovic's Resilience Highlight Day 6

Taylor Townsend had been in the spotlight in the first week of the US Open for her heated exchange with Jelena Ostapenko. Things were said at the net, racial undertones were attached, the locker room largely backed Townsend and questioned Ostapenko's conduct.On Friday evening, the doubles World No. 1 Townsend shifted focus to her tennis on the court, if beating a French Open champion wasn't enough. And she shifted it by taking out the teenage sensation and fifth seed Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-2, reeling off the last six games of the match.Playing her first singles match on Arthur Ashe Stadium since 2019, Townsend recalled beating former World No. 1 Simona Halep that time. This time, she suffocated Andreeva with 106 forays to the net and a vociferous crowd did the rest."God damn this feels good. Welcome to the show! I want to dedicate this win to my coach, also to my son. He’ll be here tomorrow. He told his teachers at school 'I’m going to New York to see my mom'," she said on court.“The job’s not done, I’m going to continue what I did tonight,” as she booked her place in the US Open fourth round for the second time and has Barbora Krejcikova next.
Seeds fall by the waysideIt was not exactly seed carnage at the US Open as it was at Wimbledon earlier in the year. Besides Andreeva, more big names and seeds exited on Day 6 of the US Open. On the men's side: Sixth seed Ben Shelton (more on him below) and 17th seed Frances Tiafoe were the biggest casualties.Tiafoe fell, rather surprisingly, in straight sets to Jan-Lennard Struff for his earlier exit at Flushing Meadows since 2019. The German qualifier, meanwhile, picked up a second straight big win, having beaten Holger Rune in the previous round.Struff handed Tiafoe a way back with three straight double faults and the American had a set point in the tiebreak to extend the contest. But the two-time semi-finalist here couldn't capitalise, losing 4-6, 3-6, 6-7."The match was always kind of on his racquet," Tiafoe said of the 6-foot-4 German. "I had a little window there when he just gave me some gifts. I didn't take it."Among the women, seventh seed Jasmine Paolini was the biggest casualty on the day. The Italian was second best to former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova. 10th seed American Emma Navarro squandered a set advantage and lost to Barbora Krejcikova and 31st seed Leylah Fernandez couldn't repeat her New York heroics against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. 19th seed Elise Mertens was another player seeing the exit door.Shelton exits, American hopes rest on FritzTwo fan favourites and a title favourite among them lost in the space of 45 minutes across Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand. Before Tiafoe bundled out in straight sets, sixth seed Shelton became the third top-10 seed to bow out.Shelton had just picked up a low ball out of nearly the back board, taken a tumble, almost hauled himself up for the return that never came. In the process, not only did he bring the stadium to its feet, cupping his ear and asking for more, he had taken the third set over Adrian Mannarino.Watch: Ben Shelton with an incredible pick up at US OpenNot long after, though, the feeling was gone - not just for him but the crowd. The trainer was brought out to tend to his left shoulder and a medical timeout ensued. Frenchman Mannarino waited patiently and you could see momentum change in realtime.Shelton tried to force things with variety. Thumping forehands made way for slices and nudges. He told his box it was the "worst pain I've ever felt in my life.""I was just trying to adjust and figure out whatever I can to keep competing," he said of his fourth-set effort. "Even though I was in pain, I was just kind of in that competitive mindset of trying to find a way and push through it."As Mannarino took the fourth set 6-4 and forced a decider, Shelton knew he could not making a real contest of it and retired.The hopes of an American man lifting a Grand Slam trophy for the first time in 22 years, since Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open, now rest on Tommy Paul (who faces Alexander Bublik in the round) and Taylor Fritz, who came through in four sets against Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym to move into the last-16.Djokovic shakes off back issue in win; Alcaraz, Sabalenka advanceNovak Djokovic fought through back pain to win his third-round match at the US Open. At 38, he became the oldest player to reach the fourth round since Jimmy Connors in 1991. Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka also moved forward with impressive victories in their respective matches.Despite needing medical treatment for his back, Djokovic powered through to beat Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3. His strong serving, including 18 aces, helped secure the win. "The wear and tear on the body all these years is taking a toll, and I'm aware of it, but I'm resisting it," Djokovic said about his physical challenges.The win puts Djokovic in elite company. He has now reached the last-16 of a major tournament 69 times, matching Roger Federer's record. He will face Jan-Lennard Struff next.Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had an easier time in his match. He quickly beat Italian Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. Though Alcaraz needed treatment on his right knee during the match, he later said he wasn't worried about any injuries.In the women's draw, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka got her revenge against Leylah Fernandez. She won 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), beating the player who had knocked her out in the 2021 semifinals. "I wanted this revenge badly," Sabalenka said. "It was a tough lesson for me back then. I just wanted to prove to myself that the lesson was learned."Sabalenka also continued her impressive run in tiebreaks, winning her 18th straight.What else happened on Day 6 at US Open?Elena Rybakina, the ninth-seeded player from Kazakhstan, easily defeated Britain's Emma Raducanu in the day's highly anticipated match. In what was expected to be an interesting battle between two major champions, Rybakina thrashed Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 to set up a challenge against another Grand Slam winner - Vondrousova.In another notable match from the women's draw, fourth seeded American Jessica Pegula put on an impressive display. She beat Victoria Azarenka in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5. Pegula's strong performance earned her a fourth-round matchup against fellow American Ann Li.