Zverev, Dimitrov survive heat to reach R3 at US Open

In hot and humid conditions, Alexander Zverev poured cold water on Alexandre Muller’s upset hopes on Wednesday at the US Open, where the German prevailed 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-1 to reach the third round.

Zverev looked drained by the heat at times and changed his shirt after winning a tight second set. However, the fourth seed dug deep and was dominant in the closing stages to seal his spot in the third round after two hours and 29 minutes in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

"I thought he played some amazing tennis. Especially at the end of the second set, I thought he was the better player than me. But I found a way and of course I am happy to be done in three sets," said Zverev, who has earned a Tour-leading 54 wins this year. "To have some rest as it is very hot and tough conditions."

Zverev’s best result in New York came in 2020, when he fell in a fifth-set tie-break to Dominic Thiem in the championship match. Chasing his first major, the No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will next play Tomas Martin Etcheverry after the Argentine clawed past countryman Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in four hours and two minutes.

Zverev, who fired 43 winners against Muller, knows that a deep run at the hard-court major can further increase his strong position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The 22-time ATP Tour champion is currently third behind Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in his bid to secure a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.

Earlier, Grigor Dimitrov earned his second consecutive straight-sets win when he moved past Australian Rinky Hijikata 6-1, 6-1, 7-6(4) to reach the third round in New York for the fifth time.

The Bulgarian was dominant behind his first-serve during the two-hour, 13-minute clash. Dimitrov won 90 per cent (36/40) of points on his first delivery and fired 15 aces to improve to 3-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Dimitrov also defeated Hijikata in Montreal earlier this month.

The 33-year-old will be aiming for a deep run at the hard-court major to boost his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. The former champion at the year-end event is 13th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, but only 420 points behind eighth-placed Alex de Minaur, who occupies the final qualification spot.

Next up for Dimitrov is Tallon Griekspoor. The Dutchman advanced when Sebastian Baez was forced to retire when trailing 1-6, 0-2.

GO GO GO @GrigorDimitrov ?

A straight forward win for Dimitrov to continue his #USOpen campaign!@usopen pic.twitter.com/DE3KfJ9sbG

Jiri Lehecka mounted a memorable comeback from two-sets-to-love down, surviving American qualifier Mitchell Krueger 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 just one minute shy of four hours.

From 6-5 in the opening set, the 32nd seed dropped 11 consecutive games and found himself down a break at 0-3 in the third set.

The 22-year-old, who is competing in just his second tournament since suffering a back injury in Madrid in April, raised his aggression and heavy hitting to earn his first win from two-sets-to-love down. The Czech struck 67 winners, including 29 aces. Lehecka will next face sixth seed Andrey Rublev, who escaped Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

It was Rublev’s second victory from two-sets-to-love down, having done so in the first round of Roland Garros in 2020 against Sam Querrey.

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