Second seed Thiem gets timely wake-up call at US Open.
Second seed Dominic Thiem said he must raise his game if he is to win a first Grand Slam at the 2020 US Open after ousting Marin Cilic in four sets to move into the last 16.
The 27-year-old Austrian, the losing finalist in the Australian Open this year, battled to a 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory in the late match at an empty Arthur Ashe stadium.
“I felt a little bit flat,” said Thiem, explaining his labors in sets three and four. “It’s normal, it’s really late, (and) without the crowd,” he added.
Thiem said he had yet to play at 100% in the tournament.
“I still have to raise my level if I want to go deeper,” he explained.
The world number three will play 20-year-old Canadian hotshot Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the quarter-finals.
The 15th seed blew away France’s Corentin Moutet 6-1, 6-0, 6-4, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to reached a Grand Slam fourth round.
Auger-Aliassime was joined in round four by 94th-ranked compatriot Vasek Pospisil, who shocked eighth-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, 7-5, 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Serena Williams also battled her way into the last 16.
Williams, chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, came from a set down to oust 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, in what she called an “intense” encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“In that first set I don’t think she made any errors, honestly. She was just playing so clean and I just said, ‘I don’t want to lose in straight sets,’” said Williams.
Stephens, now 1-6 against Williams said: “She served a lot better. “Obviously she has one of the greatest serves in the game. It’s really difficult to read.”
Afterward, Williams’ threeyear-old daughter, Olympia, wore a mask and waved at Mom while sitting on her father’s lap in a front-row seat. On her way to the locker room, Williams waved back.
“I hope,” Williams said, “that she saw her mama fighting.”