Djokovic disqualified after hitting line judge
the withdrawal – by the tournament – of the women’s doubles top seeds Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos, were connected to the news on the eve of the event that Frenchman Benoit Paire had tested positive for Covid-19. That left Paire out of the competition but those who were deemed to have had contact with him, 10 players including Mannarino and Mladenovic, were allowed to play their matches, even though they were under strict 14-day quarantine rules.
A change in who held the jurisdiction over quarantine rules meant that because the player hotel was in Nassau County, the players would have to stay in their hotel until the 14 days are up, on September 11, even if they are out.
Zverev will next face the winner of last night’s match between Borna Coric of Croatia and Australian Jordan Thompson and with Djokovic now out of the picture, he looks like he really could push for a first Grand Slam title.
Before the women’s event began, former world No 4 Brad Gilbert, the former coach of Murray, said he felt any one of 20 players could win the women’s title. One of those he singled out, American Jennifer Brady, is still going and into the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time.
The 25-year-old former college student beat the 2016 champion Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-4, continuing her fine form of the summer. On that display, she too might take some beating.
In the men’s doubles, Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram have reached the semi-finals, beating US duo Chris Eubanks and Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).