US Open 2017: Dominic Thiem marches on quietly at US Open
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ByEurosport
Updated 03/09/2017 at 02:32 GMT
Sixth seed Dominic Thiem continued to work his way quietly through the U.S. Open draw on Saturday, easing into the fourth round with a 7-5 6-3 6-4 win over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Dominic Thiem is through to the last 16 at the US Open.
Image credit: Eurosport
Playing on the power-packed side of the draw that includes former U.S. Open champions Roger Federer and world number one Rafa Nadal, Thiem has stayed out of the spotlight as he reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the third time in four years.
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Austria's Dominic Thiem serves the ball to France's Adrian Mannarino.
Image credit: Eurosport
Twice a semi-finalist on French Open clay, Thiem was slow to find his footing on the New York hardcourts as Mannarino took early control at 5-3.
But the Austrian flicked a switch to reel off seven straight games, taking the opener and a 3-0 lead in the second.
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VIDEO - US Open 2017: Mannarino vs Thiem, highlights
"I didn't get the best start." Thiem told reporters. "I threw everything into the game at 4-5, and luckily it worked out, and I think this was also the turning-point in the whole match because I broke him a little bit, also mentally.'
Two early breaks in the third and Thiem made sure he would be able to celebrate his 24th birthday on Sunday with a win to extend his domination over the Frenchman to 6-0.
"I am pretty satisfied. I mean, it was way better than the first two rounds," said Thiem. "I don't really like to play against him.
"He can hurt me or it's not really easy for me to get to my good shots against him.
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VIDEO - US Open 2017: Kohlschreiber vs Millman, highlights
"Of course, there is always room to improve, but it was really way better, and I really like the feeling that it's getting better from match to match."
Thiem will face Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the men's 24th seed, who beat 11th-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 6-3 6-4 to enter the fourth round.
It is a eight years and three wrist operations since Del Potro lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows as a 20-year-old.
Eighteen months into his latest comeback, Del Potro has had to learn the virtue of patience, but his form in New York suggests that is finally paying off.
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Del Potro: It was like a five-setter
The Argentinian, who has missed 10 of the last 15 grand slam tournaments, is yet to drop a set and eased into the fourth round with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory over 11th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Del Potro said: "I just came to try to get better and I'm surprising myself. It's a very special tournament to me. I'm getting good energy from the crowd in every match, and I'm feeling every day much better with my game.
"I think I played the best match of the tournament. I hit so well my forehand. I served well during the whole match. I played very smart with my slice. I came to the net very often, tried to be aggressive all the time, and I think I played well."
Del Potro does not count himself among the contenders yet, saying: " I think that bottom half of the draw is going to be surprising for one guy. But in the top half, you have Roger and Rafa, Dominic, as well, and they are favourites to win a grand slam title, for sure.
"But I'm just doing my own way, and I have a very important match against Dominic."
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VIDEO - US Open 2017: Del Potro v Bautista, highlights
One of the more surprising names in the last 16 is Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov, who beat Viktor Troicki 6-1 6-0 6-4 and then found himself quizzed again about the match-fixing investigation hanging over his head.
Dolgopolov, whose match against Thiago Monteiro at the Winston-Salem Open attracted suspicious betting patterns, gave a bad-tempered response to journalists after his first-round win.
He was pushed again on Saturday and things became heated when he was asked whether he had ever been approached to throw a match.
Dolgopolov, who gave a vague answer on Wednesday before shutting down the topic, said: "You're going all over it again. You know my statement after the first match? You're giving me the same questions.
"I already said everything that could be said, and you guys want to give me again the same questions. I'm not going to be talking about gambling. You have other questions or not? We're finished."
Results from the U.S. Open Men's Singles Round 3 matches on Saturday
- 9-David Goffin (Belgium) beat 18-Gael Monfils (France) 7-5 5-1 (Monfils retired)
- 24-Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) beat 11-Roberto Bautista (Spain) 6-3 6-3 6-4
- 33-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) beat John Millman (Australia) 7-5 6-2 6-4
- 6-Dominic Thiem (Austria) beat 30-Adrian Mannarino (France) 7-5 6-3 6-4
- Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) beat Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 6-1 6-0 6-4
- Andrey Rublev (Russia) beat Damir Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 6-4 6-4 5-7 6-4
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