Novak Djokovic would have loved to get a bit more rest to heal from a wrist injury before the start of the US Open, but the Gods seem to be smiling on the world number one at the moment. After moving into the second round without hitting a ball, Djokovic only had to play six games in his third round match, before Mikhail Youzhny of Russia retired through injury.
That means the defending champion has reached the fourth round of the US Open 2016 after playing just one full match.
After Jiri Vesely gave the Serbian a walkover in the second round, Djokovic was leading 4-2 in the first set on Friday, just 31 minutes into the match, when Youzhny retired with an apparent hamstring problem.
The man who could meet Djokovic in the semifinals – Rafael Nadal – continued his unfettered progress in the US Open, dispatching Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in just under two hours. The No.4 seed has looked formidable in his first three rounds, easing past all of his opponents and if he continues in the same vein, we could be in for a Djokovic vs Nadal semifinal blockbuster in the second week of the Grand Slam in New York.
While Djokovic and Nadal are contemplating fourth round matches, there was no such joy for former champion Marin Cilic, who was bounced out of the tournament by Jack Sock. The American was in inspired form, giving Cilic no chance in a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 hammering.
While one American impressed, there was not much joy for another as John Isner, the No.20 seed, was beaten by the impressive Kyle Edmund of Great Britain 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). The reward for that win is a round of 16 match against Djokovic.
Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils continued on their merry way, easing past Kevin Anderson and Nicolas Almagro respectively in straight sets.
In the women's singles, Caroline Wozniacki continued her commendable form in the US Open, with the former world number one comfortably ousting Monica Niculescu 6-3, 6-1 in the first match of the day at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
There were wins for Angelique Kerber, Madison Keys, Roberta Vinci, Petra Kvitova and Johanna Konta as well. Kerber closed out the night session with a 6-1, 6-1 win over American Catherine Bellis, while Keys had to pull out all the stops to get the better of rising star Naomi Osaka 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3).
Roberta Vinci, the finalist from last year, was also made to work for her win by Carina Witthoeft, with the Italian prevailing 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.
Kvitova and Konta had no worries, though. Kvitova topped Elina Svitolina, the woman who beat Serena Williams at the Rio Olympics, 6-3, 6-4. Konta was too strong for Belinda Bencic, with the Brit coming through 6-2, 6-1 in 52 minutes.
In Indian interest, Leander Paes' men's doubles run ended in the first round when the veteran and his German partner Andre Begemann were beaten by the Italian-Israeli pair of Stephane Robert and Dudi Sela 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig, the No.1 seeds, however, eased into the next round of the mixed doubles with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Taylor Townsend and Donald Young. Rohan Bopanna had a mixed day on Friday, winning his mixed doubles match, while losing his men's doubles one.
