US Open: Stricker’s breakthrough run continues with mammoth five-set win over Bonzi

Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker reached the last 16 of the US Open by winning against French wildcard Benjamin Bonzi 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Stricker was delighted with his performance this week, making the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time. “Feels great. Again, very, very long match today. Just super happy right now to be through. I played I would say not my best tennis today, but it’s like these matches are always tough to win. I’m just super happy to win that match and to be in the next round.”

“Feels amazing actually to be in the fourth round for the first time in my life. I’m just super happy. The qualifying week wasn’t easy. I saved match point in the second round. We were joking a bit that some good stories happen if you save match points. Now being in the fourth round, I would say it’s kind of a story. Also to be here with the other Swiss players like Stan and Belinda playing now, it’s just great.”

Stricker, ranked No 128, will face top-ranked American Taylor Fritz, the No 9 seed, next.

Ahead of his victory, the 21-year-old Swiss beat Australian Alexei Popyrin (6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3) and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 7 seed (7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-3).

Bonzi, ranked No 108, edged out Quentin Halys (5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4) and American Christopher Eubanks, the No 28 seed (7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7)) earlier in the tournament.

New York (Grand Slam), other third-round results (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hard, USD 44.700.000, most recent results first):

• Daniil Medvedev vs. Sebastian Baez
• Alexander Zverev vs. Grigor Dimitrov
• Nicolas Jarry vs. Alex De Minaur
• Stan Wawrinka vs. Jannik Sinner
• Arthur Rinderknech vs. Andrey Rublev
• Matteo Arnaldi vs. Cameron Norrie
• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Daniel Evans
• Michael Mmoh vs. Jack Draper
• Laslo Djere vs. Novak Djokovic
• Borna Gojo vs. Jiri Vesely: friday
• Jakub Mensik vs. Taylor Fritz: friday
• Rinky Hijikata (WC) beat Zhizhen Zhang: 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
• Frances Tiafoe (10) beat Adrian Mannarino (22): 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (6)
• Ben Shelton beat Aslan Karatsev: 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
• Tommy Paul (14) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (21): 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3