U.S. Open Day 4 matches to watch: Azarenka, Federer, Wozniacki on Ashe

US Open Day 4 schedule and top matches to watch featuring Roger Federer, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and more.

Author:
Benjamin Snyder
Publish date:
Sep 2, 2015

Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki headline play on Day 4 of the U.S. Open, along with Andy Murray and Simona Halep. As the tournament heats up in the Round of 64, look out for Americans John Isner, Jack Sock, Shelby Rogers, Varvara Lepchenko and Donald Young in action, too. Matches begin at 11 a.m. ET on WatchESPN and coverage on ESPN begins 1 p.m. ET. Check out the full television and broadcast schedule here. Full order of play for Wednesday can be found here.

Matches and storylines to watch on Day 4

Roger Federer faces Steve Darcis at night: If he wants to get a shot at winning major title No.18, Federer needs to take out Belgium’s Steve Darcis first. The Swiss great looked sharp in his first round match, dismantling Leonardo Mayer 6–1, 6–2, 6–2. Darcis, meanwhile, took out former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis in four sets to advance. The two have yet to play, but you have to believe recent Cincinnati champion and five-time U.S. Open winner has the major edge over Darcis, especially at night on Ashe.

U.S. Open Day 3: Serena advances; Fish's career comes to an end

Fan-favorite Caroline Wozniacki attempts another run in New York City: Wozniacki, a New York City marathon runner and perennial fan-favorite in New York, faces Petra Cetkovska for a spot in the third round. Wozniacki faced friend Serena Williams in last year’s final and lost to Kim Clijsters in 2009, too. The Dane beat 2015 NCAA champion Jamie Loeb in the first round in straight sets and Cetkovska defeated American Christina McHale in three tight sets to advance. Interestingly, Cetkovska defeated Wozniacki in their last meeting (at the 2013 Wimbledon) in straight sets. But the Dane leads the head-to-head, having won in Miami and New Haven before that.

Victoria Azarenka continues her comeback against Yanina Wickmayer: Azarenka had an injury-plagued 2014, but has been posting solid results in 2015. Although the two-time Australian Open champion made a fourth-round appearance in Melbourne, a third round run at Roland Garros and a quarterfinal showing at Wimbledon and she’s been dominant in Flushing Meadows in recent years. Azarenka made the finals in 2012 and 2013, along with a quarterfinal last year. She faces Wickmayer, an opponent she beat once before in Doha in 2012.

Five thoughts on Day 3: Bouchard shows promise, Serena is tested

Isner, Young, Gibbs and Lepchenko lead Americans playing on Day 4: There are eight Americans playing singles on Thursday, along with a gaggle of doubles players in action. Top-ranked American male Isner leads the mix in his match against Ruben Bemelmans (third match, Louis Armstrong). Meanwhile, Donald Young, who scored one of the biggest upsets on the men’s side in the first round by taking out No.11 Gilles Simon in five sets, plays Aljaz Bedene next (second match, Court 17). Nicole Gibbs, meanwhile, aims for an upset vs. 2014 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who’s seeded No. 5. Others include Jack Sock (second match, Grandstand), Shelby Rogers (third match, Court 13), Varvara Lepchenko (first match, Court 11), Rajeev Ram (second match, Court 11), and Austin Krajicek (third match, Court 11).

Once a junior prodigy, Donald Young shows mental strength in comeback

No. 3 Andy Murray faces Adrian Mannarino on Arthur Ashe: In the third match on Arthur Ashe, check out Scotland’s Andy Murray, the 2012 U.S. Open winner, play Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Murray beat Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in four sets on Tuesday night, pushing asid his on-court antics. Kyrgios even struck a tweener winner and took naps on-court between changeovers, but Murray prevailed. Notably, Murray beat Mannarino earlier this year at Indian Wells in straight sets.

Lleyton Hewitt plays fellow Australian Bernard Tomic in U.S. Open goodbye: In what could be Hewitt’s U.S. Open farewell, he takes on the feisty Bernard Tomic, who is seeded No. 24 (fourth match, Grandstand). Hewitt is close to Tomic and said he isn’t looking forward to the showdown. “Yeah, just awkward. That's the only thing to summarize that. I get along great with Bernie. Helped him out a lot. Hit with him this week. Yeah, just awkward,” he said in a press conference after his first round win. The two haven’t played each other yet.

More matches to watch: SimonaHalep vs. KaterynaBondarenko (second match, Arthur Ashe); Samantha Stosur vs. EvgeniyaRodina (first match, Louis Armstrong); Stan Wawrinka vs. Hyeon Chung (second match, Louis Armstrong); Sara Errani vs. JelenaOstapenko (first match, Grandstand)