US Open 2023 results: Stefanos Tsitsipas & Casper Ruud out, Novak Djokovic through

Grand Slam finalists Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud became two of the highest US Open men’s seeds to fall in shock second-round defeats.

Ruud, seeded fifth and last year’s runner-up, lost 6-4 5-7 6-2 0-6 6-2 to Chinese world number 67 Zhang Zhizhen.

But second seed Novak Djokovic cruised through with a 6-4 6-1 6-1 win over Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles.

Djokovic, who is aiming to match Margaret Court with a record-equalling 24th major title, was already the heavy favourite to reach the men’s final from the bottom half of the draw.

Now his pathway has been made even smoother – on paper, at least – by the exits of Tsitsipas and Ruud, who joined Danish fourth seed Holger Rune as an early casualty in this section.

Serbia’s Djokovic plays compatriot Laslo Djere on Friday for a place in the last 16.

“I still feel like I can play better but I’m happy to be back playing in New York,” said Djokovic, who has won three titles at Flushing Meadows.

“That’s what gives me strength at 36 years of age. I still have the hunger and the desire to play my best tennis on this court.

“Every single match I play myself the most, in my mind. If I win this battle, then I win the battle outside against the opponent.”

American ninth seed Taylor Fritz is still a prospective quarter-final opponent for Djokovic after he cruised past Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas in a 6-1 6-2 6-2 success.

Fritz was one of four American players to go through on Wednesday as the host nation looks for a first home men’s champion since Andy Roddick in 2003.

Tenth seed Frances Tiafoe also won in straight sets against Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, but 14th seed Tommy Paul had to fight back from two sets down to beat Russia’s Roman Safiullin.

Big-serving youngster Ben Shelton edged a tight first set against 2020 champion Dominic Thiem before the Austrian, fighting his way back up the rankings after spending 10 months out last year with a wrist injury, retired early in the second set through illness.

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