US Open 2024: Rublev v Dimitrov, Ruud v Fritz in last-16 singles – live

Grigor Dimitrov (9) beats Andrey Rublev (6) 6-3 7-6(3) 1-6 3-6 6-3

Brilliant from Dimitrov, a 129mph body-serve making 40-0, three first deliveries landed. He might’ve shrunk after being hauled back to 2-2 from 2-0, but he’s kept doing what he’s doing, serving well, hitting his backhand beautifully, and keeping cool when the pressure was at its most terrifying.

Rublev holds to 15, a vicious ace whipped down the T sealing the deal; Dimitrov will now serve for the match at 5-3 in the fifth, while following change of ends, Fritz will do likewise at 5-2 in the fourth.

Fritz is close too, now up 4-1 30-0 in the fourth, but back to Ashe, Serena and Alicia Keys are bopping together at change of ends; lovely stuff.

Rublev holds for 2-4, then annihilates a forehand winner for 0-15. And though he quickly nets a backhand, a Dimitrov error is followed by a double; 15-40 and two break-back points. P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E! Which is handled well, a big serve returned long, then a second serve hit hard into the body makes deuce. Hold tight Griggzy, it takes bottle to be that aggressive in that situation, and next point, a stretch-volley forces Rublev to play another shot and he flicks his forehand putaway long! What an oversight that is, and an ace secures the hold that might just settle a fine, exciting match. Dimitrov leads 5-2 in the fifth and is one game away from the quarters.

Well Taylor Fritz has, playing a ridiculous point to make 0-40; Ruud does really well to claw his way to deuce, but down advantage, a double hands over the double-break ant at 3-0 in the fourth, this feels over. and Rublev-Dimitrov isn’t far off, the Bulgarian consolidating comfortably for 4-1 in the fifth.

Fritz breaks Ruud at the first time of asking in set four and it’s now an even bigger ask for the number eight seed to get back into this; he must now break one of the most impregnable serves in the game just to stay in the match. The consolidation, though, is sealed with a kiss an ace, while, on Ashe, Dimitrov caresses a wondrous backhand down the line to raise break point and Rublev drops long to secure it! The Bulgarian leads 3-1 in the fifth and having surrendered a two-set lead, has he hit a seam just when he needs to?

Dimitrov’s backhand is a joke, drive, slice and lob all involved in the point that gives him 30-0. A service-winner follows, and a love-hold is quickly secured for 2-1.

Ruud was two sets down to Jerry Shang in the last round, but Fritz, with his serve and in nick, is a different proposition; I’d be pretty surprised were he able to win two sets in a row. Meantime a hold apiece means we’re level at 1-1 in the fifth on Ashe, both men hitting the cover off it; it’s great, tense stuff.

Back on Ashe, Dimitrov is forced through deuce for his hold in game one of the fifth, but secures it with an ace. He needed that.

On set point at 40-15, Fritz nets a backhand; can you guess what happens next? Yup, an ace down the T secures rhe set ad he leads Ruud 4-6 6-4 6-3.

Serving at 1-1 2-5, Ruud holds, so Fritz must now serve for the third set. He immediately dispenses a booming forehand for 15-0.

Rublev is by far the better player now, quickly making 30-0, but we know things can change – especially with him involved in them. On 40-15, Dimitrov thinks he’s served an ace but the umpire calls let … for all the difference it makes. Another big serve is good enough and at 3-6 6-7 6-1 6-3 we’re going to watch a decider; get in!

Dimitrov holds easily enough, so Rublev will now serve for set four. Will the pressure get big on him?

Some players improve when vexed – JP McEnroe used anger to get him going, wittingly or otherwise, but Rublev seems to me to play better when calmer, and he very quickly consolidates for 5-4. He’s one game away from forcing a decider, which would be an absolute treat.

Excellent from Rublev, a barrage of backhands making it 3-2 0-30 in the fourth. But a gorgeous backhand slice down the line, and ball arcing away, levels the game … then another into the net and Rublev has break point! And look at that! a monstrous forehand on to the baseline is too good and, having beaten Arthur Rinderknech from two sets down, he’s now in position to do likewise to Griggzy. Back on Armstrong, meanwhile, Fritz leads 1-1 4-1.

Thanks John and hi again. I’m not shocked Fritz is in control against Ruud – his serve and forehand are demanding to face, and well though the Norwegian played in set one, he’s not so good he can maintain that for a full match. It’s now 3-0 Fritz in set two.

Dimitrov starts serving again, and we are at 2-2 in the fourth.

And with that, two matches in the balance, I shall hand you back to Daniel Harris.

Taylor Fritz is in control of his match with Casper Ruud; he’s 2-0 up in the third set.

Hello, here comes Dimitrov again, with Rublev’s missed forehand sailing out. Three break points but the first two are wasted. Fine serve saves the third. Rublev’s not done either. An incredible rally, including Dimitrov’s tennis rabona through the legs, but Rublev sees it out. It’s 2-1 in the fourth set.

Dimitrov and Rublev start with two holds of serve, with Dimitrov looking mightu relieved to hold his. He’s looking more like his opening set self already.

Rublev takes the next two games with ease, Dimitrov happy to hand them over and write the third set off as a bad job, a 6-1 loss. So, off we go into the fourth. Rublev fancies another comeback from two sets down.

Dimitrov doubles when trying to hold serve – his ninth. Then comes a tenth. Oh dear, break point. But followed by a skidding ace. Then a huge, unreturnable clanker. He then hits the net cord three times, and must face another break point. When he saves that, Rublev glowers at his coaches. But then comes another double fault and Rublev leads 4-1 in the third

Meanwhile, Fritz has set point on Ruud, and takes it on his opponent’s serve, levelling at 1-1 with a 6-4 second-set win.

Rublev is in the zone, and races to 40-0 up. The noise and hubbub of the Meadows seem to get to him but he’s 2-0 up. Dimitrov’s serve is wobbling – eight double faults so far – but then thwacks a backhand to save three break points. He then serves out to be 1-2 in the third set.

Ruud and Fritz are at similar loggerheads. Ruud relieved to level at 4-4 in the second set.

Casper Ruud v Taylor Fritz is at 3-3 in the second set, with Ruud looking in good nick, Fritz rather holding on but to be fair, he’s 4-3 up now. Rublev seems to be going through some element of personal hell, though Dimitrov shanks a baseline hit to deny himself the first game, and be pulled back to deuce. And Rublev pulls off a backhand volley at the net; wonders never cease. And Rublev breaks Dimitrov – is the comeback actually on?

John Brewin

And he wears it well, sealing his hold with an ace; he leads 6-5 in the second while Ruud, playing better than I’ve seen him for a while, leads Fritz 6-3 1-2 on serve.

But I’m off for a break, so here’s John Brewin to hang with you for the next hour.

Dimitrov’s backhand has been the decisive shot in this match so far. I know why Rublev planned to target it – it’s so rare to see a reliable one-hander – but it’s not working. He does, though, curve a fine forehand winner down the line for 15-30; a service winner restores parity and consecutive aces put an exclamation mark on the hold. Pressure switches to Rublev at 5-5 in the second…

Ruud holds comfortable and leads Fritz 6-3. Meanwhile, Dimitrov sets about Rublev’s serve at 30-0, forehand whacking levelling the game – he’s got such a lovely, flowing stroke – but when an error gives him break point, Rublev saves it with a forehand of his own. No matter: he’s soon up advantage, and when a huge forehand misses the sideline – by a fraction – we’re somehow back on serve in set two. Rublev, though, handles the disappointment, and Dimitrov must still hold to stay in the set at 6-3 4-5.

He’s got it! Rublev makes yet another break point and this time, Dimitrov’s backhand lets him down, wafted long; at 5-3 in the second, the Russian will now serve for one set apiece.

Serena is in the house again and she’s seeing a decent tussle, Rublev in the ascendancy but unable to break. To leave Ashe for a moment though, Ruud has just broken Fritz for 5-3 in the first and will now serve for the first set.

Or not! Rublev rushes through a love-hold, a tasty half-volley on the forehand clinching the game. I can barely stand the tension of the breaker in prospect; Dimitrov leads 6-3 3-4.

Rublev might just hitting a seam, taking 0-30, but a wild forehand, then Dimitrov alters momentum in the next rally with a big backhand before finishing the point with a jazzer down the line. But at 40-30, Rublev hits a fine return and pick-up, staying at the net to finish the point. Again, though, Dimitrov does the necessary to secure his hold and knowing Rublev as we do, it’s hard not to wonder if his aggravation at failing to break will lead to him being broken himself. Meantime, Ruud fights through deuce for his hold for 4-3.

Gosh, at 30-all, Rublev conjures a wondrous forehand, cross-court, on the run, and on to the tootsies; from there, he closes out, gesticulating at his box for something or other. Dimitrov leads 6-3 2-3 while, on Armstrong, Fritz has just held for 3-3.

A fantastic get from Rublev, the ball again directed at the Dimitrov backhand, allows him to clean up and make 0-15; an ace restores parity. But at 15-40, Rublev has a sniff … quickly extinguished, then can’t make advantage with a swing-volley, instead letting Dimitrov play another and botching an overhead. He loves that as much as you might imagine and when a forehand loops long, we remain on serve on set two; in a sense, this match is similar to Badosa-Wang, close but one player’s ability to handle big points the difference.

Ruud opens with a comfy hold while on Ashe it’s a hold apiece, meaning Dimitrov leads 6-3 1-2; I’m wondering if Rublev has found some equilibrium because he looks calmer and is playing a bit better.

Dimitrov races to 0-40 on the Rublev serve but despite it all yerman doesn’t lack for character or desire and he quickly makes deuce. He’s hitting to the Dimitrov backhand a lot but the ball keeps coming back – a change in tactic might be necessary – but Rublev secures a crucial hold to trail 3-6 1-0.

On Armstrong, Ruud and Fritz are out and will soon get us going. “Both playing OK but neither in great form,” returns Coach Calv. “I don’t massively rate either at that level.”

Yup, I agree – I’d be staggered if either wins a Slam, though I have enjoyed Fritz recently.

Down 30-0, Rublev goes long with a forehand return and yelps his disgust, but Dimitrov burns the first set point with a long backhand. Ahahahaha! No matter, Dimitrov annihilates an ace down the T, and he leads 6-3. As for Rublev, I wonder if he’s getting any help managing his emotions; you get the sense he’d be a better, happier player with a bit of that.

Serving to stay in the set, Rublev nets a backhand which means, at 30-all, Dimitrov is two points away from the set. But a good return elicits a forehand error and deuce, only for a miraculous backhand, on the slide and sent zoning low across the face of the net, to raise game point; Dimitrov applauds and Rublev apologises. From there, though, the number six seed secures the hold, forcing his opponent to serve for the first set at 5-3.