New York (AFP)

As in 2016 during their last meeting, Stan Wawrinka beat Novak Djokovic at the US Open, but this time on the withdrawal of the defending champion in the round of 16 on Sunday.

"It's never like that we want to finish a match, but I was playing great tennis and I'm happy to be back," said Wawrinka, who beat Serbia in the final in 2016.

On Sunday, Djokovic injured his left shoulder for two weeks, threw in the towel while he was led 6-4, 7-5, 2-1 by the Swiss (24th).

The two players had not met since the final in 2016, since Wawrinka was operated on one knee and was absent for a long time.

"I took two years after my operation to return to this level", welcomed the Swiss who will face the Russian Daniil Medvedev (5th) for a place in the semi-finals and a probable duel with Roger Federer.

Because that's it, the N.3 world has "found (his) rhythm" after two difficult first laps.

"When I feel calm in my legs when I hit a ball, in the backhand, forehand or volley, that means I entered my tournament and that's the feeling I had today" against David Goffin (15th), detailed Federer.

The Belgian, swept 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 in 1h19 can testify: "He climbs more and more level of play, he relaxes, he tries more and more, he succeeds and it becomes complicated. And it's hard to stay in. When we see it unfolds, we're just the punching ball, then we go back to the locker room.

Federer scored 10 aces, scored 83% on his first serve, converted 9 of his 10 break points, scored 35 winners and committed just 17 fouls.

- Federer "very happy" -

"I'm very happy with my level today," said Switzerland, who has five Flushing Meadows titles with Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors.

He qualified for his 13th quarterfinal at the US Open, like Andre Agassi, but still four lengths behind Connors. In total, he will play, at age 38 against Grigor Dimitrov (78th), his 56th quarterfinal Grand Slam, a record.

Serena Williams also qualified by defeating Croatian Petra Martic (22) 6-3, 6-4. Unsurprisingly, but not without fear since the American twisted her right ankle she quickly made it hard.

"I said to myself, oh no, not again, I'm just starting to walk!", She commented, referring to knee and back injuries that disrupted her 2019 season.

She reached the quarter-finals of the US Open for the 16th time and won the first of her six titles 20 years ago.

"I'm so old?" she exclaimed when asked what it was doing to her.

- Surprise Barty -

The surprises in the women's draw came from short Louis-Armstrong in the morning with the successive defeats of world N.2 and 3, Ashleigh Barty, winner of Roland-Garros, and Karolina Pliskova, still looking for a first Grand Prix title. Slam.

Barty dropped 6-2, 6-4 to Chinese Wang Qiang (18th) who had never reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam.

"Q (sic) was very strong, very strong, she was able to play very deep to put me in trouble, I had some opportunities, but it's frustrating because on the important points today Q ( sic) has played much better, "said the 23-year-old Australian.

And Pliskova was eliminated by Johanna Konta (16th) 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 7-5.

The 28-year-old Briton had never moved past the 8th finals at Flushing Meadows, so "climbing one more step is a huge achievement for me!", She told the audience.

Konta has already reached the semifinals in Grand Slam, Australia in 2016, Wimbledon in 2017 and Roland Garros on three occasions this year.

© 2019 AFP