Canadian Denis Shapovalov was beaten after more than four hours in the third round at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, suffering a 6-4, 2-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(7) loss against Andrey Rublev.
At the last deadlock break, Shapovalov reduced the Russian’s lead to 5-4 with a 23rd ace.
He came close to 9-7 when his rival sent a ball into the net, before going down in four hours and 11 minutes.
The Canadian had been dominant in the first tiebreaker, going for several deep and precise balls.
There were four breaks on each side.
Rublev scored two of those in the fourth set, where he still hit his racquet hard on the ground when his rival broke it, making it 3-3.
In the final set, Shapovalov took control 6-5, wisely letting a rebound pass, not trying a volley that would have been difficult. He did not know how to get a break that would have sealed the duel, on the other hand.
Shapovalov shone with 75 winners (38 for Rublev), but he also committed 72 unforced errors (37 for Rublev).
Rublev is the ninth seed. In the fourth round, he will face Briton Cameron Norrie, the seventh seed.
In career, Rublev has a 3-2 advantage against Shapovalov, 21st at the ATP.
Rublev also needed five innings in the first round against Laslo Djere.
He won the Marseille, Dubai and Belgrade tournaments this season.
In women’s doubles, Laval’s Leylah Fernandez and Australian Daria Saville lost 6-7 (5), 6-3 and 7-6 (10) against Dalma Galfi and Bernarda Pera.