Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov has continued to upstage the Federer-Nadal old guard at the US Open, advancing into the fourth round at Flushing Meadows on Friday.
Shapovalov went through at the expense of Britain’s Kyle Edmund, who retired hurt while trailing 3-6 6-3 6-3 1-0.
The charismatic 18-year-old Canadian has infatuated New York crowds with his skill and on court panache.
He is the youngest man to make it into the fourth round of the US Open since American Michael Chang in 1989.
“We’re definitely making an impact,” said Shapovalov. “There are a lot of young guys coming up and doing really well.
“I said it before, I think in a year or two, the rankings are really going to change.
“It’s kind of a transition time for the ATP, but, yeah, I think there is a lot of talent coming up.”
Shapovalov is one of a number of young guns currently making their way through the ATP ranks.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who faces Bosnia Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur on Saturday for a place in the fourth round, is another, as is Frances Tiafoe of the US.
Even in defeat, the young guns have left an impression.
Tiafoe left the crowd breathless when he took five-time US Open champion Federer to five sets before surrendering in the opening round.
“Every Grand Slam, it’s a chance for young guys to prove themselves and I have been doing that,” said Shapovalov, who will take on 12th-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in the quarter-finals.
“Hopefully I can keep doing that. Guys like Rublev or anyone else (are) still in, why not?
“I think everyone is beatable.”
Earlier, former champion Marin Cilic’s campaign ended after the Croatian fifth seed was beaten 4-6 7-5 7-5 6-4 by Argentine counter-puncher Diego Schwartzman.
Cilic, who skipped US Open warm-up tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati due to injury, hit 80 unforced errors in an untidy display.
Schwartzman will now take on either France’s Lucas Pouille or Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin for a quarter-final spot.