US Open 2013: Day 4 Wrap - John Isner and Gael Monfils put on a show in New York

On the women’s side, Sara Errani, at No. 4, became the highest seed in either draw to crash out, losing to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in straight sets. Later, Errani told the media that the pressure of defending her ranking points (she reached the semis here last year) is getting too much for her.

Sara Errani of Italy plays a forehand during her women’s singles second round match against Flavia Pennetta of Italy on Day Four of the 2013 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2013 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

“I mean, I think is the pressure. Everything is very difficult for me. I have never been in this situation, so it’s a new situation for me. And also for my team, not only for me, my coach. We have to find the solution, because is I think these things happens to everybody when you feel on the top and you are there and the people is playing against you with no pressure and you have a lot of pressure. If I feel that I’m not fighting good for too much pressure, for not feeling good with myself doing that thing. Because I don’t want to go on the court. I don’t want to go to play. I don’t want to play. I don’t want to stay there on the court. I feel very bad. So that is the problem for me.”

World No.1 Serena Williams and world No.2 Victoria Azarenka scored straight set wins on Thursday, as did eighth seeded Angelique Kerber, who needed all her experience to beat upcoming 19 year old Eugenie Bouchard. Seventh seed Kvitova, eighth seeded Wozniacki, ninth seed Jankovic, 13th seed Ivanovic, 14th seed Kirilenko, 21st seed Halep, 27th seed Kuznetsova all advanced as well.

Meanwhile, 17 year old Victoria Duval, who has been the breakout star of the tournament so far, went down to the experienced Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets. But another young American – 20 year old Jack Sock- is through to the men’s third round for a second year in a row.

In the doubles draw, the top-ranked Bryan Brothers moved a step closer to their calendar year Grand Slam with a first round win while the Williams sisters needed three sets to advance. Among the Indians, there were wins for Leander Paes, Divij Sharan and Sania Mirza with their respective partners, but Mahesh Bhupathi was beaten in the first round of the men’s doubles with German partner Phillip Petzchner. Mahesh, who has said he will retire at the end of the year, is still in the mixed doubles where he is partnering Martina Hingis. And James Blake’s career came to an official and final end as he and Sock were beaten in the first round of the doubles.

Quote of the Day – British qualifier Daniel Evans after beating Australian Bernard Tomic,

“I was there (in Miami) playing quallies. His dad sort of fobbed me off and said I wasn’t good enough to practice with him, yeah. I remembered that. Because we spoke the other day. Yeah, we went to practice, it was all booked. Got to the court. In Miami, there’s a little practice hut. I got to the practice hut. No, no, he’s a qualifier, I’m not hitting with you. So it was one of those. A bit embarrassing, but hey.”

Matches to look forward to on Day 5 – (5) Li Na vs. (30) Laura Robson; (15) Sloane Stephens vs. (23) Jamie Hampton; (6) Juan Martin del Potro vs. Lleyton Hewitt; (20) Andreas Seppi vs. Somdev Devvarman; (1) Errani/ Vinci vs. Hingis/ Hantuchova.