Rafael Nadal powered past Chung Hyeon into the US Open fourth round, capitalising on the extra rest he enjoyed before facing the South Korean.

The Spanish second seed, who had a walkover in the previous round, had not played since Tuesday and it showed in a dominant 6-3 6-4 6-2 win.

By contrast, Chung had come through three rounds of qualifying and spent nine hours more on court.

Nadal faces Marin Cilic next, while sixth seed Alexander Zverev also won.

Australian 28th seed Nick Kyrgios failed in his bid to progress past the third round at Flushing Meadows for the first time after losing 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to Russian Andrey Rublev.

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‘Merciless’ Nadal marches on

With defending champion Novak Djokovic and 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the opposite side of the draw, Nadal has – on paper at least – a more favourable route to a potential fifth US Open final.

Any concerns over the Spaniard’s fitness after he withdrew from the recent Cincinnati Masters because of fatigue have been dispelled here with two ruthless displays in his two matches.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion did not face a single break point against Chung, who was a top-20 player and Australian Open semi-finalist last year.

He sealed the first set with an ace, the second when he forced the South Korean to hit long and then took victory on his first match point with a rasping forehand winner.

“Nadal is merciless,” former player Jeff Tarango said in BBC Radio 5 Live commentary. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a human being, animal, or any kind of species, more competitive than Rafa Nadal. Ever. The dude is always competing. He always has to be playing something or winning at something. He never stops.”

Last year Nadal reached the semi-finals here but was forced retire at the end of the second set against Juan Martin del Potro because of a knee injury.

On his way there he had come through two four-setters and a five-setter, which he says took their toll, and so the fact he has reached the second week at Flushing Meadows by spending little more than four hours on court could help him.

Against Chung, he had dispensed with the tape he usually has strapped around his knees.

“The tape is not working any more,” he told the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with a smile. “But I’m happy to be playing on the hard court. I’m trying to play a bit more aggressive. I’m happy to be in the fourth round one more time.”

Kyrgios gets his wish to ‘go home’

Kyrgios, 24, led 4-0 in the second set tie-break before 43rd-ranked Rublev fought back to take a two-set lead which he never looked like relinquishing.

Rublev, 21, will meet Italian 24th seed Matteo Berrettini in the last 16 as he looks to further continue a fine North American hard-court swing in which he also beat Roger Federer in Cincinnati.

Kyrgios, who described a line judge as a “whistleblower” for reporting an obscenity the Australian made in the first set, began to lose focus and muttered he wanted “to go home”.

“I guess I’ve been on the road five and a half months now. It’s not easy,” he said afterwards in his post-match news conference.

Kyrgios may get an enforced break as a possible suspension looms following his claims the ATP was “corrupt”.

He later claimed they were not the “correct choice of words” but maintained the governing body was guilty of “double standards”.

The initial comments will be “assessed under the player major offence provision under ATP rules”, with the governing body likely to make a decision after the US Open.

Zverev clocks up the hours to advance

While Nadal is keeping time on court to a minimum, German world number sixth Zverev is racking up the hours.

The 22-year-old, who was taken to five sets in his first two matches, came from behind to beat Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to reach the last 16.

Zverev, who has now played more than 10 hours of tennis and 14 sets over three matches, will face Argentine 20th seed Diego Schwartzman or American Tennys Sandgren next.

“Finally I got some court time,” he laughed after reaching the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time. “I didn’t play that many matches in the summer. Hopefully I can play many more matches here.”

He is joined in the next round by Croatia’s 2014 champion Cilic, who ousted American 14th seed John Isner 7-5 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to set up a meeting with Nadal.

Meanwhile France’s 13th seed Gael Monfils is into the last 16 after he beat Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 and will play Spaniard Pablo Andujar next.

British number one Johanna Konta says she has “grown as a player” since losing to Karolina Pliskova in May, as she prepares to face the Czech third seed in the US Open last 16 on Sunday.

The 27-year-old beat Konta in straight sets in the Italian Open final.

Konta, 28, has since reached the French Open semi-finals and made the last eight at Wimbledon, and has looked in good form so far at Flushing Meadows.

“I am looking forward to seeing how I can do a bit better,” Konta said.

The world number 16, who beat Chinese 33rd seed Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-3 in the last round, says she hopes to “ask some better questions this time around” against Pliskova.

They are second on Louis Armstrong Stadium with the match not expected to start before 17:30 BST.

“I like to think that I’ve grown as a player since Rome,” said Konta, who has dropped one set so far at this tournament.

“More than anything, it’s decision making and also probably in terms of when I play certain things or how I play certain things.

“I think just general awareness of being on court, just being aware of what my opponents are doing.”

She added: “I’m putting a lot of time and effort into being very open to the game when I’m out on court. I think that’s something that has been getting better for me.

“I feel like it’s enabled me to just play more relevant to the opponent that I have.”

Pliskova’s 6-3 6-4 victory in Rome was her sixth win in seven matches against Konta and earned her a 14th WTA singles title, compared with the Briton’s three.

However, the 2016 US Open champion was taken to three sets by Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the last round before coming through 6-1 4-6 6-4.

“She [Konta] has had a great year, as she did in 2017, although she had a tough one last year,” Pliskova said in her BBC Sport column.

“She can be a little bit up and down but of course she is a dangerous player.

“Johanna has a lot of weapons – a good serve, good groundstrokes – and is playing with more variety here. So it will be very difficult.”

The winner will face Ukraine’s fifth seed Elina Svitolina or American 2017 runner-up Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.

Federer, Djokovic and Williams in action

Also on Sunday, five-time champion Roger Federer and world number one Novak Djokovic are in action in the men’s draw, while Serena Williams continues to chase a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title in the women’s singles.

Swiss third seed Federer, 38, faces Belgian David Goffin after seeing off Britain’s Dan Evans in the third round and insisting he does not “call the shots” when it comes to scheduling.

That match will take place first on Arthur Ashe and will be followed by Williams against Croatia’s Petra Martic.

American eighth seed Williams, a six-time champion in New York, said she had “a lot of intensity” in her win over Czech Karolina Muchova in the third round.

Top seed Djokovic takes on Stan Wawrinka in a repeat of the 2016 final, when the Swiss beat Djokovic to claim the most recent of his three Grand Slams.

Meanwhile, Australia’s world number two Ashleigh Barty will play first on Louis Armstrong when she takes on Chinese 18th seed Wang Qiang.

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Naomi Osaka has won hearts all over again.

The defending champion consoled 15-year-old American Coco Gauff after beating her 6-3 6-0 in the third round of the US Open.

“She was crying, she won. I was crying. Everybody was crying!” said Gauff. “I didn’t know why she was crying. I was like, ‘you won the match!'”

It was not the first time Osaka has shown compassion in victory and after a heart-warming embrace at the net, she invited a tearful Gauff to speak to the crowd in a post-match interview.

“I was wanting to leave the court because I’m not the type of person who wants to cry in front of everyone. I didn’t want to take that moment away from her, as well,” said Gauff, competing in only her second Grand Slam singles main draw.

“She told me it’s better than crying in the shower. She convinced me multiple times to stay. I kept saying no. Finally I said, OK, I’ll do it. Because I didn’t know what to do.

“I’m happy that she kind of convinced me to do it because, I mean, I’m not used to crying in front of everyone.”

Osaka, 21, was holding back tears herself when she then spoke directly to Gauff’s box, before apologising for playing so well.

“You guys raised an amazing player,” said the Japanese world number one. “I used to see you guys training in the same place as us. The both of us made it and are working as hard as we can. I think this is the most focused I have been since Australia.

Turning back to Gauff, she added: “I am sorry for playing you in this mentality. It was super fun!”

Osaka later told a news conference: “It was kind of instinctive because when I shook her hand, I saw that she was kind of tearing up a little. Then it reminded me how young she was.

“I was just thinking it would be nice for her to address the people that came and watched her play. They were cheering for her.”

Gauff said she had not expected that reaction from Osaka.

“I’m glad that I was able to experience that moment,” she said. “I’m glad the crowd was kind of helping me and her.

“For me a definition of an athlete is someone who treats you as their worst enemy on the court but after they treat you like you’re their best friend. That’s what she did.”

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Tearful – but a contrast to last year

Japanese top seed Osaka announced herself to the world when she won the US Open last year after an angry Serena Williams accused the umpire of being a “thief” in some of the most dramatic scenes at a Grand Slam final.

Williams was given a game penalty for her outburst, which followed racquet smashing and another code violation as Osaka won 6-2 6-4.

“I’m sorry it had to end like this,” a crying Osaka said during the trophy presentation.

Fast-forward 12 months and Osaka was once again up against the home favourite on Arthur Ashe. But this time the tears were different.

Osaka, though still only 21, was the senior – showing grace and maturity as she offered advice and comfort to Gauff – but could not hide her emotions when speaking to the teenager’s family.

And remaining humble, Osaka laughed when it was suggested she was a “mentor” before hugging Gauff as the American left the court.

It was a moment which American 11th seed Sloane Stephens said is “what tennis should be about”.

‘Proud to have Osaka as number one’

Canadian 15th seed Bianca Andreescu beat former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki in the third round of the US Open.

The 19-year-old, playing at Flushing Meadows for the first time, won 6-4 6-4 in a match featuring 10 service breaks.

Andreescu, who has won titles in Toronto and Indian Wells this year, will face American Taylor Townsend in the next round.

Elsewhere, Dutch seventh seed Kiki Bertens lost to German Julia Gorges.

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Bertens, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, fought off four match points before Gorges won 6-2 6-3.

Gorges, seeded 26th, will face Donna Vekic in the fourth round after the Croat beat Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-4 6-1.

World number 116 Townsend knocked out Wimbledon champion Simona Halep in the second round and beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 7-5 6-2 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Latvian world number 77 Jelena Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, lost 6-3 7-5 to American Kristie Ahn, who had never won a main draw singles match at a Grand Slam before.

Ahn faces Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens in the fourth round. The former Australian Open semi-finalist won 6-3 6-3 against German Andrea Petkovic, ranked 88th.

Ukrainian fifth seed and Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina stormed past Ukrainian 32nd seed Dayana Yastremska to win 6-2 6-0 to set-up a fourth-round tie with American 10th seed Madison Keys.

Swiss 13th seed Belinda Bencic was given a walkover to the next round after Estonian opponent Anett Kontaveit retired with illness prior to their match on Louis Armstrong.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is through to the US Open last 16 after showing few signs of a shoulder injury in a straight-set victory over American Denis Kudla.

The top seed progressed with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win against the 111th-ranked Kudla.

The Serb, 32, has been struggling with the problem for “a couple of weeks”, but said he was “almost pain free”.

“That’s a big improvement on my last match,” said Djokovic, who will play Swiss 23rd seed Stan Wawrinka next.

The three-time US Open champion is the favourite to win his fifth Grand Slam from the past six, but was hampered by the shoulder problem during his second-round victory over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero – needing three medical time-outs during Wednesday’s match.

Afterwards, he said he would need to use his day off on Thursday to have more treatment to put him in “a better state” for Friday’s final match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, and did not practise at Flushing Meadows until about 19:45 local time, before going on court under two hours later.

Yet he encountered few problems against Kudla, breaking serve four times and saving seven break points to set up a meeting with three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka – who is likely to push Djokovic more physically – on Sunday.

Wawrinka, 34, beat Djokovic at Flushing Meadows to win the 2016 title.

Djokovic was involved in an incident during his practice on Friday, in which he said to a fan, in a video shared on social media, “I’ll find you afterwards, I’ll come find you”.

Speaking after his match, the Serb laughed off the incident, saying the pair “just had a little chat” and explained he wanted to find the fan “to buy him a drink”.

Asked what was he said, he replied: “We’ll keep it between us. But he definitely helped me. He doesn’t even know, but he did help me.

“Even maybe he didn’t want to do me a favour, he did me a favour, big favour.”

Medvedev overcomes Lopez and boos

Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev was booed by a hostile crowd as he beat Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The world number five received an unsportsmanlike conduct code violation for snatching a towel from a ballperson’s hands in the first set, and he later made an offensive gesture towards the crowd.

He escaped punishment for the gesture, unseen by the umpire despite it being replayed on a television screen in the stadium, as umpire Damien Dumusois said he would “have to see it myself.”

Medvedev was also booed as he was interviewed on court after the match, and said: “I want all of you to know, when you sleep tonight, I won because of you. The energy you gave. The more you do this, the more I win.”

He faces German qualifier Dominik Koepfer next and said he would try and improve his behaviour.

“I am working on myself and hopefully I will be better next time,” added the Russian.

Nishikori downed by De Minaur

Seventh seed Kei Nishikori is out after losing to 20-year-old Australian Alex de Minaur.

The Japanese, runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2014, went two sets down before a brief fightback in a 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3 defeat.

For Australian world number 38 De Minaur, one of the game’s rising stars, it was his first win over a top-10 player and he will face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov next.

“This is where I feel like my game’s at,” De Minaur said after reaching the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.

“I want to be pushing second weeks of Grand Slams and putting myself out there. So very happy. Hopefully I can just keep it rolling.”

In 2018 at the same venue, the Australian squandered a two-set lead against 2014 champion Marin Cilic to lose in five sets in the third round.

“Last year it was a bit of a heartbreaking match for me,” he said. “It stung a lot, but you learn so much from it. You know that that’s your level.”

Meanwhile, Belgium’s David Goffin beat Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (11-9) 7-5 and will next take on 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, who knocked out Briton Dan Evans.

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