OMNISPORT

World number one Novak Djokovic continued his assured progress through the early rounds of the US Open with a straight-sets victory over Andreas Seppi.

Having dropped just 10 games across his two opening matches, Djokovic was always likely to face a stiffer test against the 25th seed.

Seppi has never made it past the third round at Flushing Meadows, however, and was unsurprisingly beaten with a degree of comfort as the 2011 champion booked his place in the last 16, triumphing 6-3 7-5 7-5.

It made it 11 straight wins without a loss for Djokovic against the Italian.

Djokovic will face Roberto Bautista Agut, who was the beneficiary of yet another retirement in New York.

The Spanish 23rd seed trailed David Goffin 6-2 7-5 3-6 1-3 when the Belgian retired.

Reigning champion Marin Cilic came through a titanic tussle with the stubborn Mikhail Kukushkin to book his place in the last 16.

Kukushkin - looking to make it beyond the third round in this event for the first time - triumphed in an opening-set tie-break and served for the second before Cilic seized control of proceedings.

The underdog refused to lie down and came from a break down in set four to force a decider, but Cilic ultimately prevailed 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 after four hours, 10 minutes.

Milos Raonic's tournament was ended by Feliciano Lopez as the Spanish left-hander claimed a 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win.

There were will be an all-French fourth-round clash between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Benoit Paire.

Tsonga was too good for Sergiy Stakhovsky in a 6-3 7-5 6-2 win, while Paire reached the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time courtesy of a 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 6-1 victory over Tommy Robredo.