Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans ensured there will be four British men in the last 32 of the US Open for the first time with confident wins in New York.

Norrie, the nation’s leading player, joined him with a 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win over Portugal’s Joao Sousa.

Former world number one Andy Murray and rising star Jack Draper won their second-round matches on Wednesday.

Seventh seed Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in July, followed Evans out on to the same court on Thursday and beat Sousa to match a career-best run at the final major of the season.

Full of effort and endurance as usual, 27-year-old Norrie did not play at his highest level but still had enough quality to grind down 59th-ranked Sousa.

After the pair traded breaks early in the match, Norrie took his opponent’s serve again towards the end of the first set and moved further ahead with a single break in the third game of the second.

From that point, particularly with 33-year-old Sousa struggling with his shoulder, Norrie was expected to steam through to victory.

There was a reality check when he had to see off a break point in the sixth game, but continued to dig in and clinched victory in the tie-break.

Norrie goes on to play Denmark’s Holger Rune, who was given a walkover into the third round when American John Isner withdrew with a fractured wrist.

Evans enjoying himself in New York

Evans might be heading towards the later years of his career – he says he is not even thinking about retirement yet – but is enjoying some of his best runs at the bigger events.

The world number 22 has shown a strong liking for the North American hard courts, feeling more relaxed after “not particularly enjoying” the increased scrutiny around Wimbledon.

A run to the Montreal semi-finals – the second time he had reached the last four of a Masters event – was good preparation for the US Open.

Last year he reached the fourth round in New York, matching his Grand Slam career best run to the last 16 at the 2017 Australian Open.

Now he is one more victory away from equalling that mark again, but will face a tough test against big-serving Croatian 15th seed Cilic.

Evans was dominant in the opening two sets against Duckworth, only to drop the third set on the back of losing the first break point which the Australian had created in the match.

Suddenly the momentum seemed to be swinging to the 30-year-old Duckworth. He broke for 2-0 and led 3-1 in the fourth set before Evans showed fight to turn the set back in his favour and clinch victory with a stunning running backhand winner.

Fab four create British history

It is only the second time in the Open era that four British men have reached the last 32 at a Grand Slam event, following Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Mark Petchey and Andrew Richardson’s progress to the Wimbledon third round in 1997.

Earlier this week, 20-year-old Draper said he felt Britain was being “more respected” for the current crop of “great” players, although 32-year-old Evans was not so sure.

Evans has been critical of the nation’s player development in the past and, speaking before Thursday’s match, was wary about getting too carried away about the future.

Other than Draper, Britain does not have any men’s players under 21 ranked in the world’s top 400. On the women’s side, 19-year-old Emma Raducanu is the only player in the same age bracket ranked inside the top 200.

“After Jack, what is there? Nothing. That’s the facts. There is a gaping hole after Jack,” said Evans, who plays 2014 champion Marin Cilic next.

“[British men’s tennis] is in a good spot, I’m not saying it’s not, but we need more coming through.”

Britain has a strong-looking men’s team for next month’s Davis Cup Finals group stage in Glasgow, with Draper missing out on the initial selection after Norrie, Evans, Murray and world number one doubles player Joe Salisbury were picked.

Another player will be added.