Catch up on Thursday's action
Otherwise, though, that is us for today. Thanks for your company and join us again tomorrow. Ta-ra.
Monfils has been broken back by Rublev and now trails 6-4 2-1, but good news: his wife is coming over to watch, so perhaps that’ll inspire him.
Cameron Norrie [16] beats Hsu Yu-hsiou 7-5 6-4 6-4
Hsy made that tough, but Norrie always had a bit in reserve and meets Fils or Arnaldi next.
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Norrie finds himself down 15-30, so unleashes a succession of dangerous forehands to level it up. Wawrinka, meanwhile missed various chances to break Etcheverry first up in set three, but he’s just flicked a gorgeous drop-winer across the face of the net for 15-30 at 2-1.
Elina Svitolina [26] beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7 6-4 6-4
She finishes it with an ace! The crowd go wild for her, and that wasn’t just a good performance, it was a good match in which Pavlyuchenkova played her part. She meets Tig or Pegula next.
Another pillow of a second serve that means before long, Svitolina is netting a backhand. Monfils, though, has broken Rublev to trail 4-6 1-0 … and now Svitolina has match point again!
Two monstrous forehands from Pavlyuchenkova and it’s deuce – though it’d be remiss not to note Svitolina’s second serve was a real cold fish. No matter, a banging forehand cross gives her advantage…
Pavlyuchenkova nets a backhand at 15-30 and the crowd love it; Svitolina obliges them with an ace. Match point!
While Svitolia serves for the match, Monfils serves to stay in the set … and he’s broken to 15. Rublev leads 6-4, Pavlyuchnekova gets 0-15.
Unsurprisingly Norrie, forced to up it again, ups it again, breaking Hsu for 4-3. He’s nearly home, while Pavluchenkova has forced Svitolina to serve for it. I can’t wait to see her try.
Svitolina is something. Under pressure serving at 30-all, she smokes a backhand winner down the line and onto the line, then secures 5-3 with an ace. Pavlyuchenkova will now serve to stay in it, and has just one remaining chance to break.
Wawrinka swipes a backhand long from the back and that’s one set all. Well played Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Elsewhere, Hsu has won three games in a row and now leads Norrie 3-2 in the third, on serve; Monfils was broken by Rublev but has just returned the compliment; and Svitolina is serving, 4-3 up in the third against Pavlyuchenkova.
Svitolina leads Pavlyuchenkova 4-1, so it’s slightly odd to see her testing the robustness of her racket when she loses a point for 30-all on her serve. I don’t know if she loses focus, but Pavlyuchenkova does snatch back one break, while Wawrinka levels the breaker only to miss from the back and hand Etcheverry set point on serve. Wawrinka saves it though, the crowd going wild for the splendid Swiss shloch, and he’s soon got the balls in his hand and a 7-6 lead. If he converts it’s hard to see him losing and he takes control of the rally with a brilliant inside-out forehand. But Etcheverry gets it back, Stan can’t find the volleys he needs, and marooned at the net he’s passed. Seven apiece!
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Norrie consolidates for 2-0 in the third, while Etcheverry gets an immediate mini-break in his second-set breaker with Wawrinkz and extends his lead to 4-1.
Marion Bartoli says that Rublev needs to improve to become one of the proper elite and I agree. He seems a little stuck, better than almost everyone but never able to beat those better than him when it really matters; she identifies his net-play as an area which needs work. He leads Monfils 2-0 on serve.
Svitolina is on one, breaking Pavlyuchenlova twice for a 3-0 lead; Wawrinka will shortly serve for a second set tiebreaker and actually, he looks almost kempt today. For shame!
Hsu will suspect he’s cooked, and I’d not be surprised to see Norrie break immediately. He gets 15-30, then at 30-all a one-two forehand-backhand punch, to opposite corners, give him a chance. Hsu does makes deuce then misses game point, and when Norrie gets advantage, he dominates a long rally and eventually a forehand sails long. He leads by two sets and a break.
Norrie serves out to lead 7-5 6-4. Hsu has had chances, but Norrie’s extra class is getting him through. And look at Stan! He breaks Etcheverry straight back,;easds 7-6 4-5, and it’s such a joy watching him still be this good at 38.
Svitolina’s husband, Gael Monfils, is just knocking up with Andrey Rublev; this should be another fun tussle.
Norrie, meanwhile, might’ve thought he’d broken the back of his match with Hsu, but serving for a 2-0 lead at 5-2, he got himself broken instead; he’s just about to try again at 5-4. Oh and Etcheverry has just broken Stan, so will serve for one set all at 5-3.
Svitolina is some competitor. She takes the second set off Pavluuchenkova 6-4 to set up the decider we’re about to enjoy. Cheers, Svitz.
Mates! Bryan has had to run to the interview room, so this is Daniel back again – I’ll get my screens sorted and we’ll be away.
Marketa Vondrousova [9] beats Martina Trevisan 6-2 6-2!
The Wimbledon champion strolls into the third round after 80 uncomplicated minutes. Up next: Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 22nd-seeded Russian who made the final last week in Cleveland.
The American teenager Alex Michelsen has taken the first set from 23rd-seeded Nicolas Jarry. After breaking at 4-all, Michelsen held at love to close out the set, capping it with a 119mph ace out wide. The 19-year-old wildcard, who won his first career Challenger title last month in Chicago, is bidding to become the youngest American man to reach the third round in Flushing Meadows since Donald Young in 2007.
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Norrie has broken Hsu to open the second set, then consolidated with an easy hold for 7-5 2-0. He’s won 16 of the last 19 points.
Wawrinka has just taken a first-set breaker from Etcheverry. The 2016 US Open champion got the best of his Argentinian foe in a 16-shot exhchange on the decisive point of the tiebreak – the third-longest rally of the match – hitting a vintage backhand down the line that Etcheverry couldn’t handle.
Vondrousova isn’t wasting any time over on Grandstand. After taking a 6-2 opening set from Trevisan in 36 minutes, she’s broken the Italian for a quick 2-0 lead in the second.
Norrie taken the opening set from Hsu on a rather packed Court 11. After winning four straight points on Hsu’s serve to break from 15-40 down, Norrie finished in style with a love hold punctuated by a 93mph ace out wide. Eight straight points to close the set and move one step closer to round three.
Madison Keys [17] beats Yanina Wickmayer 6-1 6-2
A straightforward affair for the 2017 US Open runner up in 54 brisk minutes on Ashe. Keys hit 20 winners, saved all four break points she faced and won 77% of her first-serve points. Next up: a third-round meeting on Friday with Liudmila Samsonova, the No 14 seed from Russia.
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Pavlyuchenkova has just taken a highly entertaining first set from Svitolina as the shadows encroach on Armstrong. The unseeded Russian, who’s saved all five break points she’s faced, squandered a pair of set points with Svitolina serving at 5-6, 15-40, but was able to break the No 26 seed from Ukraine on her third chance without letting it get to a tiebreaker.
Given the nationalities of the players, no post-match handshake is expected. A message on the videoboard on Armstrong has said as much to the fans to prevent a negative reaction from the crowd.
Eventually Norrie secures the hold, coming back from 0-40, serving three aces in the game and saving five break points for his 3-3. Otherwise, I’m off for a break; here’s Bryan Armen Graham to chill with you for the next bit.
Norrie finds himself down 0-40, but makes space to power a forehand winner down the line. Then Hsu goes long with one of his and Norrie hits another winner, on the backhand this time; deuce. Mainly, he’s attacking the fore and Hsu the back, but it’s windy out there meaning both have had to adjust … and, as I type that, Norrie saves a fourth break point with an ace. More deuce/advantages ensue.
I love a happy Maddy, and Keys takes the first set off Wickmayer 6-1. Has she, at the age of 28, finally found equilibrium? Elsewhere, it’s Etcheverry 3-2 Wawrinka, Svitolina 3-4 Pavlyuchenkova and Hsu 3-2 Norrie, all on serve.
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He really does knock about like this.
Berrettini in happier times.
John McEnroe goes after Matteo Berrettini and shows he's still got it! pic.twitter.com/WgbfoZY2iZ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2023
Vondrousova, the Wimbledon champ, breaks Trevisan right away and leads 2-0 while Svitolina and Pavlyuchenkova are 3-3. On 11, Hsu and Norrie are under way, level at 1-1.
Arthur Rinderknech beats Mario Berrettini 6-4 5-3 (retired)
Terrible luck for Berrettini, who’s had such annoyances with injury. Bright side, he was about to go down two sets and the damage didn’t look too bad; Rinderknech, who’s playing nicely, meets Monfils or Rublev next.
Keys breaks Wickmayer at the first tie of asking to lead 2-0; Svitolina and Pavlyuchenkova are 2-2; and Wawrinka leads Etcheverry 2-1 on serve.
Ah, he’s sitting up now, and by the look of things I don’t think it’s a serious injury. Let’s hope it’s not a twist or sprain that’ll prevent him from carrying on.
On 17, Etcheverry and Wawrinka are under way, and oh no! Playing deuce while trying to stay in the second set, Berrettini chasesdown a backhand, his toe appears to catch on the court, he goes down, and a minute later he’s barely moved. I hope he’s just jarred it, especially given all he’s been through and the mental anguish of being in your prime but unable to do your thing. however, it did not look good. Godspeed, old mate.
“Do you think Andy will announce his retirement after the game” wonders Andrew Benton. “I do.”
I’ve not got that impression listening to him speak lately and he didn’t linger at the end end, so I don’t think so, but given his age and all he’s been through, I’ll not be surprised whenever it comes.
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“Evening Daniel, begins Simon McMahon. “I’m a huge Murray fan and have been one of his biggest cheerleaders since the start, but that’s a chastening defeat. My Big Book of Sporting Cliches tells me that he’s earned the right to continue competing for as long as he likes, but also wonders how long he can rage against the dying of the light. What memories, though.”
Yes, one of my all-time favourite sportsfolk too, a rare one who stands for something beyond being good at what he does. He’s still enjoying it – though he won’t have enjoyed that – so I reckon we’ll get a bit more from him yet, given how well he played at Wimbledon.
How much better can this get!?
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2023
Andy Murray is out here doing the impossible. pic.twitter.com/LCaDEKQWHj
Isner is too choked to speak properly, saying he’s worked as hard as he can to play in front of crowds like the one on Grandstand. And off he pops into the world of leisure.
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Rinderknech is now a set and a break up on Berrettini, while Alexandrova has beaten Tsurenko; Tsu v Norries will soon be with us.
Next on Ashe: Yanina Wickmayer v Madison Keys [17].
Michael Mmoh beats John Isner 3-6 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 7-6(7)
He did Khachanov on Tuesday, saved a pair of match points here, and that’s a tremendous comeback from Mmoh, who retires Isner. He applauds his opponent’s career, while Isner buries his face in his towel, the enormity of the occasion dawning on him. He meets Jack Draper next.
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Murray will be disappointed with a tame defeat; he lost at the same stage of Wimbledon, but that was an epic, and to Tsitsipas.
Elsewhere, Mmoh and Isner are playing a fifth-set breaker – it’s 7-6 Isner on serve – whole Martina also praises Dimitrov’s tactics, saying Murray is a counter-puncher, so by taking of pace he was forcedto create his own angles and power.
Dimitrov played a brutal first-round match too, and he was expecting five sets here so was constantly reminding himself he’s “here for the long haul”. He praises Murray as a great competitor and person, says the teams are friendly with each other, there are no secrets and Murray has done really well to come back. But he’s had some good results lately, got to the semis here in 2019 and wants to go one better this term. He’s looked after his body well, which is allowing him to keep going, and knowing the end is near, is really enjoying his tennis.
Grigor Dimitrov [19] beats Andy Murray 6-3 6-4 6-1
A fantastic performance from Dimitrov who, with his coach Dani Valverdu – previously Murray’s coach – hatched a plan, executed it, and looks well set. He plays like this, he’ll give Zverev a thorough examination when they meet on Saturday.
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Talking of whom Murray, serving at 1-5 and deuce, hits a decent forehand … only to be passed brilliantly, and that’s match point Dimitrov!
Alexander Zverev [12] beats Daniel Altmaier 7-6(1) 3-6 6-4 6-3
He meets Murray or Dimitrov next.
Next on Armstrong: Elina Svitolina [26] v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
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Sabalenka is happy with her performance and has, she’s told, hit more winners at majors than any other player on the WTA tour. If she does better than Swiatek here, she becomes world no 1, which is one of her goals, and prompted, agrees that she enjoys the loudness of the US open because she’s funny, energetic and “crazy sometimes”; “great personality”, she jokes.
Burrage did her best there and, like Boulter, is playing more or less as well as she can. But Sabalenka is now beyond losing to players miles below her, at slams at least, and it’ll take something significant to stop her.
Aryna Sabalenka [2] beats Jodie Burrage 6-3 6-2
She meets Burel next, who’s just binned Pliskova.
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Rinderknech takes the first set off Berrettini 6-4; Burel is serving for the match against Pliskova leading 6-4 5-2; and Alexandrova leads Tsurenko 6-1 0-1.
Oh dear. Sabalenka breaks Burrage – who’s missed break points herself - for 6-3 4-2, then Dimitrov breaks Murray for 6-3 6-4 4-1 and even one of sport’s great escapologists will struggle to get out of this one.
This was tight, now it isn’t, Murray raising two break points; Dimitrov saves the first with an ace out wide … and the second with an animal down the middle which facilitates the clean-up forehand. He moves quickly through deuce, and this has been a very fine performance from him. If he’d had this moxie at his peak, he might’ve done as well as he promised to. He leads 3-1 in the third.
Oh Andrew. He allows Dimitrov back into a game, can’t hit a first serve, then on advantage swats a backhand wide and 2-1 down in the third, he’s on the brink – every bit as amused as you imagine he is. Burrage, meanwhile, continues to give a good account of herself, leading 2-1 in the second.
Zverev breaks Altmaier for 2-1 in set four, so need only hold his serve and he’s into round three; Burel has taken the first set off Pliskova 6-4 and leads 2-1, with a break, in the second; Berrettini and Rinderknech are level at 4-4.
Murray punishes a backhand down the line to make 0-30 but Dimitrov then runs down a drop to halve the deficit. However Murray then hits deep, Dimitrov misses with a forehand, and here come two break-back points … of which Murray only needs one! A decent return, a backhand that floats long, and might this be a turning point? At 3-6 4-6 1-1, there’s a phenomenal quantity of work still to do, but no one who’ll enjoy the misery of attempting it more than the man who’s got to.
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Again, Murray drops serve at the start of a set, and he’s in colossal trouble here. He resolved precisely this predicament against Kokkinakis in Melbourne, but Dimitrov is showing no signs of faltering, just as Murray doesn’t look like dominating.
Serving at 2-5, Burrage – who’s playing pretty well – saves a set point, but Sabalenka deals with it on her own delivery and leads 6-3.
Another long rally at 30-15 and when Dimitrov nets, Murray has a sniff. But a serve out wide, a big forehand into the opposite corner, and Murray can only waft wide. Dimitrov leads by two sets to love, but will know what his opponent is capable of.
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Murray holds, so at 5-4, Griggzy will serve for a two-set lead.
I said Burrage wasn’t getting nowhere near Sabalenka’s serve, but at 2-4 she makes it to deuce … but is still 2-5 down at the end of it. Elsewhere, Mmoh has come from 2-0 down to force a decider with Isner, Rinderknech and Berrettini are under way and 3-2 on serve and Zverev has just served out for a 2-1 lead over Altmaier.
Burrage secures a pair of holds but gets nowhere near the break-back she needs, trailing 2-4. Murray, meanwhile, earns a point for one … but at the end of a long and tremendous rally just misses the sideline with a backhand cross-court, expressing his frustrations through the medium of racket abuse. When Dimitrov makes advantage, though, Murray sweeps a glorious backhand pass down the line … for all the good it does him. Second later he’s 3-5 down, and by the looks of things will need to win three sets straight to get through.
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It’s not often you see Murray out-gameplanned and in co-comms Jo Konta notes that we think we can see what Dimitrov is doing – taking pace off and going backhand to backhand – but when you’re out there things can feel very different. But he’s back ion the match now after a few games at the end of the first set and start of the second which might still cost him the match. He holds to 30 and at 3-4 is still in it, but needs a break and fast.
Sabalenka is at it immediately, yelling, grunting and breaking Burrage for 2-0 in the first. I love watching her so much, the combination of power finesse and vulnerability is so compelling.
Boulter tells Sky she’s “super happy” because no one is “very” anything anymore. She loved it out there, she’s really happy with how she held it down, and has things on which to work prior to her next match.
Dimitrov has been going to Murray’s backhand, mainly via slice – taking the pace off, and the Brit Scot hasn’t yet come to terms with it. He holds to 15, though, and trails 6-3 3-2.
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Mmoh takes the third set 7-6 to trail Isner 2-1; Zverev and Altmaier are locked at 2-2 and a set apiece.
And how about this?! On Armstrong, Jodie Burrage comes out with Aryna Sbalenka, the world number two. What a moment for her, but can she make it a contest?
Less good news for Murray, though, who’s broken again; Dimitrov has now won four games in a row … five as he consolidates to lead 6-3 2-0.
Katie Boulter beats Wang Yifan 5-7 6-1 6-4!
What a win that is and she’s into round three for the first time – where she’ll meet Tauson or Stearns, either of whom she’ll fancy beating.
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Boulter, meanwhile, is dragged to deuce, then misses a forehand; Wang can’t capitalise, hitting a backhand wide, then another error hands Boulter match point…
Draper hollers deep and loud; he’s worked and waited for this, but lokoed a proper player out there. He’s going places.
Jack Draper beats Hubert Hurkacz [17] 6-2 6-4 7-5!
Oh man, what a day for Draper! He was gutted to pull out of the French Open – on court – with injury, missed Wimbledon too, and now he’s into round three for the second year in a row! He meets Mmoh or Isner next, Isner leading by two sets to love.
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A big serve returned long, 15-0; a forehand into the net, 30-0 and Hurkacz looks a beaten man; a longer rally, a backhand swiped wide, and after two hours 12, Draper has three match points!
Katie Boulter! She breaks Wang, and at 5-7 6-1 5-4 must now steel herself to serve for the match!
Jack Draper! He breaks Hurkacz, and at 6-2 6-4 6-5, must now steel himself to serve for the match! This has been a terrific performance though his opponent is suffering, but finishing him off is another matter entirely.
Boulter hangs onto her serve for 4-4 in the third; Dimitrov serves out for 6-3, 63-minute-long set that sped up at the end; and Draper holds for 5-5 in the third.
Jannik Sinner beats Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 6-2 6-4
He meets Etcheverry or Wawrinka next, and a match with the latter would be very tasty indeed.
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Boulter finds herself serving at 30-all and when Wang lands a forehand on the white, she can only net in response; trouble. But a body-serve extricates her from immediate danger and, on Ashe, Murray could use something similar, down 4-3 0-40 to Dimitrov. Meantime, Wang makes advantage but overhits into the tramlines, and after all that effort, Murray does likewise, handing out a free break that means Dimitrov will shortly serve for the set at 5-3.
I wish I had more eyes. Draper holds for 4-4, but I’d like to focus on Boulter, if the other matches allow, as that’s nearing its end.
Murray holds to 15 – the pathetic malingerer, too soft to brave another deuce – while Boulter holds for 3-3 in the third. Draper, meanwhile, is now involved in a contest, serving at deuce trailing 4-3 but leading 2-1.
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Another deuce-game, that Dimitrov wins to lead 3-2, while Hurkacz has to drag through deuce for the hold that gives him 4-3 in the third. I’ve not a clue how, if he’s feeling anywhere near as peaky as he looks, he wins three sets straight as it gets hotter, but credit to him for trying.
Oh look, Altmaier breaks Zverev to trail 6-7 3-2, and Sinner breaks Sonego to lead 6-4 6-2 3-2; he’s nearly home.
…and eventually gets his hold for 2-2; this is a really good contest. Elsewhere, Zverev and Altmaier are 2-2 in the second, Zverev having taken the first on a tiebreaker, WQang leads Boulter 2-1 on serve in the decider, and Hurkacz is hanging in there, leading Draper 3-2 in the third.
Isner now leads Mmoh by two sets to love while Zhen and Kanepi are playing a decider; the doctor visits with Hurkacz, they take a while, and we’re back under way, Draper leading 6-2 6-4 1-2. Murray, of course, is engaged in another sapping, protracted game with Dimitrov – they’ve been going 35 minutes and haven’t completed four games yet. He has advantage…
There’s a suggestion that Hurkacz isn’t feeling great, and well though Draper’s playing, that’d explain his lack of lustre. He does, though, rebound from 0-30 down in his next service game to lead 2-1 in the third, before calling the physio. But if he’s unwell, he’ll need the doctor.
Wang forces Boulter to deuce and misses a break point, but eventually shanks one long and that’s one set apiece at 7-5 1-6; they’ll now play a decider. Hurkacz manages to avoid being broken in the first game of a set for the first time, though he has to save an opportunity, and on Ashe, both commentators yell “Noooo!” at the same time as Murray rushes into the net and, right by the chair, somehow flicks a winner across the face of the net! That is simply incredible, it earns him another break point, and when Dimitrov nets he converts it! A 15-minute game, seven deuces; just a typical acrylic afternoon with Andrew Barron Murray.
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Altmaier ploughs through a 6-6 set, only to lose the breaker 7-1 to Zverev –this game! – then calls out the trainer to an issue with his right hand. Sinner now leads Sonego 6-4 6-2, while Murray and Dimitrov are playing the fifth deuce of the game.
Boulter breaks Wang again so leads 5-1 in the second, while Murray forces Dimitrov through deuce thanks to a typical Murray point, long and packed with gets and aggression. He’s in the match now.
This time, Boulter consolidates while Hurkacz might just’ve arrived. He’s showing more patience now, waiting to inject power, and makes Draper serve for set two; at 0-15, he steps in to despatch a fine volley. But at 30-15, he can’t put away his volley given two chances – credit to Hurkacz for the de-fence though – and it’s getting nervy out there, all the more so when Draper misses his first serve. But his second, curling away, is very good, enough to help him make advantage, and a wide serve is backed up by a definitive volley, meaning he leads 6-2 6-4!
Does Draper lose focus? He finds himself down 15-40, serves a double, and on Ashe, Murray is broken to love so trials Dimitrov 0-2, the commentator on each court calling their behaviour “scrappy”. But Boulter breaks Wang again, so now leads 3-1 in the second.
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Murray is away, Dimitrov holding for 1-0, while Hurkacz sends change of ends sat under a towel and must now find a way to break Draper, who’s serving for the second set at 6-2 5-2.
And now Boulter breaks Wang! She trails 5-7 2-0, and as I type, bangs a forehand down the line for 15-30 as she attempts to consolidate. Wang, though, maeks 15-40, whereupon another fine forehand, sent cross-court, eliminates the first break point – Boulter loves that – but after opening the court with a decent serve out wide, she goes long with her overhead and that’s 2-1.
Now then! Draper breaks Hurkacz again, leads 6-2 4-1, and this is a proper going-over. Hurkacz is struggling, in particular, with balls to his forehand that have the pace taken off, and he’s running out of time to find a solution.
Murray must be buzzing to be back on Ashe – I’m certain he’ll have feared it’d never happen when he was having a metal hip inserted. He’s looking for his 201st singles win at a major – this is the men’s all-time list.
1) Roger Federer - 369
2) Novak Djokovic - 355
3) Rafael Nadal - 314
4) Jimmy Connors - 233
5) Andre Agassi - 224
6) Ivan Lendl - 222
7) Roy Emerson - 210
8) Pete Sampras - 203
9) Andy Murray - 200
10) Stefan Edberg - 178
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Sinner breaks Sonego to lead 6-4 2-1 and Sky go to a break so we’re not allowed to see Wang break Boulter for take their first set 7-5. On Ashe, Muzz and Griggz emerge.
Draper saves a break point in consolidating, and Hurkacz is struggling out there, serving at 30-all and slapping a forehand putaway long after decent scurrying by his opponent. He saves himself, probably the set, and likely the match, with an ace, then nails a forehand … but a gloriously deft backhand pass from Draper breaks the sideline, and we’re back to deuce. Not for long: Hurkacz serves out to trail 2-6 1-2.
Also going on:
Sinner takes the first set off Sonego 6-4, Isner – playing in his final US Open – leads Mmoh 6-3, and Altmaier and Zverev must be enduring some sapping rallies because their match is 3-3 having started at the same time as the others.
Boulter opens the court to run around her forehand, clouting a winner cross-court to raise her third set point … but after working another forehand angle, she nets and Wang seals the game from there. This is a really fun contest, and it’s 5-5 in set one.
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…then at 15-40, she dumps a backhand while, on 12, Draper hangs in the rally constantly hitting deep to Hurkacz’s forehand, and he breaks him in the first game of set two! Now, sitting at deuce, what can Boulter do?
Boulter makes 5-4 0-30…
One-way traffic! Draper closes out to love, completing a 6-2 set, and Hurkacz has some thinking to do; if he can’t work this out, he’ll soon be back home with his gerbils.
Draper has, as we know, had injury issues, which in comms they speculate could be because he had a late growth spurt. Let’s hope that’s why, because it means he should soon be free of the aggravation; Hurkacz holds, so yerman will now serve for the set at 5-2.
Boulter has broken Wang back so now leads 4-3; Altmaier does likewise to Zverev and they’re at 2-2; Draper consolidates for 5-1, and this is going perfectly for him.
Calv returns on Draper: “If his body holds up then is ceiling is exceptionally high. He’s a brilliant player. Could win majors.”
And he’s up 15-40 with two points for a double break … and he only needs one! Hurkacz goes long on the forehand with the rally barely under way, and this first set is five to done!
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A poor volley rescued by a gibongous ace confiscates Hurkacz’s first break point, Draper serves out from there, and he’s enjoying himself – as you’d expect given his 3-1 lead.
Sinner breaks Sonego then consolidates, and already I think I should’ve backed him to win in three, not just to win, as part of the acca I need to put on so I can watch all the matches I need to. He leads 3-1, Wang leads Boulter 3-2, and for the first time Draper is under a bit of pressure serving at deuce
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On the topic of Draper, here’s Calv Betton: “He’s serious. Been groomed to be a winner all his life and when you practise with him he’s serious as hell, then completely changes personality when it’s finished.”
And he’s a massive lefty too. Those are some very significant raw materials.
A fine backhand cross-court gives Draper a point for a double-break; Hurkacz responds with a service winner then closes out to get on the board at 1-2 down.
Draper consolidates for 2-0 and Zverev breaks Altmaier off the bat. Wang, meanwhile, breaks Boulter for 2-1 and looks to have the greater ability to hit winners.
Bouler and Wang both hold, likewise Sonego and Sinner – but the latter makes the former fight for it. Sinner is one of very few players who gives Carlos Alcaraz aggro and the two are, if I’m reading the bracket correctly, scheduled to meet in the last eight. I’d lap that up.
Draper is, I’m told, a proper killer, and he’s bang into stride from the off – he looks to have shaken off the shoulder injury that derailed the early part of his summer – absolutely cracking his forehand to make 0-30 on the Hurkacz serve. Hurkacz, though, makes 40-30 only to net a backhand and shortly afterwards, Draper has advantage. He wafts a return, inviting Hurkacz to supply his own pace … and the riposte sails long! That’s the break at the first time of asking!
We learn that Hurkacz is a sound lad, which is always good to hear. His ability on the backhand might compromise Draper’s swinging lefty serve out to that flank, but it’s rare he faces someone with as much power, so will expect a battle.
I’m watching Draper v Hurkacz, Sonego v Sinner and Boulter v Wang. When my daughter returns my laptop, I’ll also dig into Zverev v Almaier
Our players are on their various courts.
I also enjoyed this, from an interview he gave to the ATP website:
What’s your favourite fruit?
I really like strawberries, I think they taste great.
I’m properly buzzing to see how Draper goes against Hurkacz. Hubie, as he likes to be known – according to Wikipedia – “has a great love of gerbils, and owns several hundred specimens on his ranch near Krakow. He also has several dachschunds, but he keeps them well away from the gerbils whenever possible.” Citation needed.
Preamble
Yo dudes, and welcome to the US Open 2023 – day four!
We begin with a British triple-header, each match extremely tasty. Kicking us off, Katie Boulter – in the form of her life – meets Wang Yafan and, at the same time, the returning and extremely promising Jack Draper faces Hubert Hurkacz, the number 17 seed. Then, when Ashe gets under way an hour later, the resurgent Andrew Murray faces the resurgent Griggzy Dimitrov; not bad eh, and that’s just us getting started.
For today’s day sesh also features Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Maddison Keys, Ons Jabeur, Mario Berrettini, Tomás Martín Etcheverry v Stan Wawrinka, Lorenzo Sonego v Jannik Sinner, Jodie Burrage v Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Gael Monfils v Andrey Rublev and plenty more besides. Frankly, it’s ridiculous.
So stick with us, because this is going to be a lot of fun. Let’s go, dudes!
