Match reports
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Tiafoe beats Hijikata 6-4, 6-1, 6-4
The Australian wildcard’s run is ended in ruthless fashion by Frances Tiafoe, who will face fellow American Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals.
On Armstrong, Tiafoe leads Hijikata 6-4 6-1 4-3, on serve in set three, but otherwise that’s us done for the day. Thanks for your company; join me again tomorrow for more fun at 3.30pm BST!
Gauff says the turning point was breaking back so quickly. She really went for her shots but Wozniacki came back like she never left and inspired Gauff growing up; it was an honour to be on the court with her, she concludes. In some ways it felt like playing herself, someone constantly making her hit one extra ball, but it reminded her to go for her shots;; she knew her opponent wouldn’t back down, which reminded her to be focused on every point. She’s got to quarters before and has confidence that she can go even further, thanking the crowd for her support, then asked about her box, she tells us she likes to work things out for herself so sometimes reacts in the moment telling them stuff, and though her dad gets too nervous to sit there, she knows he’s around. So no direct question about Gilbert, which is a shame, but as I said below, I’m sure he’s delighted his charge found her own solutions.
Gauff’s interview should be a goodun but before we get to it, hold tight Caroline Wozniacki, who did an incredible job in her first major back after so long out. I hope we see her in Melbourne.
Coco Gauff [6] beats Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 3-6 6-1
That’s a fantastic decider from Gauff, who shrieks and hollers when Wozniacki’s backhand is wide and plenty. She’s shown incredible maturity to ignore her coach and solve her own problem; it’s hard to believe she’s just 19. She meets Swiatek [1] or Ostapenko [20] next.
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Gauff goes wide and long on the forehand; one match point saved by Wozniacki…
Gauff makes 30-0 in short order, serves out wide, a forehand return goes long, and Gauff has three match points!
Tiafoe, by the way, leads 6-4 6-1 3-2, on serve in the third.
Down 15-30, Gauff wins two points in a row, the second with a telling forehand, and this break point is near enough a match point. AND WOZNIACKI GOES LONG! Gauff has broken her three times in a row, and this is fantastic behaviour given she a break down at 1-0. But now it’s 5-1; can she serve out?
Wozniacki raises 15-30 but another forehand error – each point of the game has finished on account of one – and it’s 30-all. Gauff breaks the pattern by sending down a double, then a forehand clips the top of the net and sits up. But Wozniacki doesn’t finish so Gauff hauls herself back into the rally, finishing it quickly, saluting the crowd, and hammering down a service winner … then putting away a volley to consolidate and she now leads 4-1! That might be the crucial blow!
Eccellent from Gauaff at 30-all, hanging in the rally then winning it to raise break point. And a forehand swept down the line allows her to come in … but it makes no odds because Wozniacki nets! This is a really mature effort from Gauff, who’s responded superbly to adversity and more than that has lozzed off her coach to find her own solutions. I bet Gilbert is delighted with her because ultimately, that’s what good coaching seeks to do. She leads 3-1 in the third.
Gauff holds comfortably for 2-1 in the third, and this is very intense now. She has by the far the more powerful weapons, but experience is a biggun and Wozniacki is also under a lot less pressure.
Gilbert was ordering Gauff to give her backhand some air, so she hits three hard, flat ones and makes 15-40; Wozniacki nets, handing back the break, and Gilbert suggests his charge use her legs to be aggressive with the serve. We’re 1-1 in the third.
Gauff finds herself down 15-30 and can Wozniacki press home her advantage? Maybe so! A barrage of forehands sets up a winner cross-court and raises two break points, the first saved with a decent first serve. But have a look! A miserable backhand low into the net, and Wozniacki is a break up at 1-0 in the decider! What a story it’ll be if she makes the last eight of her first major back after three-and-a-half years retired. Meanwhile, Gilbert tries to advise Gauff – she airs him – and Tiafoe moves two sets up on Hijiokata, 6-4 6-1 in front.
Tiafoe, meanwhile, breaks Hijikata for 6-4 4-1, and looks in total control. But back on Ashe, Gauff, down 40-0, is saying “Stop talking”; a return into the net and we’re level at one-set all! Wozniacki 3-6 6-3 Gauff
Wozniacki now leads Gauff 4-3 in the second, but can she find a break? Looking at the bracket, the winner of this meets Swiatek or Ostapenko next, followed by a semi against Muchova or Cirstea, and I’m wondering if Gauff quite has the game to beat the champ if both make it through. My sense is not, but she's improving fast … and of course as I type that, Wozniacki, wity break point, nails a tremendous backhand cross-court to the tootsies that has Gauff doing the splits! She’ll now serve for a decider whole Gauff is left shouting “Please just stop” at the barrage of advice from Brad Gilbert, her coach.
Thanks Tom and hi again. Wozniacki is doing everything she can, but it looks to me like Gauff will soon find a way.
Wozniacki takes Gauff to deuce on the American’s serve but the youngster digs her way out of trouble and it’s 3-3 in the second set. With that, I’ll hand back to Daniel Harris.
A beautiful drop volley from Tiafoe secures a break in the first game of the second set. He’s 6-4, 1-0 up. Things are going pretty well for the young Americans out there today…
A break point for Wozniacki now from nowhere – Gauff has been utterly dominant so far in this match. She has the court open too to seal the break but sends the ball into the net. Gauff’s only fault this match has been her consistency: she’s barely getting 60% of her first serves in, but Wozniacki isn’t even doing that. Gauff comes back to hold and it’s 2-2 in the second set.
Tiafoe win the first set v Hijikata, 6-4. He holds to love and made it look simple.
A break point for Tiafoe at 4-4 in the opening set. Hijikata dumps his first serve into the net but after a long rally, the American pushes a backhand wide and we go to deuce. His backhand is better next time though – he leaps and smacks in past his Aussie opponent for another chance to break. This time he is successful and Tiafoe will serve for the first set at 5-4.
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Tiafoe suffers a wee scare as he goes down 0-30 on his serve to Fujikata but he rallies (literally) to take the game and we’re at 4-3 on serve in the first. Wozniacki is swinging for the fences, but not terribly successfully: she has 12 unforced errors to four winners so far (Gauff has 15 winners). And yet … she’s still in this, and dives forward to hit a crosscourt forehand that’s too good for Gauff and leads 15-40 on her opponent’s serve. But Gauff is tireless and comes back to hold. This is Wozniacki’s sixth match in nearly four years though, so we’ll cut her some slack.
Coco Gauff wins the first set against Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3. Wozniacki shows fight, coming back from 0-30 to make it deuce as Gauff serves for the set. The American’s serving is just too good though and they help her seal the set. Apart from being broken in the opening game, she was untroubled by her veteran opponent.
Hijikata v Tiafoe is 2-1 and on serve. On Ashe, Gauff gets away to a 0-30 lead and then slams a forehand return to make it 0-40: her return was actually faster than the serve (which, in fairness was 76mph). Coco’s eighth points in a row secures the break and she leads 5-3. She will now serve for the first set.
On ESPN we’re informed that Gauff’s first serve is averaging 106mph. Wozniacki’s is coming in at 96mph. Still, she wanders up to the net and sends a volley down the centre of the court to hold serve. Gauff then holds to love and we’re 4-3 on serve in the first. A few minutes’ walk away at Citi Field, Pete Alonso hits his second home run of the game and the Mets lead the Mariners with a tennis-adjacent scoreline of 6-3. He’s up to 41 for the season!
Tiafoe v Hijikata has just started on Louis Armstrong. The young Aussie holds serve to take the opening game of the match.
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A few loose shots from Wozniacki early on, which is excusable seeing as this is her first grand slam since January 2020, she was heavily pregnant a year ago and she is currently ranked No 623 in the world (but rising!). Gauff takes an easy service game and leads 3-2.
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Two break points for Gauff after Woznicaki sends a forehand long. She can’t handle a low, sliced forehand from the Dane on her first attempt but takes the second and we’re back on serve. Wozniacki 2-2 Gauff.
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Gauff holds serve to win her first game of the match, but she’s still a break down, 2-1 in the first set. It’s humid and hot here in NYC today but both players should be used to it: Wozniacki has a home in Florida while Gauff grew up there. Also a reminder that Coco hasn’t been a great starter at this tournament so far: she lost the opening set in the the first- and third-rounds.
Righteo, I’m off for a break; here’s Tom Lutz to croon you through the next bit.
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Next on Armstrong: Rinky Hijikata v Francis Tiafoe [10].
Wozniacki breaks Gauff off the bat; interesting!
Cirstea says she’s a big smile on her face because of how hard she’s worked for this – very few people know just how hard. She thanks the crowd, who’ve “made me feel special”. Players dream about making it to where she now is, but it always pays off if you work hard – if only that were true – and she’s really proud of how she’s played this week.
Wozniacki and Gauff are away…
Sorana Cirstea [30] beats Belinda Bencic [15] 6-3 6-3
That’s an absolute doing. Bencic was so poor today, finishing with a careless forehand, but Cirstea was very good, ensuring her win over Rybakina wasn’t for nothing, and she’s into her first Grand Slam quarter in 14 years and the second of her career. She meets Muchova next, and will have to play just as well to have a chance in that.
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A winner from Cirstea, an error from Bencic, and at 0-30 this is again nearly over. Cirstea is taking her second serve apart here, but she wallops a flat forehand long to usher her opponent into the game. No matter: Bencic hesitates, comes in off a difficult ball, and is quickly passed cross-court…
Bencic makes 15-30 but a poor shot cedes the advantage. Cirstea, though, sends down a double then scoops a backhand wide; that’s a break back, but can Bencic hold it down for longer than one game in a row? She trails 3-6 3-5.
Lovely stuff dept: Wozniacki and Gauf arrive onto Ashe. I’m buzzing for this one as, I’m sure, are youse.
Just when we hoped Bencic might’ve played herself into nick, another service game riddled with errors gives Cirstea advantage … and a backhand swiped hectares long means Cirstea will now serve for a spot in the last eight at 6-3 5-2. Bencic looks every bit as miserable as her performance has been.
A fabulous return from Bencic – who, I’ve just heard, rolled an ankle when my computer reset – right onto Cirstea’s tootsies gives her a break back point having been down 0-40, and she’s now serving at 3-6 4-2. Thing is, she’s still struggling with Cirstea’s extra pace, so I don’t really see a way for her here.
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Back to Shelton, 20 years old. Not bad really, and he got his tactics spot-on today, denying Paul pace on the forehand and trusting himself to win rallies from the back. Anyroad, he’s got a real chance of winning his next match too while, on Armstrong, Cirstea has broken Bencic again and leads 6-1 4-1 40-15.
Next on Ashe: Caroline Wozniacki v Coco Gauff [6].
He says it’s great being in America and feeling the love of the crowd “playing against foreigners” … er, OK mate. As for playing on Ashe, “It’s hard to believe but God does wonders,” he concludesm then explains that in his box, there’s no panic, and he didn’t panic when dropping the fourth set. He stole his dad away from his job coaching the Florida Gators, he explains, and thanks his support team. Otherwise, he’s learnt this year that he’s not just a tennis player, he treats people the right way, inspires kids, and hopes they develop a passion for tennis watching him play.
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Ben Shelton beats Tommy Paul [14] 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4
What a win that is! Shelton flexes muscles, cups an ear, sends love to his dad, and he meets Tiafoe or Hijikata next!
Cirstea consolidates, then makes 30-40 as Bencic makes her 20th unforced error and the match is here: another break, and sure it’s over. But Cirstea flays long then cracks into the net and from there Bencic sees out her hold to tay in the match at 3-6 1-2. and if you’re wondering what took me so long, my computer crashed I accidentally kicked out my computer’s plug … and in the meantime, out of nowhere, Paul, at 30-all, goes long on serve, and Shelton has match point at 6-4 6-3 3-6 5-4!
Watching kids compete is so affirming. Shelton is having the absolute time of his life out there and he goes wild when a serve out wide followed by a putaway gives him 4-3 in the fourth.
Yeah about Bencic. A double gives Cirstea 0-40 then someone shouts out as she marches in to put a way a short one … and she shanks it! She’s not at all happy but that’s no excuse for ceding a love break. Cirstea leads 6-1 1-0.
Cirstea serves out for a 6-3 set, but Bencic has arrived now, so we might see something different from here.
Spike Lee is watching Paul v Shelton, who are 2-2 in set four – but ominously, Paul is starting to serve nicely.
Bencic plays a pretty decent swing-volley but Cirstea nails a glorious pass cross-court from inside her forehand corner. She then goes long from the back, though, so will now serve for the first set a second time at 5-3.
Go on Belinda Bencic! She’d not hit a winner until this game, but a big forehand gives her second and break point, then Cirstea nets and that’s one break back! at 2-5 Pressure!
Shelton kicks off set four with a hold, clinching the game with an excellent second serve out wide; Bencic gets on the board, forcing Cirstea to serve for the set, smoking a return past her for 0-15 then collaring a return into the ankles for 15-30. Can she make something happen?
Cirstea now leads 5-0 and perhaps the problem with Bencic is that she lacks a serious weapon. Cirstea, on the other hand, is a stroke-maker so, when she’s on, she’s on
“Patrick McEnroe says the US Open serving record is 152 mph by Roddick,” advises Olga. “Eubanks said he will let Ben know so he can try to break it! As you know, he is Ben’s doubles partner and a new commie for ESPN.”
I bet he’s great at it too – he was doing it for the Tennis Channel before his career caught fire.
Up 40-15, Paul serves, comes in, and sticks his volley away! From 1-4 down, he’s won five games in a row, and now trails Shelton by two sets to one. Meantime, Cirstea breaks again, and contrary to my earlier musing it appears that in fact, Bencic has not yet got the majors sorted.
Now then! Paul breaks Shelton – he must’ve read what I said about him earlier – and at 5-4 will serve for the third set and a 2-1 deficit.
Two-thirds of the court are in shade, which can’t be easy for the players – yes, and won’t someone please think of the livebloggers – as Cirstea consolidates for 3-0.
You’ll be delighted to know I’ve found Cirstea v Bencic, on my phone, just in time to miss the former breaking for 2-0. I didn’t see her match with Rybakina, but that win – probably the biggest of her career – tells us she’s in tremendous nick, and is mentally strong enough to win a third-set decider against one of the best players around.
Hold tight Tommy Paul! With me still searching for Cirstea v Bencic, he breaks back in the third, now trailing 2-0 and 3-4.
Cirstea and Bencic are away, the former holding for 1-0 as I’m trying to find coverage; for some reason Sky have jamie Murray in the doubles on the channel not showing Paul v Shelton.
Oh wow. Shelton serves two aces, two of them at 149mph, the fastest of the competition I think, holds to love and is two gamea away from a storming win! Add to that Dominic Stricker’s progress – he’s playing later – and the new generation are coming.
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I am high on Ben Shelton. A big forehand gets him to the net whereupon he finds two fine volleys, one off either flank, to make 15-30 on the Paul serve. Then Paul goes long, misses his first serve, and can Shelton go up two sets and a break? Yes he can! Paul completes his double and now trails 4-6 3-6 1-4!
Shelton and Paul are 1-1 in the third, Shelton having won the first two, and I don’t doubt his ability to see this out; I don’t think Paul has the weapons to win three sets on the spin, so he’s probably got to hope for a choke.
Next on Armstrong: Sorana Cirstea [30] v Belinda Bencic [15].
Wang gave a decent account of herself there but Muchova was just a bit too good. She tells us that it was hot out there and she’s glad the match was over. She’d never played Wang before and it was a tough match, but she thinks she came back well in the third, returning to her game with lots of slices. She’s been doing a bit of yoga in Central Park, apparently, and also plays guitar – she has interests other than tennis – and if she were ti play one song now, when phshed, says it’d be “some AC/DC song, probably Highway to Hell!”
Karolína Muchová [10] beats Wang Xinyu 6-3 5-7 6-1
Muchova gets there in the end, her class and temperament eventually telling. She will play Sorana Cirstea or Belinda Bencic next.
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A service winner down the middle gives Muchova 40-15 and match point…
Has Wang gone? At 0-30 she comes in off a poor approach, Muchova passes her down the line, and though she finds an ace next up, a tremendous lob effectively finishes the match. Muchova leads 5-1 in the third and will now serve for the match, while Shelton holds for a 6-4 6-3 advantage over Paul!
Muchova breaks Wang as we supposed she eventually would and leads 3-1 ; can she consolidate? Yes she can, holding to 15, and Wang is in a lot trouble. Meantime, Shelton now leads Paul by a set and a break at 6-4 4-3 and, with Tiafoe or Hijikata next, has a chance of doing something properly interesting.
Shelton hollers at his box, holding for 3-3, and Paul doesn’t look to have enough to really trouble him if he can stay solid. Cash/Patten, though, have lost a third-set breaker 10-6 to Bopanna/Ebden so, after a promising run, are going home.
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A brilliant forehand winner perhaps incites Muchova to send down a double meaning she goes from 40-15 to deuce. But she hangs on and leads 2-1 in the third.
Back on Ashe, we’re still on serve in the second, Shelton trailing 3-2 having taken the first off Paul.I’d always thought paul would be one of those players who made a ton of money without ever doing anything of note in a major, but he made the last four in Australia and at 26 will still hope he’s getting better.
Muchova and Wang take a break, then return and the former holds for 1-0 in the third. Wang then begins her service-game with a double before a poor shot down the line allows Muchova to extend a go-go Gadget arm and divert a winner into the vacated space for 0-30. Wang, though, hangs tough to make advantage, then Muchova plays a terrific point only to dump her forehand volley at the end of it. 1-1 in the third, and this could go either way.
Cash/Patten, by the way, are 4-4 with Bopanna/Ebden in their decider, and Paul has just whammed a forehand for break point at 4-6 1-0 … quickly extinguished by Shelton, who closes out nicely and, with his vest wet and clinging to him, looks like some kind of superhero.
I’m really surprised by how Muchova played in that second set. I know we see it a lot – a player thinks they’ve broken the back of the match and relaxes – but I didn’t think we’d see it from her at this stage of this competition.
A lovely swing-volley from Wang gives her advantage but Muchova panels a backhand winner down the line to stay in the set. But then she nets a forehand, Wang sends down a tame, nervous second serve … and Muchova can’t respond! At 6-3 5-7, we’ve got ourselves a decider!
Shelton holds for 6-4 but Muchova comes back from 40-0 to deuce, and Wang needs to compose herself.
Meanwhile, Shelton breaks Paul and he too will now serve for a set, 5-4 up on Paul having lost the first three games and been a point away from a 0-4 deficit. He’s absolutely loving it out there.
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A double gives Wang a sniff of a break at deuce, and a forehand hit long means she’s got advantage … then Muchova tries a drop that isn’t on, a rare error in shot-selection, so Wang runs in, flips past her, and will now serve for a decider at 3-6 6-5!
Serving to stay in the match, Wang finds herself 0-30 down, but four straight points, the last of them an ace, make 5-5. This is more like a normal set now, players refraining from being broken and everything.
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Email! “Interesting linguistic observation on Muchova,” says James W. '“‘Mucha’ means ‘fly’ in all Slavonic languages, so Muchova means ‘of the fly’. Here’s a radical prediction: Djokovich doesn’t reach the final. Carlos Escape From (etc and so forth) - does.”
Wang’s forehand gets her into trouble again, she’s broken, and Paul wastes two break points – also with loose forehands. But then a careless putaway hands him advantage – and Shelton stretches for another volley … and this time he makes it. He plays like a classic youngster – and how miserable it is to legitimately call someone that – mixing great shots with nonsense ones. He closes out for 3-3; Muchova finds a love hold from somewhere for 6-3 5-4; and Cash/Patten take a second-set breaker so will now play a decider against Bopanna/Ebden.
Wang’s struggling on forehand and Muchova on back, but when the latter has to save a point for the double-break, it’s there for her down the line. They go to deuce and she holds for 6-3 3-4 while, on Ashe, Shelton is into the match, making break-back point and securing the game when a double arrives; he trails 2-3. In his box, his dad likes what he’s seeing.
Goodness me, Wang breaks Muchova again, while Paul consolidates and misses a lob for a 4-0 … then when Muchova nets a backhand, Wang has a consolidation of her own! Meantime in the doubles, they’re just starting a second-set breaker.
Paul breaks Shelton immediately for 2-0 and Wang will be getting sick of this, again allowing Muchova to break her back.
Paul holds in the first game of the match, while Wang breaks Muchova again for 3-6 2-1; can she finally consolidate? In the doubles, meanwhile, Bopanna and Ebden have broken Cash and Patten back in set two so now lead 6-4 4-4.
Ben Shelton is only 20 but he made the last eight in Australia and to get to here has beaten Cachin, Thiem and Karatsev, a pretty decent effort. He’s also a lefty, which won’t do him any harm, and you might recall his dad, Bryan, who was also a player. He and Paul are under way on Ashe.
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With Wang at the net, Muchova makes a backhand well out of court, guiding a winner into the space that gives her break-back point … which she quickly converts. Wang just can’t play better than her for long enough to get anywhere and trails 3-6 1-1.
And now they are, while Muchova and Wang are still at deuce … but then Wang nails a return, backs it up with a booming backhand, and after a long game, she has the break to trail 3-6 1-0.
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On Ashe, Paul and Shelton will soon be with us.
At 6-40 0-0, Muchova serve-volleys at 40-30, only to net the latter portion. Then at deuce, Wang makes advantage but a big serve gets Muchova out of trouble, then Wang forces another opportunity and swats wide. So round we go while, on the doubles, Cash and Patten have broken in set two, having lost the first.
At 30-40, Wang finds a first serve and Muchova can’t return, but a forehand gives her advantage and this time she secures the set, pounding on a short ball to crack a backhand winner for 6-3. Ultimately, there’s a large class difference in the matchup, and that’s what we’re seeing on the court.
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With Muchova serving for the set, Wang makes 30-all, a double gives 30-40 … and Wang steps in on a second serve, smiting another backhand to retrieve one of her breaks for 3-5. Her problem is what to do in all other situations.
A terrific switch of attack from Muchova, cross on the forehand with Wang expecting line, gives her two break points … and she only needs one, a forehand winner giving her her third break on the spin and a 5-2 lead.
Meantime in the doubles, Cash and Patten have been broken and now trail 3-5.
Muchova makes 40-0 but two tame points and Wang has a sniff at 40-30, al the more so facing a second serve … which completes a deuce-inducing double. From there, though, an overhead from a way back, superbly despatched, is followed by a backhand winner cross-court right onto the line and that’s 4-2.
Wang can’t be getting involved in net exchanges with a player with hands like Muchova, but she does and finds herself 15-30 down; a forehand winner clobbered down the line follows. And Wang can’t withstand the pressure, netting tamely on break point to trail 3-2. I daresay Muchova takes greater care with her consolidation attempt this time.
Muchova can’t outhit everyone – it’s part of what made her performance against Saba so good, though no one can turn it up like she can – but she’s outhitting Wang, which spells big trouble. But as I type, Wang punishes a second serve with a big forehand for 15-30. Muchova responds with a gorgeously-disguised backhand drop but a double hands over break-back point … quickly retrieved by a return which flies long. Muchova, though, can’t close out through deuce, finding herself facing advantage, and when Wang’s offered a second serve out to her favoured backhand, she powers a return cross-court that’s too hot and the riposte dumps into the net. It’s 2-2.
I am now doublesed. It’s 2-2.
As I’m trying to get the doubles on, Muchova breaks Wang for 2-1, and she looks in nick. I really enjoy her clever use of spins and angles – more than Wang, I think.
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Muchova and Wang are away, likewise Cash/Patten and Bopanna/Ebden.
I didn’t mention this is the preamble, but regular readers of this blog will be familiar with Calv Betton, the coach who supplies us with insight and analysis. Well his charge, Henry Patten, along with his partner, Julian Cash, is playing in the last 16 of the men’s doubles first up today. Their opponents, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, are seeded six, but let’s hope they get a talking-to.
Here come Muchova and Wang!
Also going on:
Preamble
Yo dudes! And welcome to the US Open 2023 – day seven! It’s getting real isn’t it? Ooooh yeah!
We begin today with one of this blog’s favourites, Karolína Muchová, whose brilliant performance in beating Aryna Sabalenka at Roland-Garros suggested a player ready to take the next step. She did lose in the final, but there’s no shame in being bested by Iga Swiatek never mind on clay, and it’s hard to see her not finding a way past the unseeded Wang Xiyu.
Ashe, meanwhile, gets going with Tommy Paul, the number 14 seed, against Ben Shelton, a serious young talent; Paul beat him in the last eight in Melbourne. But it’s our second match that really catches the eye, Caroline Wozniacki returning from retirement with every bit of the moxie that defined her first act … to face Coco Gauff, the prodigy-veteran now improving at an invigorating pace.
And there’s plenty else besides! After Muchová v Wang we’ve got Sorana Cirstea, conquerer of Elena Rybakina, against Belinda Bencic, the Olympic champ who might finally be getting the hang of Grand Slam progression. Then, following that, Francis Tiafoe – another starting to control his talent – meets Rinky Hijikata, the unseeded young Aussie – before the day sesh rounds out with the brilliant Swiss teenager, Dominic Stricker, who qualified then despatched Stefanos Tsitsipas, taking on the number nine seed, Taylor Fritz. Let’s go, dudes!
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