And here’s Kevin Mitchell’s match report from Flushing Meadows:
Halep has the unfortunate distinction of losing 3 of the best Slam matches of 2017: To Ostapenko at RG, Konta at Wimbledon, Maria here.
— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) August 29, 2017
Maria Sharapova wins one of most compelling matches of 2017 (and best Slam R1 ever?) beating #2 Simona Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Felt like final.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 29, 2017
Maria Sharapova beats Simona Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3!
In a de facto grand slam final, Maria Sharapova takes it in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The wildcard improves her record against Simona Halep to 7-0 and advances to the second round of the US Open, where she’ll play Hungary’s Timea Babos.
Dare I say this match exceeded expectations? Sharapova came ready to play, with every tool in her arsenal on full blast tonight. Yes, she sprayed a bunch of errors. But that’s expected when playing her brand of tennis. Halep, the victim of an incredibly unlucky draw, suffers yet another disappointment and a slam-less season.
Third set: Sharapova 6-4, 4-6, 5-3 Halep* (*denotes server): Simona Halep holds for 3-5, but her leg looks a bit hampered. Sharapova will serve for the match.
Third set: Sharapova* 6-4, 4-6, 5-2 Halep (*denotes server): Since she’s virtually her entire career in Serena’s shadow, we often forget just how tough of an out Sharapova is, especially in third sets. She’s upped her level considerably and finishes the game with an ace for 5-2.
Third set: Sharapova 6-4, 4-6, 4-2 Halep* (*denotes server): At this point, it sounds like a broken record; but when was the last time a grand slam first rounder was this intense? It feels like a semifinal, at least. Halep continues to hang on by a thread, but she holds for 2-4.
Third set: Sharapova* 6-4, 4-6, 4-1 Halep (*denotes server): There’s still only one break between them, but Sharapova is starting to pull away after a gutsy hold topped off by another huge forehand up the line.
Third set: Sharapova 6-4, 4-6, 3-1 Halep* (*denotes server): After an easy hold, Halep gets on the board in the deciding set. There’s still a ways to go in this one.
Third set: Sharapova* 6-4, 4-6, 3-0 Halep (*denotes server): After a brilliant point - a Sharapova dropshot followed by a Halep dropshot followed by an off-balance Sharapova volley winner - the wildcard and ‘06 Open champ takes a 3-0 lead in the third set. For the second time tonight, the finish line draws closer for Maria. Can Halep stage another comeback?
Third set: Sharapova 6-4, 4-6, 2-0 Halep* (*denotes server): Maria converts her first break point in over an hour to take the lead in the third set. She isn’t letting up. Halep, who’s kept her emotions in check so far, is beginning to look visibly frustrated.
Each player has won 84 total points.
— William Heym (@BillyHeym) August 29, 2017
Sharapova 47 winners and 52 unforced errors.
Halep 12 winners and 10 unforced errors.
That tells it all https://t.co/drJNLRhFPz
Third set: Sharapova* 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 Halep (*denotes server): This match is everything we could’ve hoped for. The third set begins with a wonderful rally, topped off by a Sharapova winner down the line. She then holds to take a 1-0 lead. Sharapova is noticeably more relaxed than she was at the end of the second.
Rarely do you see such clear-cut examples of how quickly momentum can swing in a tennis match. Sharapova had a point for 5-1 in the second set but was unable to convert a slew of break points. Halep stayed in it with mesmerizing defense and a good bit of nerve. As the match surpasses two hours, Shazza is now off court and Halep’s staying fresh, jogging at the baseline.
Halep wins the second set 6-4!
After Sharapova botches four break-point opportunities, Simona Halep takes the second set 6-4 in an unbelievably tense game. Sharapova is littering the stat chart with tons of errors while Simona, who was down a set and 1-4, is sticking to her brand of road-runner tennis. One set will decide this match.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-4, 4-5 Halep (*denotes server): This match has turned on a dime. Halep, after a Sharapova double fault, breaks for 5-4 and will serve for the second set. She’s reeled off four games in a row. Sharapova, on the other hand, has wracked up 21 unforced errors in the second set alone; she’s still going for her shots, but with less margin for error than she was in the opener. Such are the drawbacks of pure, punishing power tennis.
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Second set: Sharapova 6-4, 4-4 Halep* (*denotes server): Halep holds in a nervy game that featured more ruthless Sharapova winners, but a few inexcusable errors, too. Their contrasting styles has made for a riveting affair thus far.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-4, 4-3 Halep (*denotes server): Halep, who’s stepping into the ball more and catching Sharapova off balance, breaks at love after a slew of unforced errors from the Russian. Sharapova is looking a bit weary, too, and Halep will try to grind her down.
Second set: Sharapova 6-4, 4-2 Halep* (*denotes server): Both players come up with more fantastic ball-striking, but Halep holds and lives to see another game. She’s hanging on by a thread, but Sharapova looks to be running on fumes. If she can get a service break, we might be in for a wild night.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-4, 4-1 Halep (*denotes server): Despite signs of life from Halep, Sharapova consolidates the break with a tight hold, perhaps the best game of the match. She closes it with another forehand winner down the line and the finish line is in sight.
Point of the match: Sharapova tracks down a beautiful background cross court by Halep with one of her own; this is high-quality tennis in the sport’s most high-octane stadium. Sharapova is coupling a blistering offensive with surprisingly solid defense.
Second set: Sharapova 6-4, 3-1 Halep* (*denotes server): We’re about 80 minutes into this one and Sharapova is starting to break away. She demolishes a few more weak Halep second serves (she’s 8-24 on second serve points tonight) and gets the break for 3-1.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-4, 2-1 Halep (*denotes server): Sharapova holds to go up 2-1. She finishes off the game with a sharply angled forehand, tracked down by Halep, followed by another FH winner down the line. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Shazza fire on all cylinders like this, but it’s still a close one, if not in momentum than in scoreline.
Second set: Sharapova 6-4, 1-1 Halep* (*denotes server): Another game goes to deuce, but this time Halep holds on to stay on serve. She’s still not making nearly as many first serves as she’ll need to to fend off Sharapova’s vicious return, but it was enough to avoid an early and potentially insurmountable second set deficit.
Second set: Sharapova* 6-4, 1-0 Halep (*denotes server): Sharapova holds to open the second set and Pam Shriver lands a courtside interview with noted tennis aficionado Alec Baldwin.
Maria Sharapova takes the first set 6-4!
Sharapova had, count ‘em, 18 forehand winners in that set. That’s just forehands! Her background, meanwhile, wasn’t too shabby either. She breaks Halep’s serve in another deuce game to take the opener, belying no emotion as she walks quietly to her chair. You’ve got to feel for Halep; there’s not much she can about this onslaught of firepower from Masha except stay the course, hit deeper, and raise her first-serve percentage. Otherwise, Sharapova will continue to dine out on her second serves.
First set: Sharapova* 5-4 Halep (*denotes server): Sharapova holds and she’s one break away from the first set. Halep threw in a brilliant return winner of her own in that last game, too. It’s still hard to believe this is a first round match. The atmosphere in Ashe is electric and both players have brought their A-games. Sharapova isn’t making nearly as many first serves as she’d like, but she’s made up for off the ground. Halep will serve to stay in the set.
First set: Sharapova 4-4* Halep (*denotes server): Halep is doing a fine job weathering the Sharapova storm. She holds to even the set at 4 games a piece. A few years ago, she might have been down and out already. But so far, she’s remained patient as Maria goes big early on.
First set: Sharapova* 4-3 Halep (*denotes server): Halep breaks back again after a Sharapova forehand sails way long. For the most part, Maria’s persistent ball-striking has paid off dividends, but Halep is wearing her down and drawing more errors off the ground as the match progresses. Side note: Sharapova has never lost a night match at the Open (18-0).
First set: Sharapova 4-2 Halep* (*denotes server): Maria is feasting on the weak Halep serve, earning yet another break with massive returns and a Halep double fault. Both ladies have risen to the occasion, but this is a vintage Shazza performance through and through.
First set: Sharapova* 3-2 Halep (*denotes server): And just like, after yet another game goes to deuce, we’re back on serve. Halep whacks a forehand winner cross court and then tracks down a nifty Sharapova drop shot to get the break. Both players only seem to be improving as the match continues; Sharapova’s hitting hard and deep, while Simona’s answering with speed and the occasional moon ball.
First set: Sharapova 3-1 Halep* (*denotes server): And we have our first break. We’ve been utterly spoiled by getting this match in round 1. Sharapova is nailing return winners with ease; I counted four in the last game alone. Meanwhile, Halep is tracking nearly everything down. Tensions are simmering and the Romanian’s been made quite uncomfortable by Maria’s persistent ball-striking. She’ll have to change course soon if Sharapova remains this dialed in.
First set: Sharapova* 2-1 Halep (*denotes server): This match is already living up to its billing; a very tight service game, in which Sharapova had a 40-0 lead, goes Maria’s way. She’s using every tool in her arsenal to push Halep around, even drop-shots. And, true to form, the Romanian is holding steady with rock-solid defense and a few big cuts of her own. Sharapova looks to still be shaking off some rust - there’ve been a few sloppy mishits thus far - but her aggression is paying off.
Updated
First set: Sharapova 1-1* Halep (*denotes server): Halep levels it at 1-1 with a tough hold, drawing errors from Sharapova, who’s being aggressive off the return.
First set: Sharapova* 1-0 Halep (*denotes server): Already it seems like Maria has found the zone on her groundstrokes. She holds serve with a pair of brilliant winners off the ground; she’s also hitting deep and forcing Halep to play defense, a strategy that’s worked for her in their past meetings.
Updated
First set: Sharapova* 0-0 Halep (*denotes server): And we’re off to the races. Sharapova, serving first, kicks it off with a sloppy forehand error, followed by a blistering backhand winner.
Just some of the many story-lines re: tonight’s marquee match. Both players look focused and unfazed as they give pre-match interviews and begin warm-ups.
- Rematch of 2014 French Open final
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) August 25, 2017
- Halep 0-6 v Sharapova
- Sharapova never lost 1R USO
- Halep trying to secure No1
Nothing to see here. https://t.co/zbnCuRV1PJ
While Shania Twain kicks off opening night and we await the arrivals of Halep and Sharapova, an update from the grounds: 23-year-old Aussie Jordan Thompson has gone up two sets to love against Jack Sock after a nail-biter of a tiebreak, which Thompson won 14-12.
Some pre-match reading: this essay by Racquet Magazine’s Caitlin Thompson on her adventures taking Meldonium, the substance for which Sharapova was suspended.
I doped like Maria Sharapova and it was actually pretty great: https://t.co/9VzLezyr9I pic.twitter.com/m3DDk314Jc
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) August 28, 2017
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Evert on Sharapova USO reception: "I think the American crowd is going to be v respectful of Maria...think she would get a warm reception"
— Kelyn Soong (@KelynSoong) August 23, 2017
Something to watch for tonight: how will the Open crowd take to Sharapova in the wake of her suspension? At a tournament badly lacking star-power (no Serena, Djoker, Murray, or Wawrinka), New Yorkers will be glad to see a familiar name, and former Open champ, back on Arthur Ashe. But this is also a famously fickle audience. Chris Evert, for one, thinks they’ll greet her warmly.
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Preamble
Kicking off the the 2017 US Open’s inaugural night session is a blockbuster first-round match between world number 2 Simona Halep and five-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova. The match-up looks more like a major final than it does a first-rounder, but wildcard Sharapova, playing in her first slam since returning from a 15-month doping suspension, got a very unlucky placement in the draw.
Not that this augurs great things for Halep, either; she hasn’t beaten Masha in six tries. Their last match was almost two years ago, when Sharapova beat Halep in straight sets at the 2015 WTA year-end championships. Their closest battle was in the 2014 French Open final, where Sharapova prevailed again in three tight sets. Week-to-week, Halep has been one of the strongest players on tour, reaching the finals again at this year’s French Open, as well as in Rome and Cincinnati. But she’s been something of a perpetual bridesmaid, having been on the brink of becoming world number 1 several times this year. Each time the Romanian got close, she fizzled out; to Jelena Ostapenko in Paris, Elina Svitolina in Toronto, and Garbiñe Muguruza in Cincy.
Expect some rust from Sharapova tonight, who first returned to the tour in April but was hampered by injuries to her thigh and left arm. Working in her favor is an undefeated record against Halep and the fact that she’s quite used to playing under the lights in Queens. Buckle up: this match-up between two of the WTA’s best is befitting of opening night at the Open.
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Hello, while we wait for the players to come out some other scores from around the courts: Jack Sock lost the first set of his match to Australia’s Jordan Thompson but is up 4-2 in the second. It’s early days for Caroline Wozniacki in her first match of the tournament but she’s won the first game (only another 11 to go ... if she’s VERY good tonight).
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Jake will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Jacob Steinberg on the favourites for the women’s title in the absence of Serena Williams:
Karolina Pliskova: Last year’s beaten finalist probably had different visions of how she would become the new world No1. She was on holiday in Monaco when it happened and only found out about her new status after checking to see if Simona Halep had won her Wimbledon quarter-final against Johanna Konta. Halep’s defeat confirmed Pliskova’s ascent – five days after losing in the second round at SW19. The circumstances weren’t ideal, feeding the theory that Pliskova is merely a lucky beneficiary of Serena Williams’s absence, but despite lukewarm recent form, the big-serving 25-year-old has a good chance of winning her first grand slam title.
Simona Halep: The Romanian would have become the new world No1 if she had won the title in Cincinnati. But in keeping with her recent offerings at the business end of tournaments, Halep lost the final 6-1, 6-0 to Garbiñe Muguruza. For women’s tennis, perhaps that was for the best: the WTA could do without the top spot being shared around players without any grand slam titles. Halep has to keep believing, though. To the 25-year-old’s credit she has responded well to her French Open final defeat and has been consistent since that disappointment. Her outstanding defensive qualities, waspish groundstrokes and ability to hustle her opponents make her a strong contender – but can the world No2 rise to the occasion in the biggest matches?
Garbiñe Muguruza: The Spaniard’s final match before Wimbledon saw her lose 6-1, 6-0 to the unheralded Barbora Strycova at Eastbourne. A little over two weeks later she claimed her first title at SW19 with a devastating 7-5, 6-0 victory over Venus Williams in a final that showcased Muguruza’s ability to raise her game when it really matters, a bit like Stan Wawrinka. After that victory the world No3 admitted that she sometimes struggles to find motivation for the smaller events, causing her ranking to fluctuate and making her level hard to read. Yet there is widespread agreement that she possesses the weapons to dominate her rivals and the 2016 French Open champion sent out an intimidating message with that focused demolition of Halep in Cincinnati. If everything clicks in New York, she will be very difficult to stop.
