That wraps up proceedings for the day on the old Grandstand court, where two Australians progressed (Kyrgios and Sam Stosur) and two fell (Daria Gavrilova and Tomic, the latter after what you could call something of a ballsy performance). But, such is the US Open, the action continues into the New York night, and you can follow Andy Murray and Lukas Rosol’s clash with my colleague Luis Miguel Echegaray by clicking on the link below. But from me, it’s bye for now.
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Game, set and match Kyrgios
Third set: Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Bedene
There it is! Nick Kyrgios, despite an early altercation with the umpire, via a line judge, and an apparent hip problem that necessitated some treatment in the first set, is through to the second round, where he will meet Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos. In the final reckoning, Bedene simply couldn’t live with the Australian’s superior serve and shot-making, and the Briton bows out at the first hurdle.
Third set: Third set: Kyrgios *6-4, 6-4, 5-4 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Well played Bedene as The Briton wins a game of cat-and-mouse at the net, eventually hitting back past Kyrgios as the Australian darts back across the court. And this one’s not over yet – we’ll have at least one more game, although Kyrgios will now serve for the match.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4, 5-3 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Make that one game away from the second round, as Kyrgios eases through another service game and the pendulum of pressure swings onto Bedene, who must now hold his serve to stay in the match, and the US Open.
Third set: Kyrgios *6-4, 6-4, 4-3 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Time for Bedene to hold now but this one seems to be heading to a conclusion shortly with Kyrgios just two games away from the second round now.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4, 4-2 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Easy peasy for Kyrgios in his latest service game. Elsewhere, Serena Williams is a set up against Ekaterina Makarova – join Tim Hill to follow the conclusion of that one, once we’re all wrapped up here.
Third set: *Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4, 3-2 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Horacio Zeballos awaits the winner of this one after the Argentinian world No71 defeated Florian Mayer to reach the second round. It looks like he’ll face Kyrgios next, but Bedene’s still in this set, and by extension the match, after holding serve in this latest game.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4, 3-1 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Wow, Kyrgios lets out an almighty roar as he saves break point and forces deuce – an indication that he knows just how important this hold is. He goes on to do just that, and the two-game buffer remains.
Meanwhile, Bernard Tomic has appeared at a press conference following his earlier defeat (and run in with a fan) and the Australian has said he apologised to the fan who he told to “suck on his balls”.
“I apologised to what I said to him,” he said. “He definitely baited me the whole set for me to say that. But I do apologise. If there were people around that heard, yeah, that’s all I can say. I think after he left the first set, I think the crowd got happy he left because he was a bit annoying. But it’s OK.”
Third set: Kyrgios *6-4, 6-4, 2-1 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Bedene sends down an ace to get himself out of trouble at deuce and when a Kyrgios forehand hits the net on the next point, the Briton registers his first game of the third set. So, Kyrgios remains on top on the old Grandstand court, but also, apparently, in the Twitter stakes. He currently has 2080 tweets to Bedene’s 143 according to IBM on the US Open’s official website, although I’ll be honest I have little idea what that actually means.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Blink and you’ll miss it is very much the theme of this game, with Kyrgios racing through it with the concession of just one point. He’s very much in control of this one now and it seems only a total implosion will prevent him from reaching the second round.
Third set: *Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4, 1-0 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Kyrgios picks up where he left off, breaking Bedene in the first game of the third set as the Briton’s game begins to flag somewhat.
As an aside, here’s a snippet from the Australian Associated Press, on some dope comments made by Kyrgios yesterday.
Kyrgios won’t be sanctioned for claiming tennis players are allowed to smoke marijuana on tour during a snap Q & A with his Twitter followers on the eve of his first-round match at the US Open. Kyrgios offered up a simple “yep” when asked by a fan: “are you allowed to smoke weed on tour?”
And it seems the controversial star is correct, with a Wada spokesman confirming that while marijuana “is a prohibited substance for in-competition testing, it has never been prohibited out-of-competition.”
In effect, that means players are okay to smoke marijuana while not competing at tournaments.
Kyrgios wins second set 6-4, leads two sets to love
Second set: Kyrgios 6-4, 6-4 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
A languid, yet fierce, backhand from Kyrgios puts him 40-15 up and then an ace – his 10th of the day – seals the second set for the Australian who now leads 2-0, despite that early injury issue. Bedene is faced with a mountain of Himalayan proportions if he is to get back into this one now.
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Second set: Kyrgios *6-4, 5-4 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Bedene has Kyrgios running all over the baseline on game point and the Brit hangs in there – for now. Kyrgios will now serve for the second set. But not before he’s had another little word with the umpire, about a second near collision with a line judge. Kyrgios clearly isn’t to blame though – he was running to reach a ball on that last point.
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Second set: Kyrgios 6-4, 5-3 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Kyrgios is in complete control this game and he eases to within one of the second set with a series of confident forehand winners that Bedene has no answer to. A quickfire hold to love should never be sniffed at.
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Second set: *Kyrgios 6-4, 4-3 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Excellent work from Bedene as the pressure increases on his shoulders. He holds after being able to move Kyrgios around the court with some nice strokeplay on a couple of points before he hits a terrific backhand winner that Kyrgios can’t get near.
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Second set: Kyrgios 6-4, 4-2 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Kyrgios’ serve remains his most potent weapon today – he’s now at 86% on his first serve – and he uses it to good effect once more to open up that two-game lead again. Time running out for Bedene to make a breakthrough this set.
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Second set: *Kyrgios 6-4, 3-2 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Despite Kyrgios’s apparent recovery from whatever his earlier problem was, Bedene is still in this one. The Briton holds his serve as the match clicks over the hour-mark.
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Second set: Kyrgios 6-4, 3-1 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
A 19-shot rally, won by Kyrgios, is the highlight of this game, which at one point the Australian is in danger of losing. An unforced error opens the door to Bedene, although Kyrgios saves the break point with a huge serve – his sixth ace of the set – and goes on to hold in the end.
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Second set: *Kyrgios 6-4, 2-1 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Bedene gets to within a point of holding his serve but a double fault doesn’t do him any favours as Kyrgios roars back and manages to claim the first break of this second set.
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Second set: Kyrgios 6-4, 1-1 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Classic Kyrgios at 30-0 up, as he launches himself into the air and fires an airborne forehand winner. The crowd responds to the showmanship, but that manoeuvre may actually be helping him, if in indeed his hip is the problem. A lovely dinked drop shot on the next point seals the game for Kyrgios, and he appears to be moving a great deal more freely following his stint in the sheds.
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Second set: *Kyrgios 6-4, 0-1 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Well, Bedene doesn’t appear to have been put off too badly by that break and the Briton holds serve without too much fuss to get on the scoreboard early on this second set. That’ll do him the world of good, you’d imagine.
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Still no sign of Kyrgios on court. Bedene, to his great credit, is still waiting patiently, but this can’t be good for his concentration. Hold up, here’s Kyrgios, finally, and we can get back under way in the second set. It’ll be interesting to see how that break affects both players.
While we’re waiting for Kyrgios to reappear and take his place on court, where Bedene is already patiently waiting, here’s more on Bernard Tomic’s earlier outburst.
Kyrgios wins first set 6-4
First set: Kyrgios 6-4, 0-0 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Kyrgios tries to steady himself after that brief medical break, and he’s helped by a couple of booming forehand winners, the second of which brings up two set points. He loses the first, but on the second attempt, a beautifully directed ace down the T seals it. The Australian rapidly disappears down the tunnel, presumably for more treatment on his ailment, but we’ll be back shortly for the second set.
First set: *Kyrgios 5-4 Bedene (*denotes next server)
And great stuff from the Briton as he holds serve again to give Kyrgios something to think about. The Australian’s not happy with something, and while he’s waiting for the physio to attend to him at the sit-down, he slams his towel into the ground in anger (at himself or the tweak?). It seems to be his lower back that is the problem, and this is worrying for him. Nevertheless he gets back up off the ground and will again attempt to serve out the first set.
First set: Kyrgios 5-3 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Well, well, well, if that’s not the curse of the liveblogger, I don’t know what is. Bedene manages to get himself back in this set as he breaks Kyrgios for the first time this match.
First set: *Kyrgios 5-2 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Again Bedene shows his talent, serving out to love with an ace sealing the deal on game point. Still, Kyrgios will now serve for the first set, and on current form with the ball in his hand, you wouldn’t bet against him take a one-love lead this game.
First set: Kyrgios 5-1 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Kyrgios’ serve is, erm, serving him well today. A few stats at the end of this latest game on that: the Australian is winning 90% of points on his first serve, he’s averaging a first serve speed of 127 and he’s hit four aces so far.
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First set: *Kyrgios 4-1 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Bedene gives an indication of what he’s capable of at the beginning of this next game, racing into a 40-0 lead before the Briton allows Kyrgios back into things. Still, he manages to hold his nerve – and his serve – to get himself on the scoreboard in the first set.
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First set: Kyrgios 4-0 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Kyrgios fires down his third and fourth aces of the match to claim another game and the Australian’s firepower is proving too much for Bedene so far. This from a player who yesterday said he’d quit the game and we’d never see him again if he wins this US Open.
First set: *Kyrgios 3-0 Bedene (*denotes next server)
Kyrgios is looking good here. The No14 seed whips a forehand winner back past Bedene on game point to break for a second time this set. And, unsurprisingly, he hasn’t let that early altercation affect his play. Bedene is yet to get a foothold in the match.
First set: Kyrgios 2-0 Bedene* (*denotes next server)
Just a quick word on each player’s outfits, for those burning with curiosity – Bedene is sporting a mutli-flouro ensemble consisting of a yellow and reddish pink-fronted shirt (with white back) and pink shorts, while Kyrgios is in all neon yellow, although his shorts merge into white the further down you go. It’s quite the sight. Kyrgios holds to take an early two-game lead in the first set
First set: *Kyrgios 1-0 Bedene (*denotes next server)
And here we go! No time for too much preamble and Britain’s Bedene, born in Slovenia and who moved to the UK eight years ago, gets things going with the ball in his hand. And it doesn’t take long for Kyrgios to get a warning from the umpire, although in fairness it’s nothing too major – he hits a hard forehand after the point finishes that the umpire says landed too close to the line judge and was “too dangerous”. Kyrgios laughs it off and goes on to break Bedene, but he takes it up again with the umpire at the switchover. An animated discussion ensues before play gets back under way. Never a dull moment.
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Hello world, Kyrgios and Bedene are nearly ready to get under way in this final match of the day on the old Grandstand court, which has already stood witness to a dose of controversy with another Australian, Bernard Tomic, clashing with a fan in the stands on his way to defeat to Damir Dzumhur earlier. “I will put my balls in your mouth,” said Tomic. Oh dear.
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Mike will be here shortly to take you through the match to conclude proceedings on the old Grandstand court this evening in New York.
