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With the night session about to get going, it’s time for me to take my leave. Bryan has coverage of Serena Williams v Carina Witthoeft, which is the first match on Arthur Ashe, followed by last year’s king of New York, Rafael Nadal, against Canada’s Vasek Pospisil. Over on Louis Armstrong, Jack Sock, whose first-round win was his first singles victory since Rome in May, is playing Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, with Garbine Muguruza, the former Wimbledon and French Open champion, to follow. Thanks for your company today. See you tomorrow. Bye!
Tomorrow’s order of play is out and Roger Federer hasn’t been been given a night match. What disrespect! Instead he’ll have to mix it with the riff-raff and play in the heat of the day session. He may even sweat. The full schedule is here.
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Murray looked like a proper tennis player tonight. Not his old World No.1 self, but way better than we could have expected this spring.
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) August 29, 2018
Avoid hip setbacks and gradually rebuild form, fitness, stamina, confidence like Djokovic and Wawrinka did, and he can be a force again.
Those 3 hours and 23 minutes reminded us just what we have been missing: flair, heart, resilience, confrontation, and one way conversations with Jamie Delgado. Welcome back Andy Murray; very well played Fernando Verdasco.
— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller) August 29, 2018
When you play your heart out, you can hold your head up high...
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2018
Until next time, @andy_murray.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/CA5T0rx3ZY
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As for the women, Kaia Kanepi’s backed up her win over the top seed Simona Halep with a straight-sets victory over Jil Teichmann, while the Australian No 1 Ashleigh Barty is only just getting under way in her day session match against the former French Open finalist Lucie Safarova.
A whizz through the men’s scores now the Murray-Verdasco drama is over. Kevin Anderson’s advanced 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 against Jeremy Chardy, while the man Anderson beat in that never-ending Wimbledon semi-final, John Isner, is involved in a tussle against Nicolas Jarry, trailing by two sets to one, 6-7, 6-4, 3-6. Denis Shapovalov is 6-4, 4-6, 5-5 against Andreas Seppi, while Paolo Lorenzi, who defeated an ailing Kyle Edmund in round one, has been soundly beaten by Guido Pella, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2.
Back on Arthur Ashe .... “It’s been nine years since you beat Andy Murray,” says the on-court interviewer Brad Gilbert, the former coach of Murray and Andre Agassi. “What was going through your mind?”
“It was tough to close the match – with Andy it’s always tough,” Verdasco replies. “He’s an unbelievable fighter – he’s not 100% physically but he’s an unbelievable fighter. I’m so happy. Like you said, I only beat him in 2009, so that was a bit of motivation to try to beat him again.”
Somewhat inevitably given the symmetry between Murray and Cameron Norrie over the last few hours, Norrie has been beaten 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Dusan Lajovic. Two Brits go down in the matter of minutes, and for the first time since the 2013 French Open, there’ll be no British singles player in the third round of a grand slam.
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Verdasco beats Murray 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
And that’s that, as an absorbing game and set ends when Murray nets his return! So defeat for Murray but that was still a step forward in his comeback. He’s getting a bit closer. Murray waves to the crowd, while Verdasco pumps his fists repeatedly, still so fired up after that climax.
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A Verdasco ace brings up a second match point, Murray peppers Verdasco’s backhand before changing tack and going to the forehand, which this time miscues. Deuce. Advantage Verdasco, a third match point as the game clock goes beyond 12 minutes ...
Verdasco receives a code violation for not serving within the 25 seconds, just to add to the drama. The Spaniard protests. Cue some boos from the crowd. Will this fire Verdasco up or distract him into another double? Well it doesn’t do Verdasco any harm because again he scrambles back to deuce. But again Murray refuses to relent. It’s break point No 5. Followed by, of course, another deuce ...
Verdasco isn’t the most clinical of players when it comes to closing out matches, and Murray has recovered from some seemingly impossible situations during his career, so what will happen here? Verdasco winces after missing a forehand he probably would have made at any other stage of the match. 0-15. He relaxes a bit for 15-all. But the tightness is back as Verdasco sends down his first double fault of the set. 15-30. 15-40, two break points. I wonder if Verdasco’s 1-13 record against Murray has entered the Spaniard’s mind ...
Verdasco shows some cojones with a searing serve out wide on the first break point and the left-hander repeats the trick on the second. Superb serving. Deuce. And from two break points it’s match point. Verdasco wants to end with a final flourish on his favoured forehand, but it whistles well wide. Deuce. Advantage Murray, a third break point after some stunning hitting from the former champion. Verdasco roars after a winning volley gets him back to deuce. A second double fault of the game and it’s break point No 4 ... !
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Fourth set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 4-5 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Murray could easily surrender at 0-30 but he shows some late fight, including a wonderful passing shot, for 30-all. He just about has enough left in his legs to scurry to the net for 40-30. And he breathes a sigh of relief when Verdasco fires into the net on the game point.
Fourth set: *Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 3-5 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
Verdasco, with 10 consecutive points, charges to 40-0 on his serve. Murray stops the rot for 40-15. But he’s limping and stretching his legs between points. He again looks in pain as he slaps into the net. Verdasco holds and, as the sun starts to give way to the evening in New York, Murray is potentially a game away from a second-round exit.
Fourth set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 3-4 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Murray’s bloody-mindedness has got him a long way during his career, and if he’s to come through in five sets today, you feel that will be the main factor. Because Verdasco looks the fresher at the moment, not surprising given the Spaniard’s not the one who’s coming back from a career-threatening injury. Verdasco holds and Murray is quickly under attack at 0-30 on his serve, make that 0-40, three break points. Verdasco has upped the intensity on the return and is rewarded when Murray miscues wide. And that could prove to be the decisive break given the stage of this match.
3 hours now between Murray vs Verdasco. Andy can look OK but he still has so much work ahead. Good, and mediocre. Fernando keeps cracking his forehand. Up 75 26 64, 43 , up a break . The Spaniard is close
— Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) August 29, 2018
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Fourth set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 3-2 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
There was a sense Verdasco was ramping things up in that previous game, and he starts this game where he left off in the last with some attacking play, finishing the point with a drive volley. Murray manages to stay with Verdasco, and then edges ahead for 40-30. A breathtaking forehand winner down the line on the run secures the game. Murray’s eyes may not be rolling like Djokovic’s were yesterday but his shirt is soaked and he looks pretty much spent between points. But he’s refusing to concede to Verdasco in this fourth set.
Win or lose, this has to be the best Andy Murray has played since he came back
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) August 29, 2018
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Fourth set: *Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 2-2 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
Murray holds before rather aggressively demanding that the ball kid collects a fresh drink for him from his box. A please and thank you would be nice, Andy. Verdasco replies with a comfortable hold of his own.
Norrie penalised his first serve on his return, having being told he took too long to return after the heat rule break. Norrie argued he was told he had enough time to return by an official.
— 🎾 Tennis on telly 📺🇬🇧 (@Tennis_UKTV) August 29, 2018
Fourth set: *Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 1-1 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
In some more British symmetry, Cameron Norrie is also down two sets to one, losing the third set 6-4 to Dusan Lajovic. Verdasco, meanwhile, gets the better of Murray in a 19-shot rally, finishing things off with what else but another of his forehand missiles. 40-15. 40-30. Murray shows remarkable resolve to chase down lost cause after lost cause and the crowd are on their feet when Murray somehow wins the point. Verdasco is telling them to be quiet. And he silences them somewhat when he comes through from deuce. He hasn’t silenced Murray though, who is chuntering away at his box.
Fourth set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Of course we don’t know what exactly happened in the locker room, but one certainty is that the winner here will meet Juan Martin del Potro on Friday, because the gentle giant has defeated Denis Kudla 6-3, 6-1, 7-6. The opening game of the fourth set is on Murray’s serve, a crucial game for him to hold surely given his perilous position at two sets to one down. A massive point at 30-all, which Murray takes. But at 40-30 Murray’s backhand wafts wide. Deuce. Advantage Murray. Game Murray, when he steps into court to dispatch a deep forehand before smashing away Verdasco’s limp lob.
"He's sitting there with his coach and his doubles partner. I had to tell them, because nobody knows the fucking rules."
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 29, 2018
-Murray complaining to chair ump that Verdasco was getting coaching during the new 10 minute heat break. He had to tell the tour supervisor himself, he said.
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Murray’s already back, so perhaps he abstained from the ice bath. He’s closely followed by Verdasco. Murray’s complaining, claiming that Verdasco was talking to his team during the break, which would be against the rules.
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I wonder if Murray is currently enjoying a naked ice bath next to Verdasco. If he is, I can’t imagine him describing it as a “quite wonderful feeling” after the match, as Djokovic did yesterday after his moment with Marton Fucsovics.
Verdasco wins the third set 6-4
So Verdasco has the chance to take the third set, but the way he’s been in and out of form during this match that is by no means guaranteed. Verdasco opens with a cracking shot but Murray bites back for 15-all. Murray misses a makeable forehand for 30-15 but again he comes back at Verdasco with a precise volley which Verdasco can’t return. 30-all. Will it be break point or set point next? Set point Verdasco. And Murray’s backhand slice is gobbled up by an onrushing Verdasco. Murray sarcastically applauds his team from his chair, before confirming the 10-minute break with the umpire and walking off court. Murray will be grateful for the heat rule but will it be enough to fuel a recovery from two sets to one down? It’s a big ask for him to prevail in a five-set fight given the conditions and the fact it’s still very early in his comeback.
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Third set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 4-5 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Murray’s first-serve percentage is down at 48% in this set, a stat he’ll need to improve to make further inroads in the match. He lets rip with a huge forehand, perhaps his biggest of the day, for 40-15. And he secures the hold on the next point. Kim flutters her fan.
Third set: *Murray 5-7, 6-2, 3-5 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
At 30-0, Verdasco’s ball toss is all awry but instead of pulling out of the serve and trying again, he nets. 30-15. 40-15. 40-30. A body serve from Verdasco forces the return error from Murray, who’ll have to hold serve to extend this set for any longer.
Third set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 3-4 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
But look here, Murray has two break points which would at least put a bit of pressure on Verdasco in this third set. Verdasco, at the net, can’t deal with Murray’s low shot. Murray grabs one of the breaks back. And then sprints through his serve to love. The inconsistent Verdasco once again veers from the brilliant to the bad.
Third set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 1-4 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
A Murray monologue back on Ashe, where he’s in danger of going down a double break, trailing 3-1 and 15-40. He concedes the game in the worst possible way, not even forcing his opponent to make a shot as he double faults. His level has dropped alarmingly since the second set, perhaps it’s the heat, perhaps it’s his aching body, but at least he’ll get a 10-minute break after this third set.
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Around the grounds. Juan Martin del Potro is now 6-3, 6-1, 5-5 up on Denis Kudla. Big John Isner, who just missed out on the Wimbledon final after that match against Kevin Anderson, is level at 4-all in the opening set against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, while Anderson, last year’s runner-up, is also getting started in his match, leading France’s Jeremy Chardy by a break, 3-2.
Denis Shapovalov, who caused quite the stir at the US Open last year and is one who could make an impact this year, is an early break down, 2-1, to Italy’s Andreas Seppi. And Kaia Kanepi, the conqueror of Simona Halep on Monday, leads Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann 4-3 with the break.
Third set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 1-2 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Some vim from Verdasco as the Spaniard consolidates the break. Murray is cruising at 40-0 in the following game but makes a complete hash of his smash. However that’s the only negative for Murray as he holds to 15.
Third set: Murray 5-7, 6-2, 0-1 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Murray has a run-in with the umpire at 15-all when his effort is called out. It was out. He then concedes the next three points to be broken, with a lack of first serves costing him at the start of the third set. This is such an up-and-down match from both players, as soon as one of them appears to be in the driving seat they quickly break down. Which is understandable by Murray given his rustiness, and it also goes some way to explaining why Verdasco hasn’t achieved as much as he should have during his career.
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Murray wins the second set 6-2
With Verdasco serving to stay in the set at 15-30, the pair engage in a game of cat and mouse. Murray has tended to win such exchanges during his career and he does so here. 15-40, two set points and it’s Verdasco’s second serve. Verdasco double faults for the first and last time in this second set, as Murray comes from a set down to level the match, just as he did in the opening round. Verdasco changes his soaked shirt at the changeover. Code violation!!
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Second set: Murray 5-7, 5-2 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Murray succeeds where he previously failed in this set by backing up the break for 5-2. And as Murray’s prospects rise, so do Cameron Norrie’s because the British No 2 has taken the second set 6-2 against Dusan Lajovic, after losing the first by the same score.
Second set: *Murray 5-7, 4-2 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
Dominic Thiem, who before today had won only four matches since reaching the French Open final, has completed his comeback, recovering from two sets to one down to defeat Steve Johnson 6-7, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. The Austrian will play another American in the last 32, Taylor Fritz, who was leading Jason Kubler 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 when the Australian retired. It’s not clear whether it was related to the heat. And just as I’m typing all of that there’s a third break on the spin on Arthur Ashe, which I completely missed. Gah! But it’s gone to Murray, who will be hoping to protect this break much better than he did his last.
Second set: Murray 5-7, 3-2 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Murray is in danger of conceding the initiative immediately, at 15-40 down on his own serve. Kim again appears unmoved. Murray saves the first break point but hits beyond the baseline on the second. Despite having a sizeable ice towel around his neck, he still manages to shake his head fairly vigorously at the changeover. He’s furious with himself.
Second set: *Murray 5-7, 3-1 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
Back to Arthur Ashe, where Murray’s looking sharp on serve in the second set. With Murray leading 2-1, there’s an entertaining exchange on the opening point of Verdasco’s service game, with the players scurrying, stretching and smashing before the Spaniard prevails. 15-0. Murray takes the next two points for 15-30. Which turns into 30-40, break point. Verdasco drives into the net and Murray breaks first in the second set. There’s no sign of emotion from his wife, Kim, in the stands though, she’s too busy trying to fan herself in this ridiculous heat.
Murray broke for 3-1 but broken straight back. Thought the heat wasn’t too bad when I came out here, I was wrong. Can only imagine what it’s like to play in.
— Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) August 29, 2018
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Fancy a gallery of lots of sweating? Sure you do:
No sooner does Murray go a set down, than Cameron Norrie does too. He trails Dusan Lajovic 6-2. But no such trouble for Juan Martin del Potro. The 2009 champion, a crowd favourite in New York, breezed through his first-round match against the American Donald Young in straight sets and he’s on course to do the same against Young’s compatriot Denis Kudla, leading 6-3, 5-0. Dominic Thiem is about to put out another American, leading Steve Johnson 6-7, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 5-1. The former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova has defeated Ana Bogdan 6-2, 6-3, while the Russian Ekaterina Makarova has taken out the ninth seed and Wimbledon semi-finalist Julia Goerges 7-6, 6-3.
Verdasco wins the first set 7-5
Verdasco is chastising himself after a loose shot gives Murray a glimmer at 30-all. He gets his ball toss all wrong on the next point, pulling out of his serve, before sending down the next. But it’s tame and gives Murray the initiative. 30-40, break point. A 126mph first serve gets Verdasco out of trouble. Deuce. A seventh forehand winner and it’s set point, Verdasco’s first. Again Verdasco does the damage with his forehand and he takes a topsy-turvy set 7-5. Murray has played well in parts but hasn’t been sharp enough in the big moments.
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First set: Murray 5-6 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
As if it wasn’t hard enough to suck in enough air in this oppressive heat, Verdasco then takes the breath away with a 90mph forehand winner. It gets him to deuce on Murray’s serve. And then the Spaniard has a break point. Murray, having been a point away from seizing the set in the last game, double faults. Not the best timing. Verdasco will serve for the set but, after five breaks already, a hold is by no means certain.
First set: *Murray 5-5 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
As Norrie slips a break down, Murray skips to set point against Verdasco, at 30-40 on the Spaniard’s serve. For all of Verdasco’s serving problems in this first set, he comes up with the goods when it matters, coming up with a viciously sliced ace. Deuce. Advantage Verdasco. Deuce. Advantage Verdasco. At which point Simon McMahon emails. “Evening Katy. So, after a year of repair and maintenance, the Murray grand slam rollercoaster is up and running again. Hold on to your hats – it promises to be a bumpy ride. Andy’s back, baby!” Simon’s hat is probably falling off as Verdasco promptly holds.
Murray isn’t the only Brit in action right now. Cameron Norrie is just getting started on Court 10 against the Serb Dusan Lajovic. The wordly British No 2 has a Scottish father and Welsh mother, was born in Johannesburg, raised in New Zealand, has been adopted by the UK, but is currently based at his former college in Texas. He’s saving to buy a home in London – to date he has earned £522,000 in prize money, with at least an extra £42,000 from this year’s US Open. He’s joked of the property prices: “I’ll probably have to make the semis here. Maybe [I’ll need to] win it for Putney or Wimbledon.” It’s not been the best of starts against Lajovic, though. Norrie’s a break down, 3-2.
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First set: Murray 5-4 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Verdasco is telling himself off after a fourth double fault but then makes amends with a first ace which just clips the line on game point. The Spaniard is asking questions in Murray’s next service game at 15-30 but then balloons a backhand long. 30-all. Some quick reactions from Murray take him to 40-30 but it’s soon deuce. Verdasco is screaming “puta” when Murray moves to advantage – but the Spaniard’s silenced when Murray secures the game. Verdasco must hold serve to stay in the first set.
First set: Murray 4-3 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
There’s no sign of any lasting damage on Murray’s nose after his earlier run-in with his daughter, by the way. It’s Verdasco’s nose that is bloodied right now given the manner in which Murray has floored him in the last three games. But Verdasco drags himself off the canvas. A bad overrule from the umpire at 15-30, he calls Murray’s shot out but it grazed the baseline, and they’ll replay the point. Murray meekly nets, failing to take advantage of the reprieve. And Verdasco has the chance to seal what would be the fourth break of the match. Murray’s drop volley isn’t good enough and Verdasco punishes it with a forehand cross-court pass on the run. They’re back on serve.
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First set: *Murray 4-2 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
Murray maintains the momentum and he has a couple of chances for a second consecutive break of Verdasco’s serve at 15-40. Murray, standing well in for Verdasco’s second serve, put the Spaniard under pressure and he blinks. A third double fault and Murray has come from 2-1 down to lead 4-2.
First set: Murray 3-2 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
Murray, now with some zip in his legs, comes through his service game with ease. Three consecutive first serves get him to 40-0 before he holds to 15. After the early adversity, he’s in the ascendancy.
First set: *Murray 2-2 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
Murray doesn’t quite seem to have the power in his legs to come up with some strong serves and he pays for that, falling 15-40, double break point down. Verdasco defends well before letting rip with a trademark ferocious forehand for the break. The Spaniard can take heads off with that shot. Verdasco looks set to consolidate the break with ease at 30-0 but a 26-shot rally hauls Murray to 30-all. While Murray prevailed in that battle, he really can’t afford to get involved in too many of those today given he’s not at peak fitness. The draining duel leaves Murray sucking for air but she still finds enough breath to carve out a break point and then the break. “Let’s go,” he says.
First set: *Murray 1-1 Verdasco (*denotes next server)
Jeff Tarango, talking on the BBC, says he doesn’t fancy Murray’s chances. “If he beats Verdasco at this stage of his comeback I’ll run around Arthur Ashe Stadium in a kilt. And I have one in my car,” he declares. Murray gets to 15-30 on Verdasco’s serve but that’s as good as it gets for the former world No 1. Verdasco holds from there and there’s some Murray muttering when he misses his return off a weak 100mph first serve. The pre-hip surgery Murray is unlikely to have done that. Miscued his return I mean. Of course the pre-hip surgery Murray did lots of muttering.
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First set: Murray 1-0 Verdasco* (*denotes next server)
The match is not even under way when Murray receives a code violation under the new shot clock rules for not stepping up to serve in time. He brushes that aside to win a lengthy first point – he’ll want to keep the exchanges as short as possible given the much-talked-about conditions – before losing out in the second. 15-all. 30-all and already Murray is soaking up the sweat with his towel. Neither player is hitting with real power, there’s a sense they’re just sounding each other out, and Murray opens with a hold to 30.
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El scorchio ☀️🎾 @usopen #arthurashestadium #usopen come on @andy_murray
— Leon Smith (@LeonSmith) August 29, 2018
Can’t get closer to the action than these press seats on Arthur Ashe. Murray and Verdasco ready to go. This will tell us where Murray is. Good thing heat wise is the court is shaded, but that didn’t help Djokovic yesterday pic.twitter.com/dROZmUXzZH
— Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) August 29, 2018
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“You can’t breathe in here,” says Greg Rusedski on Amazon Prime while standing on Arthur Ashe as Murray and Verdasco warm up. “There’s just no air.” For all the criticisms of the technical glitches on the streaming service, the quality of the presenters and punditry has been high, it has to be said.
Of all the stupid things I’ve seen at the US Open so far, the English person that just ordered a hot cup of earl grey tea in temperatures of 36 degrees has to be the most absurd. Oh yeah it was me.
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) August 29, 2018
Venus Williams advances to possible third-round meeting with Serena
Venus Williams has got the job done in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5 against Camila Giorgi, so now it’s up to Serena to defeat Germany’s Carina Witthoeft under the lights later and it’ll be Williams v Williams in the third round. It would be their earliest grand slam meeting in 20 years, since Venus beat Serena in the second round of the Australian Open in their first meeting on tour.
Stephens’s victory means Andy Murray is up next. The 2012 champion continues his return to grand slam action against the Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco – if you can call the 34-year-old a veteran. The 37-year-old Roger Federer has redefined the meaning of the word. But anyway, I digress. Murray has won 13 of his 14 previous encounters with Verdasco, the most recent of which was in Dubai last year, but today is a completely different proposition given Murray’s lack of match time combined with the stifling conditions.
Andy Murray vs Fernando Verdasco at a Grand Slam?
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) August 29, 2018
That takes us back...#Wimbledon #USOpen pic.twitter.com/aifWvaXW3k
So what was behind Stephens’s third-set charge? An ice bath? No, sushi and a slushy. “It was super hot, which was not fun at all,” the American says. “But I’m just happy to be through. I just sat on the floor [in the 10-minute break], changed my outfit, had two bites of sushi, had some slushy. I came out in the third set, bounced around, was ready to go.”
Stephens advances 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 against Kalinina!
Stephens, after a tumultuous time in the first set and much of the second, has sprinted through the third and is serving at 5-2. With the court now almost completely covered by shade (a small relief for the players on this suffocating day), Stephens surges to 40-15. She settles matters with an ace. The defending champion is through after a real scrap and will play Victoria Azarenka in mouthwatering match in round three. Stephens applauds her beaten opponent off court; it was quite some performance from the 21-year-old Ukrainian, who had never faced a top-40 player before today.
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USA! USA!! USA!!! Four of the five singles matches currently on court involve Americans. Sloane Stephens has the break in the final set against Anhelina Kalinina, leading 3-1, while Venus Williams is 6-4, 4-4 against Camila Giorgi. Taylor Fritz, who came through in five sets in the first round, leads Australia’s Jason Kubler 6-3, 1-2 and Steve Johnson is into a third set against the ninth seed and French Open finalist Dominic Thiem. Johnson won the first on a tie-break; Thiem took the second 6-3.
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“It’s amazing [to be back],” says a very sweaty Stan. “The last time I was here I won, last year I couldn’t make it because of surgery.” And confirmation that Wawrinka will play Raonic next, because the 25th seed has seen off Simon 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Wawrinka beats Humbert 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5!
A third consecutive break on Grandstand. Cue a fist pump and steely stare from Wawrinka. He puts on an ice towel at the changeover for what he hopes will be the last time today, before coming out to serve for a third-round meeting with most likely Milos Raonic, the Canadian cyborg who is also currently serving for his match, leading Giles Simon 6-3, 6-4, 5-4. A classic Wawrinka one-handed backhand gets him to 30-0, an angled pick-up on the run gets him to 40-0, triple match point. Humbert saves the first but chops long on the second! Wawrinka raises his arms aloft and puffs out his cheeks in relief. The champion of two years ago is through but it wasn’t entirely straightforward.
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Picture that speaks for itself pic.twitter.com/R2J1Wd6Xal
— Jiří Fencl (@maxav) August 29, 2018
Stan Wawrinka has put that second-set meltdown behind him and is serving for the match against the skinny French youngster Ugo Humbert, or Umbairrre. But perhaps another outburst is about to follow because the Swiss is 15-40 behind. He’s quite pleased with himself when he saves both break points, the second with a stinging forehand down the line. But he quickly falls another break point down and then drops serve. Wawrinka leads 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 5-5 as the match clock ticks past three hours.
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Venus Williams makes amends for being broken at 5-3 by breaking for 6-4 and the first set. Sloane Stephens blinks at 5-4 in the second set, conceding her serve, but has a second chance to level the match at 6-5. She screws a forehand wide at 30-all, gifting Anhelina Kalinina a break point. A wayward first serve draws sighs from the spectators. But Stephens lands the second and Kalinina eventually prods into the tramlines. Deuce. Advantage Stephens. Game and set Stephens, as she directs an easy forehand into the open court. Her team are fist pumping, while she’s jumping to the chair, before the players take advantage of the 10-minute heat break. It’s Stephens 4-6, 7-5 Kalinina.
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Venus Williams is serving for the first set against Camila Giorgi – but is broken. It’s back on serve with Giorgi 5-4 down. Daniil Medvedev is serving for the match against Stefanos Tsitsipas – and has two match points. Medvedev’s forehand is well in but Tsitsipas, with nothing to lose, decides to challenge. Hawk-Eye confirms the call. Medvedev moves into the third round 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, putting an end to Tsitsipas’s superb American summer. It’s still been a coming of age for the 20-year-old, though, after that appearance in the Toronto Masters final, and there’s so much more to come from the exciting – but on this occasion exiting – Greek.
The Sloane mystery. The defending champion is such an unpredictable player. After her career-changing title in New York last year, she didn’t win a match for rest of 2017, suffering eight consecutive defeats. She lost in the first round of the Australian Open, then won in Miami and reached the final of the French Open, before an opening-round exit at Wimbledon. And this second set is almost a microcosm of her season. Having led Anhelina Kalinina 3-0, it’s now 4-3, with Stephens being pushed at 30-all on her serve. But Stephens survives for 5-3.
Stan Wawrinka may be enjoying a naked ice bath Novak Djokovic-style right now, because he’s taking advantage of the 10-minute heat rule after winning the third set 6-3 against Ugo Humbert. The former champion leads by two sets to one. Venus Williams is locked at 3-3 against Camila Giorgi, Milos Raonic is 6-3, 5-3 up on Giles Simon, Borna Coric – who defeated Roger Federer earlier this year – has just completed a 7-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Roberto Carballes Baena, while the exciting young American Claire Liu has been comprehensively beaten, 6-3, 6-1 by the 19th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
A comeback could be on the cards on Court 10 too, where Stefanos Tsitsipas, on the brink at two sets and 4-2 down against his fellow Next Gen star Daniil Medvedev, has won four games on the spin to steal the third set 6-4.
The Arthur Ashe spectators are on their feet after a sensational rally as Sloane Stephens grabs the double break in the second set for 4-6, 3-0. But the American then asks for a medical timeout to get treatment on a nasty looking burst blister on her racket-playing hand.
Venus Williams, at the ripe old age of 38, is under way against Italy’s Camila Giorgi. Williams isn’t even the oldest player in the women’s draw – that honour goes to the 39-year-old Patty Schnyder, who lost to Maria Sharapova last night. Perhaps Williams doesn’t get the credit she deserves for the level of her play given her age, what with Serena grabbing the headlines, but she’ll have a chance to upstage her younger sister in the next round if they both win today. Williams and Giorgi have shared the opening two games for 1-1.
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Stan Wawrinka also has the bit between his teeth, coming from a break down in the third set to lead Ugo Humbert 4-1.
So after four very straightforward matches on the women’s side so far (Svitolina def Maria 6-2, 6-3, Azarenka def Gavrilova 6-1, 6-2, Strycova def Arruabarrena 6-0, 6-1 and Mertens def Lapko 6-2, 6-0) we finally have a contest. Stephens recovers well at the beginning of the second set, bringing up two break points at 15-40, and she needs only one. A champion’s response.
... while Kalinina takes aim at Sloane Stephens on Arthur Ashe. The Ukrainian world No 134 has a second set point at 5-4 against last year’s champion. But Kalinina tightens up and it’s deuce. A third set point ... Kalinina runs round her backhand, sending an inside-out forehand down the line on the return ... and that’s the set! Stephens will have to come from a set down if she’s to continue the defence of her title.
Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, has taken aim at Jimmy Connors on Twitter ...
This quote seems applicable here given how I felt yesterday just being seated there. It was brutal! “Don’t spend all your health looking for wealth.”
— Jelena Djokovic (@JelenaRisticNDF) August 29, 2018
Now I’m sure your perspective as a champion is quite different and I respect that, but I wonder where is the limit? https://t.co/3wOVoXg5fY
Wawrinka’s racket-smashing, water-dousing antics don’t appear to have done him any good as he’s broken in the opening game of the third set. He managed to marmalise his racket pretty well, I have to say, but it still had nothing on Benoit Paire’s recent meltdown at the Citi Open:
$16,500 fine 😳@BenoitPaire had an epic meltdown at @CitiOpen.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 1, 2018
WATCH ⬇️ #CO50 #CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/DRQIluyTE5
There’s been some change in momentum on Grandstand, where Stan Wawrinka had led by a set and 3-1, before the French qualifier Ugo Humbert broke twice. The 20-year-old’s now serving for the set at 5-4. Wawrinka saves a first set point with a dismissive forehand cross-court swat but is left smashing his racket when Humbert levels at one set all. The Swiss then pours an entire bottle of water over his head.
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Azarenka and Stephens could meet in the third round, by the way, but there’s some way to go because Stephens has suddenly slid 4-1 down against Kalinina, who then has points for the double break. Stephens rallies for deuce. But Kalinina charges back with a bullet of a backhand down the line and has another break point. The qualifier gets a little over-excited and wastes the chance with a wild strike. Deuce. Stephens holds after saving three break points but is still behind, trailing 4-2.
“It’s really brutal out here,” Azarenka says. “But today I was really consistent. I hope to continue this way. It’s been a really hard year for me personally so I feel like I’m playing catch-up. I’m so happy to be enjoying tennis. The motivation is different, I’m a mum off the court but I’m still a tennis player and I still have my own personal goals.”
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Play is now under way on Arthur Ashe, where Sloane Stephens is continuing her title defence, against Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina. It’s going with serve, Stephens trailing 2-1. And as one grand slam champion begins, another looks set to end her match, with Victoria Azarenka holding three match points against Daria Gavrilova at 6-1, 5-2. Gavrilova’s slice is so subdued it barely reaches the net. The pair have a nice exchange at the net, happy to have a chat despite the extreme heat. It’s the first time Azarenka has reached the third round at Flushing Meadows since 2013.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas is undoubtedly a future star but it looks like it’s going to be a Greek tragedy for the 20-year-old today. Tsitsipas, who defeated Novak Djokovic in Toronto recently on his way to the final, trails another huge talent, Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 6-3. Stan Wawrinka, meanwhile, having squeezed through the first set on a tie-break, is surging ahead in the second, leading Ugo Humbert 3-1.
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Svitolina is a fine player away from the slams but has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at a major. Could this be the tournament where she makes her breakthrough?
Maria slaps a forehand into the net on the third match point, as Svitolina gains revenge for her defeat at Wimbledon, advancing 6-2, 6-3 in front of a virtually empty new Louis Armstrong stadium. There are some fans in the upper seats, which are open to general admission, but very few in the ticketed lower stands. Perhaps it’s because of the sun.
Elise Mertens is the first player through to the third round. The efficient if unspectacular Belgian 15th seed has beaten Vera Lapko 6-2, 6-0 and will next face Barbora Strycova, who didn’t quite manage the double bagel against Lara Arruabarrena, winning 6-0, 6-1. Elina Svitolina is poised to join them in the last 32 because the Ukrainian seventh seed has a second match point against Tatjana Maria – but she can’t take it. It’s 6-2, 5-3 and deuce on Maria’s serve.
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Wawrinka has a set point at 6-5 on Humbert’s serve in the tie-break. The first serve is called out ... and Humbert double faults on the second! A collective gasp around Grandstand. An anti-climactic end to an intriguing set.
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Strong words from the WTA regarding Alize Cornet’s code violation:
— WTA (@WTA) August 29, 2018
What of the men, you say. Stan Wawrinka showed he can still be the man by taking out Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round for the second consecutive slam, but the 2016 champion is not having it all his own way against the 20-year-old French qualifier Ugo Humbert. They’re into a first-set tie-break and it’s 3-3.
Borna Coric and Roberto Carballes Baena are also playing a breaker, while Daniil Medvedev has taken the first set 6-4 against Stefanos Tsitsipas. It’s the 16th consecutive set the rising Russian has won, taking in his title at the Winston-Salem Open last week.
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The first set is in the bag for Azarenka, who takes it 6-1 when Gavrilova nets. The former world No 1 is looking in fine form. Elina Svitolina is also a set to the good, leading Tatjana Maria 6-2, 3-1 and Belgium’s Elise Mertens is 6-2, 3-0 up against Vera Lapko of Belarus. Meanwhile they do make a good bagel in New York and Barbora Strycova could be about to serve up a double one on Court 5, she leads Lara Arruabarrena 6-3, 3-0.
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If you haven't seen his videos (starring Stefanos Tsitsipas, written by Stefanos Tsitsipas, edited by Stefanos Tsitsipas, directed by Stefanos Tsitsipas, etc), you really should.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 29, 2018
He's got talent and ambition on court and off. pic.twitter.com/bRznJbfpyz
Meanwhile Pseudo Fed has been having his say on Twitter:
Following @alizecornet code violation, I'm making the nervous faces. If I change my shirt when on court next and make the exposures, will I have a point deducted, or a point added? xx #USOpen2018 #GOAT https://t.co/G4KsK3lfVv
— Not Roger Federer (@PseudoFed) August 29, 2018
A victory for common sense. After Alize Cornet was hit with a code violation for changing her shirt on court yesterday, the tournament has released this statement:
US Open Statement on Change of Attire Policy pic.twitter.com/Kt7EcuPz1S
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2018
Elsewhere: it’s 2-2 between Wawrinka and Humbert, Svitolina leads Maria 4-2 with the break, Tsitsipas and Medvedev are tied at 3-3, as is the young Croat Borna Coric with Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, while commentators’ nightmare Lara Arruabarrena is 5-0 down to the Czech Barbora Strycova.
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Azarenka is quite happily on fire at the moment though. The former finalist has raced into a 3-0 lead against Gavrilova. It’s good to see her playing with a spring in her step now that the custody battle over her son – which prevented her from leaving the US – has been resolved.
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It’s already hotter than it was at the same time yesterday. The USTA has announced the extreme heat policy is in effect again, allowing a 10-minute break between the second and third sets for the women and between the third and fourth for the men. So Murray could find himself taking a mid-match, naked ice bath next to Verdasco later.
More seriously though, does the extreme heat policy go far enough? At the Australian Open when the temperature and humidity gets over a certain level play is suspended, with matches continuing only on the show courts under the roof. There’s no indication the US Open would consider closing the roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong today.
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An early chance for Azarenka to break on Court 17. The two-time Australian Open champion – at her advantage in the opening game – probes Gavrilova’s backhand, hitting deep into the corner, and eventually the error comes from the Australian No 2. It’s the first game Gavrilova has lost at this year’s US Open. She won her opening match 6-0, 6-0.
Among the early starters: Stan Wawrinka, who’s up against the French qualifier Ugo Humbert; the seventh seed Elina Svitolina, who plays Germany’s Tatjana Maria; Victoria Azarenka, the former world No 1 who faces Australia’s Daria Gavrilova; and there’s also that tasty match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev. Sloane Stephens, meanwhile, begins on Arthur Ashe in just over 40 minutes’ time.
It’s just past 11am in New York and it’s already over 30C. Which is hard to imagine while sitting in the London office with grey skies and rain threatening outside. The players are completing their warm-ups (not that they probably need warming up in these conditions), and the action is getting under way.
Today’s top three
Murray v Verdasco
Andy Murray has won 13 of their 14 previous meetings but that means little given how early the 2012 champion is into his comeback. If he moves and plays like he did towards the end of his first-round win over James Duckworth, he has a good chance, otherwise Fernando Verdasco may feel he can claim a first win over Murray in nine years. The 34-year-old Spaniard, a former top-10 player and quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows, has a massive forehand, though he is prone to mental dips. It’s almost impossible to predict this one.
Medvedev v Tsitispas
A glimpse into future of men’s tennis as two Next Gen stars go head-to-head. Both are in fine form. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has only just turned 20, has been one of the stars of the American hardcourt summer. The Greek reached the Toronto Masters final, defeating Djokovic before losing to Nadal. Daniil Medvedev, meanwhile, won the Winston-Salem title last week. Despite their tender years, these two have history. Today could be spicy.
Williams v Giorgi
Venus Williams, in her 20th US Open, did well to defeat the tricky Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets in the opening round. It’s been a slightly underwhelming year for the 38-year-old but she’s still more than capable of causing damage at a grand slam. This is a real clash of styles and character between the hard-hitting, composed Williams and the feisty, more defensive Camila Giorgi, who’ll look to grind Williams down. If Williams advances she’ll face a certain S Williams next.
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Some reading.
Ouch. Andy Murray’s battle with Fernando Verdasco hasn’t even started yet but he’s already been left with a bloodied nose. Quite literally. He posted this picture on Instagram earlier. At least his daughter didn’t hit him in the hip, I doubt he’d have seen the funny side of that.
The full order of play
Arthur Ashe Stadium 12pm ET (5pm BST): (3) Sloane Stephens (USA) v Anhelina Kalinina (Ukr), Andy Murray (Gbr) v (31) Fernando Verdasco (Spa), (17) Serena Williams (USA) v Carina Witthoeft (Ger), (1) Rafael Nadal (Spa) v Vasek Pospisil (Can)
Louis Armstrong Stadium 11am ET (4pm BST): Tatjana Maria (Ger) v (7) Elina Svitolina (Ukr), Camila Giorgi (Ita) v (16) Venus Williams (USA), (3) Juan Martin Del Potro (Arg) v Denis Kudla (USA), (18) Jack Sock (USA) v Nikoloz Basilashvili (Geo), (12) Garbine Muguruza (Spa) v Karolina Muchova (Cze)
Grandstand 11am ET (4pm BST): Ugo Humbert (Fra) v Stan Wawrinka (Swi), (9) Julia Goerges (Ger) v Ekaterina Makarova (Rus), (11) John Isner (USA) v Nicolas Jarry (Chi), (32) Maria Sakkari (Gre) v Sofia Kenin (USA)
Court 4 11am ET (4pm BST): Jonathan Erlich (Isr) & Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (Pak) v Austin Krajicek (USA) & Tennys Sandgren (USA), Jennifer Brady (USA) & Asia Muhammed (USA) v (8) Nicole Melichar (USA) & Kveta Peschke (Cze), (9) Pierre-Hugues Herbert (Fra) & Nicolas Mahut (Fra) v Nicholas Monroe (USA) & John-Patrick Smith (Aus), Simone Bolelli (Ita) & Fabio Fognini (Ita) v Kevin Krawietz (Ger) & Maximilian Marterer (Ger)
Court 5 11am ET (4pm BST): (23) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Cze) v Lara Arruabarrena (Spa), (25) Milos Raonic (Can) v Gilles Simon (Fra), Ana Bogdan (Rom) v (8) Karolina Pliskova (Cze), (28) Denis Shapovalov (Can) v Andreas Seppi (Ita)
Court 6 11am ET (4pm BST): Lesley Kerkhove (Ned) & Lidziya Marozava (Blr) v (12) Alicja Rosolska (Pol) & Abigail Spears (USA), Christopher Eubanks (USA) & Donald Young (USA) v (14) Robin Haase (Ned) & Matwe Middelkoop (Ned), Alison Riske (USA) & Taylor Townsend (USA) v (10) Hao-Ching Chan (Tpe) & Zhaoxuan Yang (Chn), Nadiia Kichenok (Ukr) & Anastasia Rodionova (Aus) v Magda Linette (Pol) & Ajla Tomljanovic (Aus), Bradley Klahn (USA) & Daniel Nestor (Can) v Christian Harrison (USA) & Ryan Harrison (USA)
Court 7 11am ET (4pm BST): Catherine McNally (USA) & Whitney Osuigwe (USA) v Monique Adamczak (Aus) & Desirae Krawczyk (USA), Dalila Jakupovic (Slo) & Irina Khromacheva (Rus) v Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spa) & Arantxa Parra Santonja (Spa), Marcelo Demoliner (Bra) & Santiago Gonzalez (Mex) v Hugo Nys (Fra) & Benoit Paire (Fra), Kaia Kanepi (Est) v Jil Belen Teichmann (Swi)
Court 8 11am ET (4pm BST): Romain Arneodo (Fra) & Luke Bambridge (Gbr) v (11) Ivan Dodig (Cro) & Marcel Granollers (Spa), Eri Hozumi (Jpn) & Veronika Kudermetova (Rus) v Samantha Stosur (Aus) & Shuai Zhang (Chn), Filip Krajinovic (Ser) & Viktor Troicki (Ser) v Matthew Ebden (Aus) & Jack Withrow (USA), Radu Albot (Mol) & Malek Jaziri (Tun) v Kenneth Skupski (Gbr) & Neal Skupski (Gbr)
Court 9 11am ET (4pm BST): (8) Raven Klaasen (Rsa) & Michael Venus (Nzl) v Lukas Lacko (Svk) & John Millman (Aus), Marcus Daniell (Nzl) & Wesley Koolhof (Ned) v Max Mirnyi (Blr) & Philipp Oswald (Aut), Kirsten Flipkens (Bel) & Alison Van Uytvanck (Bel) v (2) Timea Babos (Hun) & Kristina Mladenovic (Fra), Sorana Cirstea (Rom) & Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spa) v Lyudmyla Kichenok (Ukr) & Laura Siegemund (Ger)
Court 10 11am ET (4pm BST): Daniil Medvedev (Rus) v (15) Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre), Qiang Wang (Chn) v Irina-Camelia Begu (Rom), Cameron Norrie (Gbr) v Dusan Lajovic (Ser), Vania King (USA) v Rebecca Peterson (Swe)
Court 11 11am ET (4pm BST): (20) Borna Coric (Cro) v Roberto Carballes Baena (Spa), (10) Feliciano Lopez (Spa) & Marc Lopez (Spa) v Patrick Kypson (USA) & Danny Thomas (USA), Caroline Dolehide (USA) & Christina McHale (USA) v Varvara Lepchenko (USA) & Bernarda Pera (USA), (14) Raquel Atawo (USA) & Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Ger) v Michaella Krajicek (Ned) & Pauline Parmentier (Fra)
Court 12 11am ET (4pm BST): Nao Hibino (Jpn) & Oksana Kalashnikova (Geo) v Belinda Bencic (Swi) & Kateryna Kozlova (Ukr), Peter Gojowczyk (Ger) & Purav Raja (Ind) v Nikola Mektic (Cro) & Jurgen Melzer (Aut), (15) Rohan Bopanna (Ind) & Edouard Roger-Vasselin (Fra) v Marcos Baghdatis (Cyp) & Mischa Zverev (Ger), Lorenzo Sonego (Ita) v (27) Karen Khachanov (Rus)
Court 13 11am ET (4pm BST): Vera Lapko (Blr) v (15) Elise Mertens (Bel), Claire Liu (USA) v (19) Anastasija Sevastova (Lat), Taylor Harry Fritz (USA) v Jason Kubler (Aus), Guido Pella (Arg) v Paolo Lorenzi (Ita)
Court 14 11am ET (4pm BST): Shuko Aoyama (Jpn) & Ying-Ying Duan (Chn) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Blr) & Galina Voskoboeva (Kaz), Philipp Petzschner (Ger) & Tim Puetz (Ger) v Jonathan Eysseric (Fra) & Marton Fucsovics (Hun), Timea Bacsinszky (Swi) & Vera Zvonareva (Rus) v Irina Bara (Rom) & Alize Cornet (Fra), MacKenzie McDonald (USA) & Yoshihito Nishioka (Jpn) v Mirza Basic (Bih) & Damir Dzumhur (Bih)
Court 15 11am ET (4pm BST): Sander Arends (Ned) & Antonio Sancic (Cro) v (6) Jean-Julien Rojer (Ned) & Horia Tecau (Rom), Darija Jurak (Cro) & Xenia Knoll (Swi) v Su-Wei Hsieh (Tpe) & Aryna Sabalenka (Blr), (1) Barbora Krejcikova (Cze) & Katerina Siniakova (Cze) v Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukr) & Aleksandra Krunic (Ser), (1) Oliver Marach (Aut) & Mate Pavic (Cro) v Leonardo Mayer (Arg) & Joao Sousa (Por)
Court 17 11am ET (4pm BST): Victoria Azarenka (Blr) v (25) Daria Gavrilova (Aus), (9) Dominic Thiem (Aut) v Steve Johnson (USA), Jeremy Chardy (Fra) v (5) Kevin Anderson (Rsa), Lucie Safarova (Cze) v (18) Ashleigh Barty (Aus)
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the furnace that is day three of the US Open, where the ice towels and ice baths are already, erm, on ice, and the players are probably cramping just thinking about what awaits them in the second round. The weather forecast is similar to yesterday, when temperatures of 37C and humidity levels of more than 50% caused five retirements, led to the implementation of the extreme heat policy in the men’s draw for the first time and prompted Novak Djokovic to ask for a sick bucket – before he enjoyed a naked, mid-match ice bath alongside his opponent Marton Fucsovics. Djokovic said it felt like “everything was boiling” in his body and Fucsovics added: “I was dying after each point. It was too hot for tennis. It’s dangerous.”
While Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal will play in the night session today for the second consecutive round, Andy Murray has been afforded no such luxury and will be thrown into the heat of the battle at around 2pm New York time (7pm BST) against the Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco. In the past Murray would have almost relished grinding his opponent down in these conditions, such was his level of fitness, but he’s unlikely to feel the same today given this is only his second grand slam match in 14 months. Though it will be a good measure of where he’s at physically in his long road back from hip surgery. Every cloud … (even though there aren’t any in New York today).
Murray will be on Arthur Ashe after Sloane Stephens continues her title defence against the unseeded Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina. Over on Louis Armstrong, it’s the seventh seed Elina Svitolina, followed by Venus Williams against the fiery Italian Camila Giorgi (Venus will meet Serena in the third round if they both advance today), and then the 2009 champion Juan Martín del Potro.
There are plenty of other names in action on day three, including the revitalised Stan Wawrinka, last year’s runner-up Kevin Anderson, John Isner, Dominic Thiem, Milos Raonic, Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep’s conqueror Kaia Kanepi, Victoria Azarenka, Ashleigh Barty and the young talents of Denis Shapovalov, Karen Khachanov, Borna Coric, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev. The last two face each other in what could be one of the matches of the day. And there’s also the British No 2 Cameron Norrie to throw into the mix too. Phew. It’s going to be hard to catch breath, and that’s before even factoring in the stifling heat.
