And that just about wraps things up for today. Stay tuned for a full report on Coco Gauff’s progression to the third round. Here’s something on Nick Kyrgios in the meantime. Until next time.
Gauff beats Babos 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
And Coco Gauff is through to the third round after a gripping three-set win over Tímea Babos. The crowd is going wild here on Armstrong. She next will face defending champion Naomi Osaka on Saturday night in a match that almost positively will be held under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium. What does she think about it? “I don’t have any thoughts on it right now,” Gauff says to ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi in an on-court interview, “because I have to play doubles tomorrow with Caty (McNally) and I’m really focused on that.”
Squeaky bum time in the decider. Babos falls behind 0-30 and double-faults for 15-40, but fights her way through some lengthy rallies (and another double fault on game point) to hold for 4-all. Then Gauff holds easily and Babos will serve to stay in the match.
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Babos and Gauff trade holds once more and the Hungarian will serve at 3-4. Simply breathtaking shotmaking on Ashe. Two more results from around the grounds. On Ashe, Wozniacki has served out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Collins. On Court 13, Tennys Sandgren has won 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 over Vasek Pospisil.
Babos holds and Gauff responds, saving a pair of break points for good measure. But that only tells the half of it. Exquisite shotmaking and extended rallies with both players using all of the court. The crowd is loving it. Babos to serve at 2-3 after the changeover. On Ashe, Wozniacki finally earns a break and Collins will serve to stay in the tournament at 3-5 in the third.
Both players trade comfortable holds and Babos will serve at 1-2 in the third. The Hungarian continues pound Gauff’s forehand and so far it’s held up, but not without a few scratchy moments. Meanwhile on Ashe, Wozniacki and Collins are at 2-all in the third.
Babos closes out the second set, 6-2. Clearly it feels like the momentum has shifted. Then Gauff falls behind 15-40 on her serve in the opening game of the third and a hush falls over Armstrong. But the teenager digs deep, serving her way out of trouble and benefitting from a couple of unforced errors for the hold. Chants of “Here we go, Coco, here we go!” ring through the mostly full 14,053-seat arena during the changeover.
Over on Armstrong, Coco Gauff has come apart a bit against Tímea Babos. The 15-year-old American was serving at 3-all when her forehand began to misfire, leading to a break of serve. The errors continued into the next game as Babos, so much more patient now and making Gauff hit more balls than in the opener, held for 5-3. The 15-year-old then to stay in the second set, leaving Babos to serve to force a decider after the change of ends.
Kyrgios beats Hoang 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
And Nick Kyrgios is through to the third round of the US Open after a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win over Antoine Hoang. It’s wasn’t without a bit of histrionics, but the 28th-seeded Aussie will be licking his chops when he looks at his quarter of the draw moving forward. He’s one of only three seeds remaining in this entire quarter along with No 13 Gael Monfils and No 24 Matteo Berrettini. He’ll next face Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who advanced on a walkover today.
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Hoang holds easily and Kyrgios does the same, crushing his 22nd ace of the night (to Hoang’s one). Or so we think. After Kyrgios appeared to win the game, the chair umpire called the score (“Kyrgios leads 5-4”) ... moments later acknowledging that Hoang had challenged the point. Successfully, of course. Kyrgios is furious at the late challenge and calls for the supervisor, ultimately agreeing to play on and winning the game on the next point. Now – finally – the Frenchman will serve to stay in the tournament at 3-5. Never a dull moment!
Kyrgios falls behind love-30 then 15-40 on his serve, then sprays a forehand from the baseline. He’s lost one of his breaks, but remains in control with Hoang serving at 2-4. Elsewhere, Gauff has taken the first set from Babos on Armstrong, while Danielle Collins has done the same against Caroline Wozniacki on Ashe.
Kyrgios holds at love, then breaks Hoang yet again for a commanding double-break lead in the third. The Frenchman’s serve continues to betray him with a pair of double-faults – including one on game point – before Kyrgios seals it with a gorgeous backhand passing winner down the line. Now the Aussie will serve at 4-1 with the third round within touching distance.
And Kyrgios breaks right back to nose ahead yet again. It’s the third straight service break in as many games to open the third set. Now the Aussie will serve at 6-4, 6-2, 2-1 to consolidate. Meanwhile on Armstrong, Coco Gauff has raced out to a 5-2 lead against Tímea Babos.
Well, how about this. Hoang manages to earn his first three break-point chances of the match, double-faulting on the first and missing an overhand on the second but converting the third with a forehand volley winner to break right back for 1-all in the third. Signs of life, but he’s got a long way to go from two sets down.
We’ve seen a bit of an influx of fans on Grandstand with Thanasi Kokkinakis’s withdrawal having adjusted ticket-holders’ priorities a bit. But the truth is they’re not arriving to much of a contest. Kyrgios has broken Hoang in the opening game of the third and appears to have the match in hand.
Bosh bosh bash! Kyrgios loses a couple of points but he breezes to the game and the set in the end thanks to some big serving after Hoang took the game to deuce. Kyrgios leads 2-0.
Bryan will now be in charge.
Hoang gets another game on the board but it will take something special from him to get back into the match.
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Kyrgios wins the next game to love. This isn’t going to last long. The Australian looks in great nick.
Another break to Kyrgios who looks to be enjoying himself out there, which is nice. He leads the second set 4-1.
Kyrgios first easily holds his own service game and looks to be on the way to a break but Hoang recovers to hold.
Kyrgios breaks first up in the second set, too, which is good news for the Australian who won it with some fine work after taking the game to deuce.
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Krygios takes the first set with a great serve which Hoang cannot lay a glove on.
Wow. Brutal. https://t.co/8RaZrfxuFv
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 29, 2019
That’s it from me for today, Bryan will be taking over the baton shortly. Phew. It’s been a busy one. See you again tomorrow ...
Five games in, this is all rather business-like from Kyrgios, who leads 3-2 with the break against Hoang, who’s making his US Open debut at the age of 23. For Kyrgios, only a year older, this is his seventh time in New York. But for all his talent, he’s never been beyond the third round. That could change this year, because the way his quarter of the draw has opened up, he has a great chance of making the semis. It’s up to Kyrgios whether he wants to make the most of the opportunity.
Some match reports for your perusal:
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There’s already been a bit of Kyrgios-related controversy, of course:
Unsurprisingly, umpire tells Kyrgios that he can't play with that. Kyrgios calls the supervisor before the match begins: "I wanna see the rule. I wanna see the rule. I'm not going to play until you show me the rule."
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 29, 2019
We begin.
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That’s it for the day session on the two main courts, with Rafael Nadal, Caroline Wozniacki, Coco Gauff and Marin Cilic to come in the night session. Elsewhere Jelena Ostapenko has defeated Alison Riske 6-4, 6-3; Andrey Rublev, who got to the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in round one, has benefitted from Giles Simon’s retirement; Belinda Bencic has won in three sets against Alize Cornet; Denis Shapovalov, who beat Felix Auger Aliassime in the one-sided battle of the young Canadians, is a set up against Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen; the fabulous Thomas Fabbiano, who took out Dominic Thiem on Tuesday, is two sets to the good in his match; and with the sun setting on Grandstand, Nick Kyrgios, with a possible suspension hanging over him for calling the ATP corrupt, is just getting started against France’s Antoine Hoang.
Taylor Townsend approached the net 106 times in total (64/106) with 61 serve and volley points (37/61).
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 29, 2019
By the end, she was serve and volleying pretty much every single serve, first and second. 40 of 49 serves in the final set.
Townsend talks:
It gives me so much confidence to know I can do it. When I played her before I think I played not to lose, but today I played to win. I don’t really think I can say on TV what was going on in my head.
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Taylor Townsend snatches one of the big upsets of the tournament so far, beating Simona Halep 2-6 6-3 7-6(4)
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 29, 2019
That took some incredible guts to keep on coming to the net after missing double match point. Impressed.
Halep beaten by Townsend 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
... and they’re level again at 4-4, before Halep blinks with a forehand she should really have put away! So Townsend has the mini-break at 5-4, and has a further two match points when Halep’s angled backhand doesn’t dip quickly enough and lands wide. Townsend puffs out her cheeks, serve-volleys – of course – and Halep’s backhand barely reaches the net! Townsend is almost in tears. Kobe Bryant is on his feet, as are the rest of the Arthur Ashe crowd. Halep, who was absolutely unbeatable at Wimbledon seven weeks ago, is out in the second round in the shock of the US Open so far! It’s a shame to see such a popular champion exit so early, but it’s wonderful to see Townsend, playing such a throw-back game, pull off the biggest win of her career having come through qualifying.
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Townsend is doing her best Pete Sampras impression with the amount she’s serve-volleying. There are small swings in momentum at the start of the breaker. Townsend goes 2-0 ahead. Halep hurtles back for 2-2, before double faulting. It’s 3-3 as they change ends ...
Taylor Townsend has been to the net 92 times today (56/93) with 49 serve and volley attempts (30/49). Wild.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 29, 2019
Halep, having saved those two match points, saves a break point to somehow scramble 6-5 ahead. You’ve got to feel for Townsend, who must have all sorts of thoughts racing through her head at the changeover. Halep, meanwhile, is jabbing at her own head with her fingers after conceding the first point on Townsend’s serve. Halep’s angst on court is in such contrast to her easy demeanour off it. The jabbing does the job though. Because Halep now has a match point of her own, at 30-40. Townsend once again goes for the serve-volley approach but doesn’t even need to volley because Halep’s return is well out. Deuce. And then with the court wide open, Halep miscues! Advantage Townsend. Game Townsend. We’ve got a tie-break to settle this, which is no less than this captivating contest deserves.
What with everything that’s been going on at Flushing Meadows, I’ve not mentioned Andy Murray’s defeat at the Rafa Nadal Open in Mallorca. He’s been beaten in the last 16 of the Challenger event, losing 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to the world No 240, Matteo Viola. In his third singles tournament since hip surgery, Murray struggled physically in the third set, needing two medical time-outs for cramping. Murray admitted afterwards he was “very tired” and “physically needs to get better”.
Yulia Putintseva gets a top-10 upset for the second Slam in a row, beating #9 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(3). #USOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 29, 2019
A superb volley at full stretch moves Townsend within two points of a memorable victory. The crowd are on their feet when Townsend brings up two match points. But they should save the standing ovation, because a double fault and Halep winner follow. From 40-15 to deuce. Townsend’s still got the guts to serve-volley, but the serve is weak, Halep gets enough on the return, and Townsend nets the volley. A break point for Halep, who attempts to pass her opponent ... but Townsend reads it and puts away a bullet of a volley. Deuce. Halep pulls off the pass on the next point, however, and then breaks! Townsend has seen two match points come and go and they’re back on serve at 5-5!
Halep gets a bit of luck at 15-30 to avoid going two match points down. Instead it’s 30-all. The crowd are gasping when Townsend’s backhand flies off the net before falling into the tramlines. 40-30. Townsend has a good chance to take the game to deuce with the volley, but she nets. She hasn’t missed many of those today. But the American qualifier, ranked 116 in the world, will come out after the break at 5-4 to take out the world No 4.
You’ve got to admire the way Townsend is serve-volleying her way to victory. She’s just not letting up against the Wimbledon champion, who dominated all around her at SW19 only seven weeks ago. Just as I type that, Townsend tightens up with a double fault. But it’s a minor wobble. She closes out the game on the next point and Halep is staring down the barrel of defeat, trailing 5-3, having to hold serve to stay in the tournament.
What guts from Townsend. The home hope goes for all-out attack to break Halep for 3-2, before recovering from 0-40 down on her own serve to consolidate the break. Bet Halep is wishing right now that she’d not given Townsend some tips after beating her at the French Open last year:
Darren Cahill told a great story about Taykor Towsend on ESPN the other day. He stated after Tay lost to Simona in Paris, she approached Simona and asked “how can I get better?” Cahill said they had a nice chat about the state of Taylor’s game.
— Bri 🐘🧙🏾♂️🗽🧽 (@4TheTennis) August 29, 2019
News on tomorrow’s schedule: Roger Federer v Dan Evans will be the first match on Ashe in the day session, followed by Serena Williams v Karolina Muchova. The night session is Sofia Kenin v Madison Keys, then Novak Djokovic v Denis Kudla.
News on another two Americans: John Isner, who’s had more than his fair share of injury problems this year, has advanced, in three tight sets against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion, could be next. And Jenson Brooksby, the 18-year-old from California, has been given a lesson by the 17th seed, Nikoloz Basilashvili. Brooksby led by a set and double break before Basilashvili’s experience told in a four-set win.
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Townsend is putting Halep under such pressure that the Romanian resorts to thumping her racket into the court not once, not twice, but thrice. But despite her show of anger, Halep manages to hold serve to nudge 2-1 ahead in the decider. Meanwhile Townsend’s compatriot Alison Riske, who defeated the player formerly known as Garbine Muguruza in the first round, is serving to stay in the first set against the 2017 French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko, at 5-4 down. It was an incredibly strange start to that match with Ostapenko hitting seven double faults but still holding serve. Riske can’t hold and Ostapenko secures the set 6-4.
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Andreescu, by the way, has cracked the top 10 courtesy of that win. The 19-year-old Canadian, who started the year outside the top 150, is such a talent.
Well. Aljaz Bedene beats Benoit Paire 4-6 6-7(3) 6-2 7-5 7-6(4). Paire hit 99 (ninety nine) unforced errors.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 29, 2019
Paire did not shake Bedene's hand and was off the court before the camera even zoomed out of his celebration.
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Back on Ashe, Townsend is serving for the second set against Halep. The Wimbledon champion, no less. Townsend comes through comfortably, and lets out an impassioned “COME ON”. As well she might. That was tremendous from Townsend, who takes the set 6-3 to force Halep to a third set for the second consecutive match. Kobe Bryant, having watched Naomi Osaka on Louis Armstrong earlier, has made his way on to Ashe and must be enjoying this fightback from his fellow American.
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While I’ve been away, there have been wins for Stan Wawrinka, Bianca Andreescu and Daniil Medvedev. Wawrinka secured his sixth win on the spin against his opponent Jeremy Chardy, progressing 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3; the exciting Andreescu, some people’s tip for the title, beat Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens 6-3, 7-5; while an ailing Medvedev, despite cramping badly in the third and fourth sets, somehow overcame Hugo Dellien 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. So all those matches the Russian’s played over the past month seem to be catching up with him. “Sorry mate, I was really cramping, I was not making jokes, sorry,” Medvedev told Dellien at the net afterwards.
... don’t even get me started Will. Some low life decided it would be a good idea to help themselves to my dinner that I’d left in the fridge, so I’ve been wandering around King’s Cross in a state of wronged hanger trying to find something else while considering how I tackle this great whodunnit. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Good news! Katy is back! Do not ask about her dinner ...
Townsend volleys her way into a 30:0 lead but then the next one is lobbed wide to give Halep hope. Halep reacts to three fine volleys form Townsend before sending one straight past her to level things. Another fierce volley from the net completes the game. Townsend leads the second set 4-1.
Halep with some fine defence keeps the point alive but Townsend volleys to level things at 15:15. Halep double faults to allow Townsend to level things at 30:30, which is not what she wanted, then the Romania whacks a forehand very, very wide to offer a break point and Townsend takes the game. Townsend leads the second set 3-1.
Not wanting any more of this messing around, Halep rushes into a 0:30 lead and then a perfect backhand across court gives her break point. Halep hits some fine shots in a rally, ending with a Townsend volleying into the net to give up a break. Townsend leads the second set 2-1.
Halep is on the verge of a win but two poor shots take it to deuce. The advantage is gifted to Townsend with a unforced error from Halep, who whacks a forehand wide. Halep gets away with it as her opponent sends one long. A lovely volley from the American forces Halep to lift it back over her head but it flies past the baseline. Townsend breaks to lead in the second set 2-0.
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Townsend is getting a bit sloppy. She stretches for a volley and doesn’t come close to controlling it, sending it very wide. The American makes up for it on the next point with a lovely volley to make it 30:30 and then smashes a winner. She then takes her first game in five as Halep lifts one long.
Halep is really speeding along now, moving quickly into a 40:0 lead. The game is finished off with a good serve to the backhand, which Townsend can only hit into the net. This match looks to be going only one way. Halep wins the first set 6-2.
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The Romanian is knowing how to push Townsend’s buttons, getting her to move around the court. Halep gets a break point but whacks a backhand into the net to take it to deuce. The advantage goes to Halep after Townsend clips the net, allowing her opponent to whack a powerful forehand past her. The American then sends one very long to gift the win to Halep. Halep leads 5-2.
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Halep is into her stride and takes her service game to love. Easy peasy. Halep leads 4-2.
Halep picks up the first couple of points against the serve but then hits one long to give Townsend a way back in. The Romanian shows her frustration as she knows the game was in that shot. She shows her athleticism to get to the net for the next point and lift a shot beyond Townsend who can only return it wide. Both players hit some fine shots from the baseline until Halep whacks a winner which Townsend has no chance of reaching, resulting in the first break. Halep leads 3-2.
Not much fuss in the next game as Halep completes the win to draw level at 2-2.
A drop shot from Townsend makes Halep move quickly towards the net where she lifts a shot cross court for the winner. It’s a great shot and merits the point. Townsend has the chance to win the game but then double faults with two very wide serves. She makes up for it by getting the advantage with a fine volley. Halep hits one long and Townsend takes the game. Townsend leads 2-1.
A stunning backhand from a Halep second serve gives Townsend break point but she cannot follow it up and hits the next shot into the net. She earns the advantage but once against fails to complete the win. There is no doubting Townsend’s aggression and power in her hitting but she needs to know how to control is, as she once again puts too much on her shot. Halep survives to take the game. 1-1 in the first set.
Townsend looks very natural with her hitting and wins the first point thanks to a lovely volley. Halep will be aiming to get the American moving around on the slightly slower than usual courts. Townsend is putting everything into her shots but overhits two on the trot to give Halep a simple lead. The qualifier recovers, however, to take the first game.
The players have tossed up and are ready to go on court. Townsend will serve first.
Halep is hoping to inspire the whole of Romania, which is nice. Having visited a few times, she is certainly already a big deal in Bucharest.
Good evening. Halep will be on court soon, meaning Mrs Liveblogger will be pretty excited by her compatriot being in action and I will have to hand over the Amazon Prime password.
I’m off for a bit of food. Here’s Will Unwin for the next half an hour or so ...
Zverev, looking remarkably sweat-free a la Federer despite those five sets, speaks:
I’ve known Frances since we were 10 years old. Every match we play is getting tougher and tougher. I hope it’ll continue like that and we’ll play even bigger matches in our career. It’s usually what I do in the first few rounds of majors, play five sets. All jokes aside, Frances gave me an unbelievable fight, I had to play five sets.
Zverev beats Tiafoe 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
Tiafoe rips off his shirt, has a quick massage, and then holds his serve to love. The 21-year-old American’s looking fairly pumped up as he prepares to receive but, with his opponent serving for the match, the energy isn’t enough to put off Zverev. The only blot in the game for Zverev is a double fault at 30-0, which he cancels out with an ace for 40-15, two match points. Tiafoe’s forehand flies beyond the baseline and Zverev survives his second consecutive five-setter. Of course he’ll be pleased to escape, but he doesn’t make it easy for himself. He came to New York desperately seeking some form, but many question marks remain.
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The 6ft 6in Zverev is now standing tall on Arthur Ashe, where his 20th ace of the day gets him to 30-0 and two points away from a 5-2 fifth-set lead over Tiafoe. Tiafoe tonks a volley right back at Zverev for 30-15. But a successful Hawk-Eye appeal from Zverev brings up game point. Zverev scoops a volley just on to the baseline and that’s the game. Tiafoe is calling for the trainer, which Zverev doesn’t seem too happy about given the stage of this match.
Meanwhile in some results that I missed earlier what with all that’s going on around Flushing Meadows today: there was, erm, much to like about Karolina Muchova’s third-set tie-break victory over Hsieh Su-wei. The Czech will play Serena Williams in the third round. Kristina Mladenovic, the conqueror of Angelique Kerber, has been conquered herself, losing 6-3 in the final set to her fellow Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro, and Denis Kudla has beaten Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in four sets and will now face the most famous Serbian of them all, Novak Djokovic.
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Daniil Medvedev, the star of the hard-court summer who has played more matches since Wimbledon than Djokovic, Federer and Nadal combined, is two sets to the good against the Bolivian Hugo Dellien, leading 6-3, 7-5. The fifth seed hasn’t been entirely at ease though:
Daniil Medvedev, broken, just smashed his racket while keeping eye contact with his coach throughout and it was *intense*. #USOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 29, 2019
Zverev still has a zip in his step despite conceding that fourth set, and is hustling Tiafoe on the American’s serve at deuce. Tiafoe, under pressure, sends an errant volley wide. It’s Zverev’s advantage. This was the stage when Tiafoe was broken in the two sets he lost. He’ll be desperate to avoid the same fate here. He manages to fend off the break point with the smash, but is soon facing another break point, which he saves with a forehand volley, and a third, which he also resists, but he is powerless to do anything about the fourth when Zverev cracks a backhand down the line. It’s Zverev who has the fifth-set advantage, leading 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 2-6, 2-0.
Alex Zverev is going to five sets on Arthur Ashe. But you’d probably already predicted that. He doesn’t seem to be able to do it any other way in the early rounds of slams, and it often means he doesn’t have enough left in the tank. With the shadows almost enveloping the main court, Frances Tiafoe serves out the fourth set 6-2. James Blake, a former quarter-finalist here who is mentoring the young Tiafoe, looks on approvingly in the stands. This could be a tasty finale between the two top talents.
Quintessential Zverev stat: he has only won 5 of 17 fourth sets in his career when he's had a two-sets-to-one lead.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 29, 2019
Whatever the tennis equivalent of a blown save is, it's that.#USOpen
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Ons Jabeur is one win away from becoming the first Arab woman to break the top 50 after coming from a set down to defeat Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Tunisian, who turned 25 yesterday, will have her work cut out to get that landmark victory at this tournament though, because she faces the third seed, Karolina Pliskova, next.
Naomi Osaka has also taken care of business, beating Poland’s Magda Linette 6-2, 6-4. Last year’s champion and this year’s Australian Open winner be pleased with that after appearing to be a bundle of nerves in her first-round, three-set win. It means if Coco Gauff beats Timea Babos tonight, it’ll be Osaka v Gauff in round three. Yes please.
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Konta routs Gasparyan 6-1, 6-0
You wait three days for another British winner, and then two come along at once. Just minutes after Evans’s victory, Konta serves up a second-set bagel in New York for a brutal win over the stunned Russian Margarita Gasparyan in 55 minutes. “It’s never straightforward,” says a modest Konta. “It was tricky conditions. The match-up worked in my favour but it’s never straightforward. Very happy to have come through. Yesterday was a long day for everyone who didn’t get to play so I’m pleased to make the third round.”
Evans defeats Pouille 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4
The way this match has gone, this game is likely to be anything but straightforward for Evans. But then the 29-year-old likes to defy expectations. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0. Three match points. Pouille’s rasping return saves the first. But the Frenchman lobs long on the second! Evans knocks out the 25th seed after three hours and 10 minutes of fluctuating and sometimes fascinating tennis. Next up for Evans: a certain Mr Federer.
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Then at 4-4 between Evans and Pouille, Evans has two break points. Will this be the final twist in this match? No, because Pouille saves both, the second with a remarkable forehand winner down the left sideline! Deuce. But then Evans charges straight back at Pouille with the next two points and he’ll serve for the match!
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Evans is channelling his inner Kyrgios on Court 12, where he receives a warning for an audible obscenity when Pouille moves to break-back point. Pouille pings a perfect winner for 3-3. This match will end after Konta’s at this rate, because Konta is still ripping through the games, leading Gasparyan 6-1, 3-0.
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As for the score on Louis Armstrong, Osaka briefly forgot she was the world No 1 and defending champion again, sliding 2-0 down in the second set, but she’s now well on track for the third round and a possible blockbuster with Coco Gauff (if the 15-year-old wins in the night session later), leading Magda Linette 6-2, 4-3 with the break.
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Kobe Bryant with Colin Kaepernick watching Osaka's match. pic.twitter.com/ZSUdTrYkse
— Michael Gallo (@Galloots) August 29, 2019
Cripes. I go a get a quick drink and it’s 5-1 Konta. The British No 1 clearly doesn’t want to hang around having had to wait a day to start this match. And she soon has 15-40 on Gasparyan’s serve, two set points. And Gasparyan waves the white flag with a timid double fault! Konta charges through the first set 6-1. She’ll be keen to avoid a let-up in the second, having also whizzed through the opening set in the first round before being extended to three.
There’s plenty going on elsewhere too. My head’s hurting trying to figure out where to look on the scoreboard. Frances Tiafoe has taken the second set against Alex Zverev – when does the sixth seed ever like to do it the easy way? – but Zverev has the advantage in the third, leading 6-3, 3-6, 4-1. Daniil Medvedev, who has overtaken Zverev in the rankings and appears the best placed of the Next Gen to challenge Djokovic, Nadal and Federer after his red-hot run on the American hard courts over the past few weeks, is 5-2 up on Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien, while Stan Wawrinka, the champion three years ago, leads France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 2-2.
Konta, meanwhile, is now under way against Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan, who’s only 24 but has already had three knee surgeries. It’s 1-1 in the opening set. Tom Hiddleston was watching as a guest in Konta’s box during the first round; no sign yet of whether he’s back today. Though Kobe Bryant and Colin Kaepernick are currently in Naomi Osaka’s corner on Louis Armstrong, where the world No1 and defending champion may finally be playing like the world No1 and defending champion. She leads Poland’s Magda Linette by a set to love, 6-2.
... five straight points for the Frenchman and it’s 5-3. Evans reduces his arrears to 5-4 but the breaker is on the racket of Pouille, who has two points on serve to finish it off. And here’s set point number four, to add to the three he had at 5-4. Pouille prevails and Evans, who should really be back in the locker room pondering how he is going to tackle Federer tomorrow, will have to regroup in a fourth set!
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A perfect start from Evans as he gets not one but two mini-breaks to sprint 3-0 ahead. A couple of points on serve here would give him a stranglehold over Pouille. But nothing in this set has been straightforward, Evans promptly loses both and they’re back on serve. Pouille then wins a quick point, as they change ends at 3-3 ...
As one Brit starts, another will be hoping he is about to finish, with Evans edging ahead in this see-sawing third set, 6-5 on serve. He’s putting pressure on Pouille’s serve at 30-all, but Pouille holds firm to close the game out from there. It’s tie-break time! And given the way this set has gone, I don’t think anyone will want to predict what is about to happen.
Alex de Minaur is roaring on Court 5, because the young Australian has conquered Chile’s 31st seed, Cristian Garin, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the third round for the second consecutive year. Up next: the 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori. De Minaur’s victory means Britain’s Johanna Konta will be in action very shortly.
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That blast of cool air does the trick, though not immediately. Pouille quickly moves to 40-15, two set points. Evans saves both, the second with a smart return that just clips the line. Deuce becomes Pouille’s advantage, and this time Evans dispatches a winning volley to stay in the set, before managing to bring up his own advantage. Evans is being pegged well behind the baseline by Pouille’s hard hitting but the Frenchman then flaps into the net! Another wild swing in momentum. Having saved three set points, Evans is back on serve at 6-4, 6-3, 5-5.
15-30 turns into 30-40, a break point that could leave Pouille serving for the third set. A rattled Evans surrenders. He should have been 5-2 up, instead he finds himself 5-4 down. Evans, clearly feeling the heat both literally and figuratively, cools himself down with the on-court air-conditioning unit – a new innovation this year – at the changeover.
At 6-4, 6-3, 4-2, two more holds of serve will elevate Evans into the last 32. He moves to game point and has the whole of the court to aim into with a volley ... but misses! Perhaps he was too busy picturing that meeting with Federer, who he pushed in three tight sets at the Australian Open this year, impressing the GOAT so much that Evans was invited to Dubai to practice with Federer. But that match will have to wait, because Pouille makes the most of the unexpected reprieve to break, before holding for 4-4. And Evans is reeling at 15-30 on his serve ...
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Two results for you: Petra Martic, the 22nd seed, has beaten Ana Bogdan, who got the better of Britain’s Harriet Dart in round one. The score: 6-2, 6-4. And Qiang Wang, seeded 18th, has bettered Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck, 7-5, 6-4.
Evans is also charging towards the finish line and that third-round meeting with Federer, because he leads 4-1 in a third set that has lasted a matter of minutes.
It’s also a wrap on Grandstand, where Sofia Kenin, one of a group of hugely talented American women coming through (and one of 13 home hopes in action on day four), has recovered from a slow start to produce a quick finish, beating the German Laura Siegemund 7-6 (4), 6-0.
Petkovic defeats Kvitova 6-4, 6-4
A quick turnaround on Louis Armstrong, where Petkovic breaks back, holds and then has Kvitova on the canvas, two match points down at 4-6, 4-5, 15-40. Kvitova comes to the net and seems well in control, but Petkovic keeps on getting it back and Kvitova knocks herself out when she horribly hoiks wide! The world No 6 is out and is the first top-10 seed on the women’s side to exit.
Andrea Petkovic's win over Petra Kvitova a perfect example of why match-ups are so important. Now leads 6-4 in their 10 meetings and though Kvitova is a bit rusty, and her arm is not 100 percent, she always struggles against Petkovic.
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) August 29, 2019
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It’s a case of from the bad to the even worse for Pouille, who falls 0-15, 0-30, 0-40 down at 3-5. So that’s three set points for Evans. The British No 2 can’t direct his return into play on the first. He just about lands his second return, but it drops so short that it’s an easy put-away for Pouille. Evans’s third effort falls invitingly in the middle of the court for Pouille to bury. Deuce. Evans’s advantage. And Pouille – who’s hit 26 unforced errors in this second set – gives it away with a double fault! Evans leads 6-4, 6-3 and has never lost from two sets to love up.
It may only be lunchtime in New York, but fans on Arthur Ashe may well be getting out the popcorn and enjoying some beers for what could be a cracking encounter between Alex Zverev and the 21-year-old talent Frances Tiafoe, who gave Federer a five-set fright under the lights here a couple of years ago. Zverev, who is looking to salvage his season after a hugely disappointing 2019, didn’t look too convincing in the first round, when he went the distance against Radu Albot. But he’s zoomed out of the blocks here and already leads by a set to love, 6-3.
Goffin clearly likes a bit of symmetry. The 15th seed, a recent finalist in Cincinnati, wraps up that win, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
Kvitova still has that break in the second set, leading Petkovic 4-3 but trailing in the match overall, having lost the first 6-4. Sofia Kenin, the 20-year-old Moscow-born American who recently broke the top 20, has edged the first set against Laura Siegemund, 7-4 in the tie-break. Another American, Denis Kudla, is 7-5 up on Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic, while David Goffin is serving for the match against Gregoire Barrere, leading 6-2, 6-2, 5-2.
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That 2016 run was Evans’s last visit to New York, what with the drug ban that followed. It really has been some effort from the 29-year-old to resurrect his career. He was unranked 18 months ago and is now near his best ever ranking, sitting just outside the top 50. With Pouille serving at 1-3, a double fault gifts Evans a chance for the double break. Evans blazes a backhand well wide. Deuce. Another break point. Evans lobs, Pouille produces a tweener ... and then a breathtaking backhand cross-court winner! If the Frenchman doesn’t get inspiration from that, nothing will rouse him into action. Deuce. Game Pouille. It’s Evans 6-4, 3-2.
Pouille landed a fairly pitiful percentage of first serves in that first set - 24%. He’s a tremendous talent but is a temperamental one too, and he’s blowing so hot and cold. Evans breaks right at the start of the second set, backs it up for 2-0 and continues to look comfortable at 3-1. Evans has produced some of his best tennis at Flushing Meadows over the years, and had memorable runs to the third round in 2013 and 2016, when he came desperately close to defeating Stan Wawrinka before losing in five sets. The way this is going another third-round appearance beckons. Could he do to Federer what he nearly did to Wawrinka?
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Goffin is ripping through the sets. The steady Belgian, who is Daveeed Ferrrrrrerrrrr like in his ability to get the most out of his talent, now leads 6-2, 6-2.
Kvitova, meanwhile, is in a bit of trouble on Louis Armstrong. The two-times Wimbledon champion, who surprisingly hasn’t been beyond the quarter-finals at the US Open, has lost the first set 6-4 in a competitive, hard-hitting battle against Petkovic. Kvitova has been troubled by an arm injury since withdrawing from the French Open in May, so will have her work cut out to come through this. But she’s showing fight at the start of the second set, and has the break at 2-1.
... Set point number three. And Evans eventually takes the set 6-4 when Pouille’s effort flies well long! Pouille promptly marmalises his racket.
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However just as Evans was broken straight after breaking early in the set, he’s in danger of conceding serve here. 0-30. Pouille gets a glimmer on a second-serve return but spanks it into the net. Then it’s Evans’s turn to throw in the error. 15-40, two break-back points. Pouille tamely nets on the first. This won’t be a game that’ll live long in the memory. But perhaps it will be for Evans, as he recovers to deuce and then nudges ahead for his first set point. Evans produces a one-two punch, then has the chance to settle the point ... but miscues wide! He could come to regret that when Pouille promptly brings up a third break point, but another messy exchange and it’s deuce. Followed by a second set point. And deuce number four ...
Which soon becomes advantage Evans, break point. The Brit is squinting into the sun as he jumps around waiting to receive. Evans chips the backhand return back, and seems to be slightly on the back foot, but the point turns around quickly. Evans sprints towards the net and strikes down the line to settle matters. It’s 5-4 Evans, who will serve for the set.
Evans’s break, meanwhile, didn’t last long, with Pouille following up that serving game of errors with a receiving game of excellence, sealing the break with a lob that Evans can’t get back into play. And from two consecutive breaks to four consecutive holds. It’s 4-4 with Pouille serving at deuce.
De Minaur gets his act together and wraps up the set 6-3. There’s little giving on Louis Armstrong where Kvitova and Germany’s Andrea Petkovic are locked at 4-4, while Kenin has clawed her way back from 3-0 down to trail 3-2 on serve against another German, Laura Siegemund, and the classy Kristina Mladenovic is surprisingly 5-2 down in the all-French face-off with Fiona Ferro.
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De Minaur is the closest to getting a set in the bag, leading 5-3 and 40-30 on serve against the Chilean 31st seed, Cristian Garin. But the 20-year-old can’t capitalise on the set point and is pegged back to deuce. And then falls break point down. Oh, Alex! So instead the honour falls to David Goffin, who wraps up the first set 6-2 against France’s Gregoire Barrere.
Also among the early starters: the two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the ascending American Sofia Kenin, the Aussie whippersnapper and scrapper Alex de Minaur, the conqueror of Angelique Kerber, Kristina Mladenovic, and Qiang Wang, one of the best players you may never have heard of. Plus David Goffin, Denis Kudla and Ana Bogdan, who put out Britain’s Harriet Dart on Monday. And there are even more besides. Phew.
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Evans is closing in on an early break. It’s 15-40 on Pouille’s serve. Evans hasn’t had to work too hard for the break points, it has to be said, with several early errors from his opponent’s racket. Evans rushes forward on the first break point and Pouille pings well long! Evans strikes first to lead 2-1.
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Evans and Pouille are now under way. After a hold apiece it’s 1-1. So what of Pouille? The stylish Frenchman, seeded 25th here but perhaps even more talented than his ranking suggests, reached his first grand slam semi-final this year at the Australian Open, but he has not quite kicked on from that in the way many expected he would. He’s coached by Amelie Mauresmo, the former Wimbledon champion who of course worked with Andy Murray a few years ago.
Meanwhile in other extremely pressing Federer news:
Contrary to many news reports, @rogerfederer didn't get an invitation to the wedding of @RafaelNadal. At least not yet. I asked him about that too. But he emphasized the good relationship with Rafa, which has grown over the years. #USOpen #RogerFederer
— Simon Graf (@SimonGraf1) August 29, 2019
Perhaps we should be calling him “Danny” Evans from now on, because that’s what Federer, who awaits the winner of this match, called him yesterday. And if the GOAT has bestowed that name upon him, us mere mortals should surely follow.
Dan Evans is weaving and winding his way through the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center as he and Lucas Pouille make their way to Court 12. The British No 2 is looking fairly relaxed, it has to be said, far more relaxed than he was when he was snarling and sulking his way past Adrian Mannarino in the first round.
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Thursday’s order of play for your perusal
(All local times, BST +5hrs)
Arthur Ashe Stadium
12pm (6) Alexander Zverev (Ger) v Frances Tiafoe (USA), (4) Simona Halep (Rom) v Taylor Townsend (USA)
7pm (19) Caroline Wozniacki (Den) v Danielle Collins (USA), Thanasi Kokkinakis (Aus) v (2) Rafael Nadal (Spa)
Louis Armstrong Stadium
11am Andrea Petkovic (Ger) v (6) Petra Kvitova (Cze), (1) Naomi Osaka (Jpn) v Magda Linette (Pol), (14) John Isner (USA) v Jan-Lennard Struff (Ger)
7pm Cori Gauff (USA) v Timea Babos (Hun), Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (Ger) v (22) Marin Cilic (Cro)
Grandstand
11am (20) Sofia Kenin (USA) v Laura Siegemund (Ger), Hugo Dellien (Bol) v (5) Daniil Medvedev (Rus), Jelena Ostapenko (Lat) v Alison Riske (USA), Antoine Hoang (Fra) v (28) Nick Kyrgios (Aus)
Court 4
11am Karolina Muchova (Cze) v (29) Su-Wei Hsieh (Tpe), Feliciano Lopez (Spa) v Yoshihito Nishioka (Jpn), (26) Julia Goerges (Ger) v Francesca Di Lorenzo (USA), Ryan Harrison (USA) & Sam Querrey (USA) v (10) Rajeev Ram (USA) & Joe Salisbury (Gbr), (1) Hao-Ching Chan (Tpe) & Michael Venus (Nzl) v Andreja Klepac (Slo) & Kenneth Skupski (Gbr)
Court 5
11am (31) Christian Garin (Chi) v Alex De Minaur (Aus), (16) Johanna Konta (Gbr) v Margarita Gasparyan (Rus), Kirsten Flipkens (Bel) v (15) Bianca Vanessa Andreescu (Can), Henri Laaksonen (Swi) v Denis Shapovalov (Can)
Court 6
11am Gregoire Barrere (Fra) v (15) David Goffin (Bel), Aljaz Bedene (Slo) v (29) Benoit Paire (Fra), Anna Kalinskaya (Rus) v Kristie Ahn (USA), Luke Bambridge (Gbr) & Ben McLachlan (Jpn) v Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (USA) & Noah Rubin (USA)
Court 7
11am Denis Kudla (USA) v (27) Dusan Lajovic (Ser), (25) Elise Mertens (Bel) v Kristyna Pliskova (Cze), (9) Aryna Sabalenka (Blr) v Yulia Putintseva (Kaz), (20) Diego Sebastian Schwartzman (Arg) v Egor Gerasimov (Blr), Raquel Atawo (USA) & Fabrice Martin (Fra) v (7) Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Ger) & Oliver Marach (Aut)
Court 8
11am (22) Petra Martic (Cro) v Ana Bogdan (Rom), Pablo Carreno-Busta (Spa) v Ricardas Berankis (Lit), Alexander Bublik (Kaz) v Thomas Fabbiano (Ita), Lara Arruabarrena (Spa) & Kaitlyn Christian (USA) v (12) Ying-Ying Duan (Chn) & Saisai Zheng (Chn)
Court 9
11am Iga Swiatek (Pol) v (12) Anastasija Sevastova (Lat), (24) Matteo Berrettini (Ita) v Jordan Thompson (Aus), Pablo Andujar (Spa) v Lorenzo Sonego (Ita), Roman Jebavy (Cze) & Matwe Middelkoop (Ned) v (13) Robin Haase (Ned) & Wesley Koolhof (Ned), Abigail Forbes (USA) & Alexa Noel (USA) v Viktorija Golubic (Swi) & Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spa)
Court 10
11am Kristina Mladenovic (Fra) v Fiona Ferro (Fra), Jenson Brooksby (USA) v (17) Nikoloz Basilashvili (Geo), Kaia Kanepi (Est) v (23) Donna Vekic (Cro), (32) Fernando Verdasco (Spa) v Hyeon Chung (Kor)
Court 11
11am Pablo Cuevas (Uru) v Kamil Majchrzak (Pol), Sorana Cirstea (Rom) v Aliona Bolsova (Spa), Andrey Rublev (Rus) v Gilles Simon (Fra), (8) Marcel Granollers (Spa) & Horacio Zeballos (Arg) v Sander Gille (Bel) & Joran Vliegen (Bel)
Court 12
11am Daniel Evans (Gbr) v (25) Lucas Pouille (Fra), Alexei Popyrin (Aus) v Mikhail Kukushkin (Kaz), Robert Galloway (USA) & Nathaniel Lammons (USA) v (15) Jamie Murray (Gbr) & Kenneth Skupski (Gbr), Desirae Krawczyk (USA) & Jessica Pegula (USA) v Caroline Dolehide (USA) & Vania King (USA)
Court 13
11am (30) Maria Sakkari (Gre) v Shuai Peng (Chn), Ekaterina Alexandrova (Rus) v (33) Shuai Zhang (Chn), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Rus) v (7) Kiki Bertens (Ned), Tennys Sandgren (USA) v Vasek Pospisil (Can), (11) Ivan Dodig (Cro) & Filip Polasek (Svk) v Jack Sock (USA) & Jack Withrow (USA)
Court 14
11am Rebecca Peterson (Swe) v (32) Dayana Yastremska (Ukr), Miomir Kecmanovic (Ser) v Paolo Lorenzi (Ita), Eri Hozumi (Jpn) & Makoto Ninomiya (Jpn) v Alexa Guarachi (Chi) & Bernarda Pera (USA), Marcelo Demoliner (Bra) & Dominic Inglot (Gbr) v (12) Kevin Krawietz (Ger) & Andreas Mies (Ger), Usue Maitane Arconada (USA) & Hayley Carter (USA) v Nadiia Kichenok (Ukr) & Abigail Spears (USA)
Court 15
11am Ons Jabeur (Tun) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Blr), (21) Anett Kontaveit (Est) v Ajla Tomljanovic (Aus), Hugo Nys (Mon) & Divij Sharan (Ind) v Roberto Carballes Baena (Spa) & Federico Delbonis (Arg), (14) Henri Kontinen (Fin) & John Peers (Aus) v Santiago Gonzalez (Mex) & Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (Pak), Mitchell Krueger (USA) & Tim Smyczek (USA) v Martin Damm (USA) & Toby Kodat (USA)
Court 16
11am Austin Krajicek (USA) & Edouard Roger-Vasselin (Fra) v Laslo Djere (Ser) & Janko Tipsarevic (Ser), Jozef Kovalik (Svk) & Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Spa) v Robert Lindstedt (Swe) & Philipp Oswald (Aut), Andres Molteni (Arg) & Igor Zelenay (Svk) v Leonardo Mayer (Arg) & Joao Sousa (Por), (9) Nicole Melichar (USA) & Kveta Peschke (Cze) v Nao Hibino (Jpn) & Miyu Kato (Jpn)
Court 17
11am Alison Van Uytvanck (Bel) v (18) Qiang Wang (Chn), (23) Stan Wawrinka (Swi) v Jeremy Chardy (Fra), Alize Cornet (Fra) v (13) Belinda Bencic (Swi), (13) Gael Monfils (Fra) v Marius Copil (Rom)
Come to think of it won’t even be the last we hear of McNally this fortnight, because she’s partnering a certain Coco Gauff in the doubles.
Getting sooo much love and support it’s unbelievable. Playing on Ashe at night against @serenawilliams was a dream come true... you are the 🐐. An experience I will remember for the rest of my life. @usopen
— Caty McNally (@CatyMcNally) August 29, 2019
that being said... more motivated than ever to get back on the court and improving my game every single day. But first, so pumped for some dubs with @CocoGauff #McCoco.
— Caty McNally (@CatyMcNally) August 29, 2019
One of the coolest men in New York right now though is probably Novak Djokovic, who said after his injury-hit, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-1 win over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero last night that he’d like to freeze his left shoulder for the next 48 hours. It was clearly causing him some pain, and it will give Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and the chasing pack behind tennis’s triumvirate (if those young pretenders can get their act together) hope that perhaps the defending champion, who has won four of the past five slams, is beatable.
Djokovic’s was among eight singles matches to be completed on the show courts yesterday, with Federer, Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty also afforded the luxury of a roof. Williams had the toughest time of it, pushed to three sets in an absorbing encounter by an opponent not even half her age, the American grand slam rookie Caty McNally. It certainly won’t be the last we hear of the 17-year-old.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our coverage of day four of the US Open, where the scene looks less like this…
Just to summarise today 😂@usopen @WTA pic.twitter.com/yBDIcppsZ6
— Johanna Konta (@JohannaKonta) August 28, 2019
And more like this …
Which is just as well, given Wednesday’s washout on the roofless courts means there are an extra 23 singles matches to squeeze into today’s second-round schedule. Dan Evans will be among the first of those playing catch-up in just over 20 minutes’ time, as the British No 2 faces the French 25th seed, Lucas Pouille, on Court 12, where the prize (or possible punishment) for victory will be a meeting with Roger Federer. Johanna Konta, Britain’s other singles survivor, having made it on to court for her warm-up yesterday only to be rained on almost immediately, is now second on Court 5 against Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan, so is likely to play at around 1pm local time/6pm BST.
Elsewhere the names will be coming thick and fast. Alex Zverev? Check. Simona Halep? Check. Petra Kvitova? Check. Naomi Osaka? Check. Stan Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios and the on-fire Daniil Medvedev? Check, check and check. And we haven’t even mentioned Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, Marin Cilic and Caroline Wozniacki, who play in the night session, or the shooting stars of Bianca Andreescu, Denis Shapovalov and Andrey Rublev, who accounted for Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round.
Play begins at: 11am in New York/4pm BST. Strap yourself in. It’s going to be fast and frantic. And fairly sweaty too, with temperatures forecast to hit 30 degrees.
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