Righto, that’s us done for today. Join me again tomorrow at 4.30pm BST, for more ridiculous behaviour, but until then, peace out.
Updated
Cameron Norrie beats Francisco Comesana 7-5((5) 6-3 (0)6-7 7-6(4)
Another nails serve and Norrie seals the win, at the end of a pulsating, wild and banging match. Next for him: Djokovic. Will watch!
He spanks a brutal service-winner down the T and at 6-4 and on the cusp of four hours, has two match points…
Comesana sends a slice into the net for 5-2, but ups the pressure with another confident volley for 5-4. Can Norrie hold it down to serve out?
Or not! Norrie shanks a forehand coming in, again with plenty at which to aim, and at 4-2 there’s life in this yet, the match that won’t die.
Another error from Comesana hands over another mini-break and this time Norrie endorses it, wrong-footing him with a backhand that forces a futile dive; 3-1, then a netted forehand for 4-1 and surely, surely this is curtains?
On a buzz, Norrie takes an immediate mini-break when Comesana nets, but the Argetinian has found a groove now, looking to come to net whenever possible; he sticks awat another emphatic volley for 1-1. Meantime, Valentova breaks Rybakina for the second time in the match to lead 4-2 in set two, but can she hold on to it this time?
More forehands from Norrie, then Comesana leathes a backhand, Norrie sets off thinking he’s lost point and game … but it’s wide, just, and from there, he serves out to earn a third breaker of the match having saved three set points. This is such a fun match
…and the second when he nets. Deuce, then a magical backhand and, just as Norrie’s fine recovery looks to have switched momentum in the rally, he sticks away yet another deft volley for advantage!
Comesana is going for it! He makes 0-15 then sticks in the next rally as Norrie unleashes forehands before coming in off a decent approach and forcing the error! At 0-30, though, he overhits … but at 15-30 he curls a lovely pass that catches his man at the net, raising two set points in the process! The first disappears when he drops long…
Norrie forces Comesana to deuce as I go around the courts to see Rybakina leads Valentova 6-3 2-2; Tiafoe leads Damm 2-1 3-3; Mensik leads Blanchet 2-1 3-4 on serve; Townsend leads Ostapenko 7-5; ad Darderi leads Spizziri 6-0 1-2. And as I type, Comesana seals his hold with a net-cord, meaning Norrie will now serve for a breaker at 2-1 5-6.
A third backhand error in a row, this time into the net, and Comesana has levelled the set at 5-5! We said this was an odd match and it is, both players struggling to force home their advantages.
And have a look! Norrie sends a backhand long, Comesana noises up the crowd, and he’s a pint away from retrieving a second break!
More mahoosive forehands from Norrie to win a 25-stroke rally for 15-0., and it’s soon 30-15. Then, when Comesana loops a volley … with half the court at which to aim … he sends a backhand wide! It should be match point, instead it’s 30-all and pressure.
Comesana holds, forcing Norrie to serve for it. The way this match has gone, you can’t be sure he’ll manage it.
The wind’s kicking up now and Norrie outlasts Comesana from the back to make 30-15, then unleashes two big forehands which allow the putaway at the net. Then another, hooked flat, seals the hold, and at 5-3 he’s a game away from round three.
Comesana holds, putting Norrie under a bit of pressure before he serves at 2-1 4-3. This has been a strange match really, neither man quite able to take advantage of their opportunities while it goes as it was always likely to.
Norrie’s not finding it easy to force home his advantage, down 30-40, then Comesana unloads a barrage of backhands to snatch back a break for 2-4 in the fourth; on 17, Rybakina has taken over, winning four games on the spin and serving out a 6-3 first set.
Back on Grandstand, Martin Damm, a 21-year-old American, has taken the third set against Francis Tiafoe 10-8 in a tiebreak while, on 17, Valentova nets to find herself down 5-3 having led 3-2.
Throughout this match, there’s been a sense that Norrie will do whatever ends up being necessary to win, and he breaks a second time in set four to lead 4-1. He’s two games away and, though he’s lost focus when winning, has played pretty well against a tricky opponent.
Rybakina finds herself down 40-15 as Valentova looks to endorse her break, but from there she finds a way a to strike back immediately and it’s now 3-3 in the first. Meantime, Norrie leads Comesana 3-1 in the fourth and is three holds away from round three.
Grimsby Town have beaten Manchester United 12-11 on penalties!
Great work from Valentova, who breaks to 15 for 3-2 in the first; on 5, Norrie whips a forehand cross for 0-40 and yet more break points – he’s had 18 so far. Comesana saves the first but then nets a backhand to trail 1-2 1-2.
On 17, Rybakina and Valentova are level at 2-2. I’ve not seen the latter until today, but I’ve heard she’s got something – she’s 18 and a French Open junior champ in both singles and doubles, as well as a beaten finalist in this competition. One to watch, whatever happens today.
Norrie forces Comesana through deuce for his hold at the start of set four, but he sees it through, and on 10, Davidovich Fokina has broken Rinderknech for 3-1 in the fifth.
At Blundell Park, Grimsby and Man United are taking penalty kicks…
Barbora Krejcikova beats Moyuka Uchijima 6-4 6-2
Next for her Navarro, which should be a lot of fun.
Benjamin Bonzi beats Marcus Giron 2-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4
A terrific comeback earns a match against Rinderknech or Davidovich Fokina.
Brilliant from Comesana! A terrible memory is a brilliant asset for a sportsperson and he manages to forget all that’s gone before to change up his attitude: rather than play safe as he did when seeking to serve out, he attacks, wins the breaker 7-0, and earns him and us a fourth set.
Norrie will also be feeling unpleasant. All that work and he’s down 0-5 in no time … then, as I type, he plays a really good point only to send his volley long.
Again, Norrie raises break point, my SkyGo crashes, and returns to see he converts; Comesana will be feeling very poorly at his inability to close out, but he immediately seizes the mini-break then holds for 3-0. What a business he’s making of this set.
Elsewhere, Rinderknech has just taken set four to force a decider against Davidovich Fokina, while Rybakina and Valentova are nocking up, the winner to face the surging Raducanu.
Going around the courts, Tiafoe now leads Damm 6-4 7-5 2-2; Mensik and Blanchet are level at 1-1 1-1, both sets having gone to tiebreaks; Bonzi is serving for the match having come back from 2-0 down against Giron; and as I type, Comesana breaks Norrie again! He’ll now serve for the third set a second time!
Norrie keeps forcing break-back points and eventually finds what he needs, a terrific backhand doing the trick, and we’re back on serve at 5-5 in set three. He worked really hard for that and it felt, if not inevitable, not unlikely.
Taylor Fritz (4) beats Lloyd Harris 4-6 7-6(3) 6-26-4
It was a struggle and took almost three-and-a-half hours – Harris’ struggles with injuries are partly responsible for that – but Fritz prevails. Next for him: Kym.
Updated
Back with Norrie, he leads 2-0 as we know, but Comesana is serving for the third set; as I type, Norrie burns a break point, hitting long.
When this happens, it’s never clear whether the winning underdog has had the day of their life – consider Peter Doohan beating Becker and Dustin Brown beating Nadal – or a star announcing themselves – consider Roger Federer beating Sampras or Nick Kyrgios beating Nadal. We shall see, but that was, based on what I saw and what’s being said of what I didn’t see, a terrific performance.
Collignon thinks he “played a good match” – I’ll say! He was so nervous at the beginning, playing a great champion, he says in rich baritone, but settled, fought for every ball, and thanks the crowd then everyone in Belgium. Finally, he anoints this the best day of his life, and how proud must he be? How proud must his parents be? This is his main draw debut, and he’s absolutely taken it off the set.
Raphaël Collignon beats Casper Ruud (12)6-4 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-5
Wow! The world no 107 sorts out the no 12 seed, and that was brilliant from Collignon. he might easily have folded when down two sets to one, but he kept attacking and, however tired he was, kept running. Next for him: Lehecka.
Updated
Ruud saves the first, and Collignon serves into the net; how on earth is he feeling as he navigates the biggest moment of his life, every bit of energy expended and fun refused leading up to this? Er, he sends down a double … but quickly makes advantage. We go again, again he serves into the net, and this is so, so tense…
Ruud has to make Collignon play, but two more balls overhit means it’s soon 30-15, then a blocked return falls long! Double match point to the 23-year-old Belgian!
Now then. At 5-5 and -all on the Ruud serve, Collignon lets go a forehand and comes in, daring Ruud to pass him, and he can’t the ball flying long. Pressure! And have a look! Though Ruud makes 30-all, Collignon then nails a backhand winner down the line to raise break point, and when the no 12 seed goes long and wide, the world no 107 will serve for the match! Incredible!
Ruud looks pretty stressed at change of ends; rightly so, he’s in trouble at 5-5. Meantime, back on Armstrong, Fritz, who struggled early on, is serving for the match against Harris at 5-2 in the fourth.
It takes him a while, but Comesana consolidates for 3-1 in the third. It feels like his lead is built on shifting sands – I’d not be surprised if Norrie finds a way back into the set – but for now, he’s doing well, looking to hit more balls to his opponent’s backhand.
Ruud is hitting a better length than Collignon now and also looking the fresher of the two, but Collignon is playing with such heart and he fights through a hold for 4-4 in the fifth. This looks a lot like it’s going to a match tiebreak, to be settled by the odd point.
Collignon holds for 3-3 in the fifth, giving Ruud all he can handle, while Comesana breaks Norrie for 2-1 in the third. It’s a long way back from here, but he’s started the journey.
Mensik has taken the first set amd now leads Blanchet 7-6 2-3l Davidovich Fokina leads Rinderknech 1-1 5-2; and Krejcikova leads Uchijima 3-2 with a break.
Updated
Have a look! Collignon might’ve faded after being broken, but he sticks to his game plan of all-out attack and seizes back what Ruud took from him, now trailing 1-2 in the fifth; we’re back on serve.
Tiafoe does indeed serve out against Damm, leading 6-4, while Ruud breaks immediately to lead Collignon 2-0 in the fifth.
Comesana can’t sustain his threat, broken by Norrie who now leads 7-6 6-3. For a while, this was close, but not anymore – likewise on Armstrong, where Fritz, up 2-1, has broken Harris to lead 1-0 in the fourth.
Jessica Pegula (4) beats Anna Blinkova 6-1 6-3
Next for her: Victoria Azarenka.
Updated
Comesana, cheered on by a lad in a Boca top next to a lad in a River top, does indeed retrieve a break, so will now seek to apply further pressure on Norrie by holding at 6-7 3-5. Meantime, on Grandstand, Tiafoe will soon serve for the set, leading Damm 5-4 in the first.
At 30-all, Norrie nets a backhand, and Comesana has a chance to retrieve one of the two breaks he’s conceded. But a big forehand incites the error and we move to deuce while, on 17, decent hitting from Collignon secures the set again Ruud, the no 12 seed! They’ll now play a decider, which should be a lot of fun (for us). Oh, and on Ashe, Pegula is serving for the match having broken Blinkova again while, on Armstrong, Fritz secures set three 6-2, so leads Harris 2-1.
Updated
I’ve switched off Fritz v Harris, which feels over, to see how Collingnon v Ruud develops…
On 10, Davidovich Fokina has levelled his match with Rinderknech at a set apiece; Blinkova has broken Pegula back to trail 1-6 3-4; Norrie will shortly for a two-set lead against Comesana; and Collignon is serving to force a decider against Ruud.
Jérôme Kim beats Brandon Nakashima (30) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-5 3-6 7-6(8)
Next for him: Harris or Fritz.
Harris calls out the trainer, who works his knee and hamstring. But elsewhere, it’s all going on – Grimsby lead Manchester United 2-0! Scott Murray has the latest:
Norrie is all over Comesana now, breaking to win his fourth game in a row. He leads 7-6 4-1, while Fritz breaks Harris a second time in set three to lead 4-6 7-6 4-1.
Oh, and on Ashe, Pegula leads Blinkova 6-1 3-1. She looked really good in the mixed doubles last week, but looking ahead, can she beat a player ranked above her in a major? My sense is not.
It’s getting interesting on Stadium 17 too, Collignon trailing Ruud 2-1 but up 3-2 with a break in the fourth. Otherwise, Blanchet leads Mensik 5-4, Fritz is up a break on the ailing Harris at 1-1 2-1, and Tiafoe and Damm have just got going on Grandstand.
On 12, Nakashima and Kym are playing a match breaker, four hours and 14 minutes in. Kym leads 7-5 in a race to 10…
Now Norrie makes 0-40 on the Comesana serve, the first break point frittered via poor return. He then overhits a forehand and we wind up at deuce, but a miraculous forehand down the line earns advantage, and another barrage elicits the error. This is excellent stuff, Norrie now up 7-6 2-1 with a break.
Up 7-6 0-1 40-0, Norrie doubles, and from there, Comesana makes deuce. A fine backhand then secures advantage, the crowd getting behind him, but a wild return sees the opportunity evaporate. From there, Norrie closes out the hold.
Updated
Again, Fritz makes 0-30 on the Harris serve; again, Harris fights back well, making deuce and burning advantage ... before conceding the break. Fritz leads 1-0 1-0 and might just be asserting himself. Meantime, Pegula closes out a 6-1 set against Blinkova/
However, Comesana then errs and, at 6-5, Norrie now has a service-point to win the set … unleashing a trademark, mahoosive top-spinning forehand on to the baseline for a 7-6(5) set.
Elsewhere, Fritz plays a decent breaker to level his match with Harris 4-6 7-6(3); Pegula leads Blinkova 5-1; ruud now leads Collignon 4- 6-3 6-3; Rinderknech leads Davidovich Faokina 6-4 1-1; and GHiron leads Bonzi 6-2 6-4 3-3.
I’m afraid to tell you I cannot accept Norrie’s white and white, sock-and-trainer combo. He leads 5-4 in the breaker, on serve; Fritz leads Harris 4-2.
Down 5-6 and on deuce, Harris overhits to end a long rally, handing over set point; it disappears with a big serve, then a fine volley makes advantage, Fritz extremely unhappy with the situation. From there, we move to a breaker – as we do on 5, where Comesana holds emphatically against Norrie.
It’s a while since we reported from Court 12, where Nakashima has just been broken back by Kym for 3-3 in the fifth. On 5, a powerful hold for 6-5 guarantees Norrie a first-set beaker, but Comesana has some decent support from a few young Argentinians in the crowd.
Back on Court 5, Comesana holds for 5-5; his match with Norrie has the feel of an epic and, on Ashe, Pegula and Blinkoca are away, level at 1-1 in set one.
Tomas Machac (21) beats João Fonseca 7-(4) 6-2 6-3
That’s a fantastic win and earns Machac a meeting with Mensik or Blanchet next.
Updated
Ruud has taken over on the party court – I don’t imagine he’s happy to be there – up 1-1 3-1.
“Every corner of every street you smell it…Worst part about New York”
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 25, 2025
— Casper Ruud on weed 🌿 🎾 pic.twitter.com/Cpbc3mkWyk
Otherwise, Fritz again makes 0-30 on the Harris serve, and Harris again holds; he leads 6-4 5-5 and is showing proper grit and skill.
Davidovich Fokina, of course, couldn’t quite close out his first tournament win in DC, losing to De Minaur after burning three match points. He found it hard to take, as you might.
While that was going on, Norrie saved break point before holding for 4-3; Machac has broken Fonseca for 2-0 4-2, administering a good, honest, old fashioned sonning-off; and Rinderknech leads Davidovch Fokina 4-3.
Back on Armstrong. Harris is struggling, down 0-40 on serve though leading 6-3 3-4. He does really well, though, to save all three break points, making a total of six for the match so far, then an inside-out forehand winner catches the outermost splash of paint. He can’t secure the hold at the first attempt but he sorts it thereafter, levelling set two at 4-4. Fritz, the no 4 seed, just can’t get on top of him.
Norrie earns three break-back points, then shanks a forehand into the net and overhits another, before Comesana steps in to pound out for deuce. No matter: two terrific points, dominated by that swinging lefty forehand, ease Norrie through deuce, and he levels the first set at 3-3.
Ruud has been serving for the second set against Collignon for about four hours now. But as I type, he finally sees it out, having gone from 5-0 to 5-3.
While we’re being shown the end of Djokovic, Comesana breaks Norrie for 3-3, then Harris returns; let’s hope he’s in good shape to compete.
Next on Ashe: Jessica Pegula (4) v Anna Blinkova.
Novak Djokovic (7) beats Zachary Svajda (5)67 6-3 6-3 6-1
Next for him: Norrie or Comesana, and either match will give us a better steer on where he’s at.
Updated
Ach, Harris seems to have a back issue that somehow penetrates into the back of his head and also his arm. I don’t remember this, but last year a back problem bothered him in the foot, and he calls the trainer then disappears for treatment. Let’s hope he’s OK; he leads Fritz 6-4 2-3.
Djokovic has broken again and now leads Svajda 6-7 6-3 6-3 5-1; he’s almost there. Likewise Machac, who leads Fonseca 7-6 6-2, while Ruud, down a set to Collignon, leads 5-2 in the second, and on Armstrong we’re still on serve in set two, Harris up 6-4 2-3 on Fritz.
Comesana, we’re reminded, only won four matches at the top level last season: two at Wimbledon and two at Flushing Meadow. The look of him suggests he fancies himself.
Aha, Sky indeed move from Djokovic, now up 2-1 4-1, to Nozza. I always enjoy watching him because there’s no one like him: lefty, huge, loopy top-spin, but also plenty of power. If he plays well, he should account for Comesana.
Norrie and Comesana will soon be under way; I’ll switch to them from Harris v Fritz if sky don’t stick them on the main channel instead of Djokovic. Either way, though, that match’ll soon be off our screens because the Goat now leads 2-1 3-0. Svajda has given a good account of himself, but he’s run out of fitness and form.
It takes a strong mind to withdraw from the final major of the year. At 23, though, Drapoer has many left, and everything I know about him tells me he’s nurtured a strong sense of perspective.
Back to Draper, his statement puts me in mind of this, from Roy Keane’s second book:
Ruud had his own traits; he could be moody at times – unlike me. But he was a good guy. He missed a Cup semi-final because of an injury – I think it was the one against Arsenal, at Villa Park, in 2004. He came down the morning of the game and said, ‘I can’t play, my knee’s sore.’And I went, ‘What’s up with you?’
I had a sore hamstring myself.
He said, ‘Oh, I’ve been feeling my knee during the night.’
And I was, like, ‘It’s the Cup semi-final, for fuck’s sake.’
He said, ‘Well, I’ve only got one body, I need to look after it.’
I was thinking he was the fool, but I think now that I probably was. I played, and my hamstring was fuckin’ killing me. I think I actually had a torn hamstring. Ruud ended up playing in Spain till he was thirty-nine, and he still looks twenty-one. And I thought he was the idiot.
Updated
On Sky, they’re mourning Draper, so we don’t see Djokovic serving out to clinch a 6-3 set; he now leads Svajda 2-1 and it’s a long way back from here. And on Armstrong, Harris does the same holding to lead Fritz 6-4.
Updated
Next on Court 5: Cameron Norrie v Francisco Comesana.
Jiri Lehecka (20) beats Tomás Martín Etcheverry 3-6 6-0 6-2 6-4
Next for him: Collignon or Ruud.
Fritz holds for 5-4, so Harris will now serve for set one. Go on Cuz! Meantime, Machac is pressing on, breaking Fonseca immediately in set two to lead 7-6 2-0, and Collignon holds to lead Ruud 6-4.
Jack Draper withdraws from the tournament
Hi guys, I’m sorry to say I’ll be withdrawing from the US open. I tried my very best to be here and give myself the every chance to play but the discomfort in my arm has become to much and I have to do what is right and look after myself. Thank you for all the support.
— jack draper (@jackdraper0) August 27, 2025
Ah man, sport is brutal. Draper got to the last four last year and will have fancied himself here. He’ll be back.
Righto, I’ve moved from Machac v Fonseca to Harris v Fritz because the underdog has broken for 4-3 in the first; as we said, the Saffer can play. Meantime, Collignon is serving for the first set against Ruud at 6-4, so that’s also one that we need to pay attention to while, on Ashe, it’s back to fearing Svajda has gone. The pace might be telling, and Djokovic breaks again for 4-3 in the third.
Now then! Just as it looks like Djokovic is assuming control, he hands over a break with a double and now Svajda leads 1-1 3-1. Of course, it may well be that he turns it around but, as he noted pre-match, continuing to play deprives him of family time and, though he’s keen to see how long he can go on at the top level, surely he’ll call it at some point soon. He’s used to winning pots, he no longer can, and however much he loves tennis, which is more than any of us love anything, it’s fair to posit he loves his wife and kids more. Anyroad, while I’m writing his professional resignation speech, he breaks back immediately, and at the same time, Machac outlasts Fonseca to take their first set 7-6(4). So far, he’s doing a decent job of attacking the backhand to take the forehand out of the equation.
Updated
I nip for a post-set comfort break and return to hear discussion about a potential injury for Svajda, who isn’t moving well anymore. There’s discussion about whether he’s hurt or just struggling with the magnitude of the moment, but after holding for 1-1 1-1, eh calls for the trainer. Meantime, Fonseca and Machac begin a first-set tiebreak, the Brazilian unleashing the forehands his opponent is trying to deny him to take a 1-0 lead that quickly becomes a 1-2 deficit.
Djokovic serves out to love, levelling his match with Svajda at one set all. For a while, he looked in jeopardy, but he stopped making unforced errors and it’d now be a surprise if he found a way to lose.
Svajda fights hard to hold for 7-6 3-5, forcing Djokovic to serve for set two. Meantime, on Armstrong, Fritz and Harris are under way and 1-1 in the first, but I’m going to stick with Fonseca 5-4 Machac, at least for a bit, and not just because the Brazilian fans are warming up. Otherwise, Lehecka now leads Etcheverry 2-1 2-0 and Collingnon is up 3-1 on Ruud, so that’s another match to keep an eye on on which to keep an eye.
At 15-all, Svajda hits a fine forehand winner with top, but from there, Djokovic, beginning to enjoy himself, serves out his consolidation. He leads 5-2 in the second, a game away from levelling the match.
However when Djokovic turns it up, Svajda can’t go with him, ceding a break for 7-6 2-4. Is that a turning point?
Elsewhere, Fonseca leads Machac 4-3l Ruud leads Collignon 1-0; and Lehecka has just taken the third set 6-2 to lead Etcheverry 2-1.
Djokovic makes 0-15 with a lob, but again, Svajda handles the pressure, holding from there to lead 7-6 2-2.
After losing the first set, Lehecka has taken over against Etcheverry, leading 3-6 6-0 4-2; Fonseca and Machac are level at 2-2 in the first; and Kym has taken the second set off Makashima 7-2 in the breaker, so they’re now a set apiece.
I was really impressed with how composed Svajda was in the breaker, even when serving out. Things might change if it looks on the cards, but he’s playing like someone who believes he can win. Djokovic leads 2-1 in the second, on serve.
Updated
I can accept the top. The hat and short shorts, less so.
On Grandstand, Fonseca has held for 1-0 against Machac, the no 21 seed. I’m going to watch this one on my second screen, at least until Fritz v Harris but maybe even thereafter because the 19-year-old Brazilian is a superstar in the making.
And there it is! Svajda ups the pace on the backhand, nailing one down the line; it’s not in the corner or even close, but he hits it so hard and flat that it doesn’t matter! He takes the first set 7-6(5) and once upon a time we’d have know how the match would end; now, though, you sense that the youngster has a chance.
Updated
Now then! At 5-4, Svajda finds a booming forehand winner that gives him two set points. Djokovic saves the first, but here comes a second, on serve…
Victoria Azarenka beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-3
Next up for her: Pegula or Blinkova.
Djokovic goes long on the backhand, his 13th unforced error – versus seven for his opponent – ceding the mini-break. Djokovic, though, seizes it right back and we wind up at 3-3.
Elsewhere, Fritz and Harris won’t be out for another 23 minutes; Azarenka is serving for the match against Pavlyuchenkova at 6-3 5-3; Etcheverry leads lehecka 6-3 0-6 1-0l and Nakashima leads Kym 6-5 4-5.
Svajda lacks a bit of power but he’s seriously quick about the court – not unlike Learner Tien, I guess – and at 0-15, he’s not far away with a forehand down the line that would’ve upped the ante. In the event, though, Djokovic holds to 15, so here comes the breaker.
He might be old and contemplating the end, but Djokovic finds first serves when he needs them, holding for 5-5. I think, for perhaps the first time, he doesn’t believe he can win this trophy – with good reason. If Sinner can whack him on grass, it seems inconceivable he can reverse the result on hard, and to take the title that’s almost definitely something he’ll have to do. Svajda holds, so at 5-6, has guaranteed himself a first-set breaker – at least.
Emma Navarro (10) beats Caty McNally 6-2 6-1
Next for her: Uchijima or Krejcikova.
Updated
Aha, the main Sky channel has now joined Djokovic 4-5 0-30, so I’ll stick with that and move to Harris v Fritz on my phone. Can Svajda find the two points he needs for a set advantage?
Looking around the courts, Navarro is nearly there, leading McNally 6-2 5-1. As per the below, I’m not able to watch it, but I expected a little better from the latter – though if Navarro is playing close to her best, there won’t be loads she can do about it Otherwise, Azarenka leads Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 4-1; Lehecka, trailing Etcheverry 3-6, leads 5-0 in the second; and Nakashima is up -4 3-3 on Kym.
Harris had to qualify, but he can play – he reached the last eight of this competition in 2021. I expect Fritz to win, but it might not be as simple a victory as some are expecting.
Next on Armstrong: Lloyd Harris v Taylor Fritz (4)
“Emma, you are one of the kindest souls on the planet but that was merciless,” begins the interview. You’d take it!
Raducanu is delighted with her performance and explains that putting in good practice-days every day is helping her build. She’s putting faith in her process so hasn’t had time to pursue her interest in art – she’s walking around Central Park, but otherwise is focused on tennis.
Emma Raducanu beats Janice Tjen 6-2 6-1
A fantastic performance from Raducanu, who meets Rybakina or Valentova next.
Updated
Djokovic is near the end, but break point down at 2-3 he still delivers a service winner. Meantime…
Well in Janie Tjen. She holds to avoid the bagel so, at 6-2 5-1,Raducanu will now serve for round three.
Raducanu is serving like an absolute demon, another quick hold giving her 6-2 5-0. She’s nearly there.
Goodness me, look how good this is! My kippa is off in admiration.
So farm Svajda is doing nicely, 2-2 against Djokovic, and with Raducanu blazing a return past Tjen for 4-0, I’m going to pay that match more attention – though first i’m checking the draw, so well is she playing. And next up, it’s Rybakina or Valentova – tasty.
Navarro did indeed take the first set off McNally 6-2; Azarenka has broken Pavlyuchenkova back for 3-3; Etcheverry took the first set against Lehecka 6-3 but trails by a break at 1-0 in the second; and Nakashima is trying to serve out the first set at 5-4 against Kym.
I’ve never seen Svajda play before, so I’m interested to see what be brings. To get to this stage he won four quallies then his first-round match, which tells us he’s in form. He holds for 1-0 while, on Armstrong, Raducanua leads 6-2 1-0 and is on her third break point of Tjen’s first service-game. Whether she takes it or not, this contest is only going one way, and a double hands over the break. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Raducanu as dominant, even when winning the tournament.
We’re away on Ashe and that’s the other match I’m watching. I’ve no idea why, but you can only access the choice of matches via the app on your phone, which is a right state of affairs: a beauty of this stage of proceedings is having more screens than eyes, discovering surprise belters and generally being absorbed by the sheer scale of it all.
Anyroad up, Navarro is serving for set one at 5-2 against dubs specialist McNally; Pavlyuchenkova leads Azarenka 3-1; Etcheverry leads Lehecka 5-3 and has three set points at 0-40; and Nakashima leads Kym 4-3 with a break.
On Ashe, Djokovic and Svajda are knocking up. Back on Armstrong, Raducan has two set points at 5-2 15-40, and she’s feeling herself, a hooked forehand winner sealing what we’re told is a seriously impressive set. There’s been a sense these last few months that she’s returning to her best form, and by the looks of things she’s almost there.
Word to the wise: if ever you’ve a blocked sink or bath, do not buss bare coin calling out a plumber. Instead, head to your local plumbing supplies store, and buy some One Shot for £12. Or, in other words, though I wasn’t due on till 4.30pm BST, I had planned to watch the start of play, but instead was sent out to purchase the abovementioned, so I can advise you that Raducanu leads 4-2, but no more.
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Preamble
Yes yes y’all and welcome to the US Open 2025 – day four!
And, as you might expect, there’s an absolutely indecent quantity of lovely tennis just waiting to envelop us in its loving arms.
On Armstrong, we begin with Emma Raducanu, the 2021 champion – words almost as befuddling to type now as then – who meets Janice Tjen. Meantime, Emma Navarro meets Caty McNally – I’m looking forward to that one – as I am Arthur Rinderknech v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Half an hour later, we’re away on Ashe, where Novak Djokovic faces Zachary Svajda, the young American before, over the course of the day, we’ll enjoy my match of the day, João Fonseca v Tomas Machac, plus my reserve match of the day, Lloyd Harris v Taylor Fritz.
Nor is that all; indeed, all that is far from all. We’ve got Jessica Pegula v Anna Blinkova, Jan-Leonard Struff v Holger Rune, Cameron Norrie v Francisco Comesana, Jelena Ostapenko v Taylor Townsend, Elise Mertens v Lulu Sun and Victoria Azarenka v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, with Francis Tiafoe, Mirra Andreeva, Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina, Barbora Krejcikova and Belinda Bencic also featuring. Phew!
In the inimitable words of the worst sporting chant of all time, let’s go!
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