US Open 2024 day three: Dart v Kostyuk, Rublev v Rinderknech, and more – as it happened

That, then, is us done for here and now. Shelton leads Bautista Agut 6-3 6-4 2-2 and Kecmanovic leads Musetti 6-3 1-1, otherwise, peace out.

Andrey Rublev (6) beats Arthur Rinderknech 4-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 6-2

It’s never straightforward with Rublev and we’re at 30-all … so he luzzes an ace down the T.

A seventh backhand winner of the match raises two points for a double break, Rinderknech swipes long, and another fantastic match looks almost over. Rublev gets down on himself but has so much moxie, and after four hours and two minutes, he’ll shortly serve for the match at 5-2 in the fifth. First, though, he’s getting a spot of treatment.

At 15-all, Rublev hammers down a service-winner. He’s been strong when he’s needed to be – though Rinderknech played over four hours beating Christopher Eubanks in round one – and secures his consolidation with a colossal forehand that opens the court for a winner. He leads 4-2 in the fifth.

Shelton conjures a gorgeous forehand pass cross-court, gestures a claw to the crowd, and leads Bautista Agut 6-3 6-4. He absolutely loves it. Meantime, on Stadium 17, Rublev raises three break points at 2-2 in the fifth… and takes the second. He’s three games away from completing a tremendous comeback, leading for the first time in the match.

“Emma Raducanu is a fine young player,” says Mary Waltz. “But she seems, and this is definitely rank speculation, to think that her glorious US Open triumph sets her apart from the others. It is one thing for multiple grand slam winners to skip tourneys and focus on the slams. She needs to work the circuit and accept that she will lose more than she wins. For now. I think the pressure of being the great UK hope has kept her from getting better.”

I’m not sure. You never know what’s going on in someone’s life, but it’s also worth noting she won her major when they were going to all sorts and with Swiatek, Gauff and Sabalenka about, that’s happening a lot less often; I know Krejcikova won Wimbledon, but I’m not sure that happens without Saba’s injury. Or, in other words, my guess is that it won’t get that good for her again, whatever she does.

Jerry Shang beats Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-3 7-6(2)

Ben Shelton, sponsored by Global Hypercolor.

Hold tight Arthur Rinderknech. He hangs on to lead Rublev 1-0 in the fifth while, on Grandstand, Shelton has broken in set two to lead Bautista Agut 6-3 5-3; Alexandrova and Jovic are playing a decider; while Comesana leads Humbert 2-1 4-2.

Down 0-30, Rinderknech takes a time violation then slams down an ace followed by a service-winner. We wind up at deuce going backwards and forwards,, the Frenchman doing all he can to keep in it, while Rublev looks the better and fresher player.

Serving for the fourth set at 5-2, Rublev saves two break points then nets a backhand when up advantage … before getting it done. Eyes down for a fifth set, after three hours 31 minutes of tennis.

Alexei Popyrin (28) beats Pedro Martínez 6-2 6-4 6-0

Rublev looks good for a decider against Rinderknech, breaking again and he now leads 4-1. It feels like he’s in control now. Likewise Alexei Popyrin, continuing his good form – he made finals in Cinci and Canada – against Martinez, who he leads 6-2 6-4 4-0.

Sabalenka says seeing the young generation inspired by her keeps her going and is what it’s all about; she hopes the girls gets to her level. She also thanks the crowd, saying they’re safe from “this crazy weather”, but the roof is partially closed and she’s grateful to whoever decided to do that, though glad to get it done in two. Otherwise, she loves New York and walking about a beautiful city; it’s important to have joy in your life and she’s glad she and her team are able to put aside the pressure to have fun.

Aryna Sabalenka (2) beats Lucia Bronzetti 6-3 6-1

Marta Kostyuk (19) beats Harriet Dart 7-6(10) 6-1

Kostyuk holds and races to 7-6 5-1 0-40; she has three match points but Dart does well to save them. Elsewhere, Shelton leads Bautista Agut 6-3, Popyrin leads Martinez 6-2 6-4 1-0, and Humbert trails Comesana 7-5 4-6 3-5.

Rublev breaks Rinderknech immediately in set four, and class might be telling here too. Rinderknech is decent, but he’s not so decent he can play brilliantly for five sets, so if Rublev keeps his head and does what he usually does, he’s a good chance of winning from here.

Kostyuk is now a double-break up on Dart, leading 7-6 4-1, and playing much better than in the first srt.

Rinderknech and Rublev are back and ready to go again, the score 2-1 to the Frenchman.

Sabalenka breaks Bronzetti to lead 6-3 2-0 and this match looks almost over. She’s seeded to face Coco Gauff in the last four, and that’s pretty much the only potential match you can see her losing – though I guess there’s a possibility of Our Maddy in round four, which could be interesting.

Rinderknech allows a love game knowing he’s at least one more set to play in filthy heat, Rublev serving out for a 6-1 third set to trail 2-1, and the players disappear for a 1-minute break.

Dart nets a forehand, Kostyuk breaks for 7-6 2-1, and this match is disappearing quickly, class starting to tell.

Sabalenka serves out the first set against Bronzetti and looks ominous; I can’t see Swiatek beating her on this surface, but enough hypothesising because Rublev has broken Rinderknech and will shortly serve for the third set at 4-6 5-7 5-1.

Dart might’ve lost an earring while Kostyuk might be crying – not because she’s worried about the jewellery, it’s just trying out there in the heat. She holds, though, to lead 7-6 1-1.

If Shelton beats Bautista Agut he meets Tiafoe next; that’d be a terrific match, no offence Roberto. Rublev holds for a 4-1 third-set lead and so far, is doing well to maintain his temper – at least as far as I’ve seen.

Righto, let’s go around the courts: Rublev leads Rinderknech 3-0 in the third but trails 2-0; Sabalenka leads Bronzetti 5-2; Shelton and Bautista Agut are 2-2; Popyrin leads Martinez 6-2 2-3 with a break; Jovic leads Alexandrvoa 6-4 1-1; Shang leads Carballes Baena 6-2 6-3 2-2; and Humbert leads Comesana 7-5 4-6 1-0.

Kostyuk does the decent thing, earning set point before unloading a monstrous forehand winner inside-out from the corner. She leads 7-6 and surely can’t play any worse in the second; Dart needs to forget that breaker quickly because in it, her first serve deserted her, and she wound up wasting five set points.

Dart earns set point with some decent forehand thrashing, then cedes it going long after again failing to land a first serve. Someone, please: put this set out of its misery.

Dart does well to reach for a return, Kostyuk overhits the swing volley … then Dart sends down a double to burn yet another set point. “It’s very stressful out there,” says our co-commentator – I’m not certain who it is but she’s right because when a Dart error hands Kostyuk a chance to seal the breaker, she too disburses a double.

Back on Court 6, Dart leads Kostyuk 5-3 in their first-set breaker and conjures a glorious backhand pass cross-court to raise three set points. And she gets close to taking the first, stepping in to whack a forehand only to wipe another wide when up in the rally. Gosh, then Kostyuk saves the second, pasting an inside-out backhand return past Dart for a clean winner … and a third when Dart nets at the end of a long exchange. We’re level at 6-6 6-6.

On Armstrong, Sabalenka and Bronzetti have just started, the number two seed up 2-1 on serve, while on Grandstand, so too have Shelton and Bautista Agut, the American leading 1-0. Elsewhere, Popyrin leads Martinez 6-2 0-1 with a break, Jovic is up 6-4 on Alexandrova, and Shang is dominating Carballes Baena, 6-2 6-3 in front.

Given the heat, the umpire allows the players to go and change for a second time.

Rinderknech, who’s never beaten a top-10 player, makes 30-0, Rublev hitting the backcloth in remonstration; a mahoosive forehand down the line raises three break points … AND rinderknech only needs one! He claims an 83-minute set to lead 6-4 7-5!

The problem Dart has is that she lacks major weapons, so has nothing to rely when under pressure. And after Kostyuk makes advantage, she hooks a forehand wide, and we’ll now enjoy a first-set breaker.

Meantime Dart is serving for the set leading Kostyuk 6-5, but she’s down 0-30….

Thanks Will and hi again. Rinderknech has break point on the Rublev serve, leading 6-4 5-5 … and he takes it! Rublev, who’s only winning a third of points on second serve, sends down another nondescript delivery, the Frenchman climbs into it, and after only recently serving to stay in the set, he’ll now serve for it!