Key events
In the other Italy v Australia match, Cobolli has levelled against Schoolkate, winning the second set 6-3, while a third Australian, Alexei Popyrin, the conqueror of Grigor Dimitrov in the first round, is tied at one set all, 6-2, 6-7, against Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
Ach. Musetti has had so many problems with injuries this year, and he’s ailing against Sweeny, trailing 3-1 in the third set, having lost the second 6-1 and winning the first 6-3. He can’t catch a break. It’s not clear if it’s another injury, or illness, but he’s in danger of going a double break down at 30-40 on his serve. He coughs up a double fault and Sweeny leads 3-6, 6-1, 4-1.
So what is Eala most happy with about the win? “I think my patience and consistency of my focus. I think that was the key to winning the match,” the 2022 US Open junior champion says, before telling the crowd how proud she is to represent the Philippines and how she tries “to live life with positivity and happiness”. She really does speak with maturity beyond her years. When asked about her next opponent, she replies: “Who I play in the next round is out of my control but both are great friends of mine. All I can do is wish them a great match.”
Eala beats Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4
Eala has two match points at 6-1, 5-4, 40-15 … but she gets a little over-excited and hits beyond the baseline. She readies herself for the second match point with a few practice swings, and it works, because she gets the job done, gaining revenge for her defeat by Oliynykova in Strasbourg this year. Next up the Filipino trailblazer could have an absolute cracker against another player tipped for the top, Iva Jovic. Though Britain’s Fran Jones will hope to stop that from happening. Jovic v Jones play later.
Fritz defeats Bellucci 6-0, 6-1, 6-1
Fritz soon has match point at 15-40, and the American finishes the most one-sided victory of his grand slam career with, somewhat appropriately, another huge forehand winner. The 2024 finalist’s problem this season has been staying fit, but he’s reminded us how dangerous he is when he’s close to full health. With questions over Carlos Alcaraz’s fitness, Jannik Sinner’s absence and Novak Djokovic’s exit, could he go all the way and become the first American man to win this title since 2003?
Eala is edging closer to the finish line, at 6-1, 4-3 and 40-0 on serve, but she may not get there before Fritz, who’s close to putting Bellucci out of his misery at 6-0, 6-1, 5-1, with Bellucci serving at 15-30.
Some more highlights for you:
There’s been some turnaround between Musetti and Sweeny, with Sweeny, the Australian wildcard, quite literally flying through the second set, taking it 6-1 and pulling off his best impression of Boris Becker along the way:
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So it’s Musetti 6-3, 1-6 Sweeny.
We’re hearing that Venus and Serena Williams’s first-round doubles match will take place, as expected, in the night session on Arthur Ashe tomorrow, with Ben Shelton v Denis Shapovalov to follow. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka play in the day session, as do Jessica Pegula, Daniil Medvedev, Karolina Muchova, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Bublik, Jasmine Paolini, Marta Kostyuk and the Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova – with Frances Tiafoe and Elina Svitolina in the night session on Louis Armstrong.
It’s Italy v Australia on Stadium 17 and Grandstand: Musetti has taken the first set against Sweeny, 6-3, but Musetti’s good friend Flavio Cobolli has started slowly and trails Tristan Schoolkate 4-2 in the opener. That will feel like nothing to Cobolli, though, given he did something he’d never done before in his career to reach this second round, coming from two sets to love down to win on Tuesday.
Fritz, meanwhile, is absolutely flying, now 6-0, 6-1 ahead against Bellucci, with Argentina’s 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo waiting in round three. This summer’s Queen’s champion has just survived a near four-hour, five-set encounter against the German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff, winning 5-7, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game and first set Eala 6-1. She’s locked in and looking in exceptionally good form. Having won the Washington DC title in the build-up to the US Open, could she mount a serious challenge this fortnight, having never previously been beyond the last 16 of a slam? It’s possible – though I’d argue that it’s probably too soon for the 21-year-old to put seven wins together. Imagine if/when that day comes though, she’ll be rivalling Manny Pacquiao’s rarefied status in the Philippines …
Thanks Daniel. Right, having fuelled up on a $40 lobster roll and some $100 caviar-flecked chicken nuggets some slightly bland chicken and salad, I’m ready for the rest of the day session. Eala concedes her first break but still leads 4-1, and is pushing to restore her double break at 15-40 on Oliynykova’s serve. A backhand return – which is nearly as big as all the talk about the Filipino’s fame and fans – secures it. Eala’s cruising at 5-1.
Eala is hitting it beautifully with power and slice, breaking Oliynykova a second time to lead 4-0, and already it’s hard not to look forward to her potential third-round match with Iva Jovic as a potential banger. Anyhow, that’s for the future; for the now, I’m off as Katy is here to hang for the next bit. Ta-ra.
Our men’s seeds are moving, Mensik up 5-2 on Rodionov, Musetti up 5-3 on Sweeny, and Ceriundolo leading Struff 5-3 in the fifth.
Eala, though, has started well, holding then breaking for 2-0. I’ve really enjoyed her arrival on to the scene, and I think she has the ability to beat good players, but if she can’t put some meat on to her serve, she’s already quite close to her ceiling. Oh, and Bellucci holds to win his first game; he trails Fritz 0-6 1-1.
Wikipedia on Oliynykova:
Oliynykova was born and raised in Kyiv. At the age of eight, she and her family moved to Odesa. In 2011, when Oliynykova was 10 years old, she and her family fled to Croatia after her father publicly criticized the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych. Her family would have been able to return to Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, which saw the removal of Yanukovych from office; they stayed in Croatia, however, where she obtained Croatian citizenship
Fritz secures a bagel to lead Bellucci 6-0; Mensik leads Rodionov 3-2 on serve; Musetti and Sweeny are level at 3-32 in the first; and Eala has just started against Oliynykova on Armstrong.
Anismiova is generous to Tagger, saying she expected a tough challenge from someone who played well and became “a crazy woman” in the second set. But she stayed composed, played some of her best tennis, and had fun. She loves playing in New York and has great memories, having won the juniors at 16; she’s delighted to be playing in another match.
Amanda Anisimova beats Lilli Tagger 6-3 3-6 6-1
Last year’s beaten finalist is into round three, where she’ll face Potapova or Jeanjean; keep your eyes peeled for Tagger, because she’s going naewhere.
On Ashe, Fritz is all over Bellucci, up 5-0 in the first; Tagger holds for 1-5, but Anisimova is now serving for an excellent match.
Now Anisimova holds for 5-0 and, like Osaka and Keys, has grown as the match has intensified. She’s seeded to meet Adreeva in round four, a match that, if it happens, should be an absolute jazzer.
Anisimova finally breaks Tagger, breaking the back of the match in the process to lead 4-0 in the third. She’s been stretched today and will be the stronger for it, while this isn’t the last we’ll see of the young Austrian.
Karen Khachanov beats Felix Auger-Aliassime (3) (5)6-7 6-3 6-2 6-2
I don’t know what it is with Felix, injury or fatigue, but he wasn’t there today; Khachanov did well to stay focused and meets Bonzi or Buse next.
Back with Anisimova, at 3-0 in the third she has a sixth break point, the game having gone on for over nine minutes, the standard excellent. And again, Tagger saves it, but when she raises an advantage of her own, a brutal forehand return confiscates it.
Auger-Alissime isn’t able to compete properly; I think he’s got a foot injury but it’s not obvious. He manages to hold for 2-5 in the third, but Khachanov will surely put him out of his misery after change of ends.
Felix gets on the board in set four, but Khachanov holds comfortably for 5-1 to go a game away; Anisimova leads Tagger, just 18 and considered a proper talent, 3-0 in the third.
On Ashe, Fritz and Belluci are away; on Armstrong, Khachanov leads Auger-Aliassime 2-1 4-0, so I guess we’ll check out the end of that, and it’s coming quickly, before moving from latter to former.
Phew! Back with Anisimova, she’s righted herself to break Taagger for as 2-0 lead in the third.
Marie Bouzkova (25) beats Harriet Dart 6-2 6-2
Next for her: Iga Swiatek.
Sky are seriously determined, replacing that banger with Dart down match point to Bouzkova…
Madison Keys (22) beats Anna Bondar 5-7 6-4 7-6(5)
Unbelievable behaviour from Keys, who goes a set down, saves five match points, and somehow moves on thanks to a forehand from the gods. Next for her: Zheng or Putintseva.
Oooh yeah, a mahoosive forehand, clobbered down the backhand line, makes 6-5 and a mini-break, then another, this time on serve, gives 7-5; Oor Maddy’s power is an absolute delight, igniting when she needs it most. And, very quickly, she makes 9-5 and four match points, having saved five; Bondar will, I’m afraid to say, take this one to the grave.
“Let’s go Keys, let’s go Keys,” chant people who may never have been to live sport before, the woman herself crunching a forehand return for a clean winner that retrieves a mini-break for 3-4 … before sending down a double. It is, though, the first to 10, so there’s time, and a pair of forehand winners bring us level at 5-5. This is, I think, the best match I’ve seen this week, and I’ve not a clue who’s going to win it.
Early mini-break for Keys, immediately retrieved by Bondar for 2-2, and I’m switching off Felix, who’s just seen Khachanov consolidate his break, for Anisimova, who’s just lost the second set to Tagger.
Bondar hauls herself to 30-15 and from there, holds to secure a match tiebreak; biggup for that, because she was in a way. Meantime, up break point, Khachanov races in to retrieve a drop, surprising Felix with a lob, which he could probably play but leaves, it drops in, and the momentum of this match feels inexorable now, the no 3 seed down 1-2 0-1.
With Osaka over, I’m back with Khachanov, who’s taken the third set 6-2 to lead Auger-Aliassime 2-1. There’d be no shame for the no 3 seed in losing to so good an opponent, but it’s matches like this that make you think he can’t get much better than he is, his second serve and backhand not loads better than they were five years ago.
The Court 11 classic is nearly over, Bouzkova now leading Dart 6-2 4-o; Keys holds to love for 6-5 in the third, and Bondaer, having twice failed to serve out the match, must now do so to stop in it.
Meantime, Keys makes 0-30, Bondar goes long on the forehand, and must now face three break-back points! This is some set (of tennis) and when Bondar nets a backhand, we’re level at r5-5 in the decider! Oor Maddy has found her forehand under pressure, while Bondar has, I’m afraid to say, let the occasion get big on her.
Naomi Osaka (13) beats Katerina Siniakova 6-2 5-7 6-1
Osaka made hard work of it, but found some decent tennis when she needed it most and meets Mertens next.
Back with Osaka, she’s broken Siniakova again and is now serving for the match at 5-1 in the third.
A big forehand from Bondar helps her to 15-40 and two match points, so Keys unloads with forehands of her own, clubbing one off the frame for a winner, then hammering another, inside-out, for deuce. Goodness me, she’s living dangerously here, but it’s great to see her attacking the ball when she might’ve become sensitive … then, up advantage, she sends down a double. Oh, and then she can’t move quickly enough when a forehand is directed at her body … but facing another match point, she again unleashes on the forehand, then follows it up with an ace. This is some gear, is this, and a service winner takes Keys through another game, but Bondar will shortly serve for the match for the second time. Last time she tried, she donated two doubles, which is to say she’ll be feeling it.
Oor Maddy isn’t gone yet, breaking Bondar to trail 3-5 in the third. I’ve switched off the Felix v Khachanov match to get them on, just in time to see Keys make a mess of a shoulder-high volley and go down 0-30, now wo points from defeat.
Righto, Siniakova nails a pair of returns in making her way to 15-40, but a pair of fine points from Osaka make deuce, forehand to the fore, whereupon her serve takes over and she she secures a vital hold for 4-1 in the third. She’s made hard work of it, but she’s nearly there.
Siniakova holds to get on the board in set three, but at 1-3 is running out of chances to break back. Oh, and Keys now trails 5-2 in the third, Bondar serving for the match, while Bouzkova has taken the first set against Dary 6-2, Sky should stick it on News and Movies, I reckon.
Felix is struggling, swatting a backhand into the net to go down 0-40 on serve; Khachanov isn’t ripping winners or anything, he’s just keeping the points going, and he seals the double break to love, leading 4-1 in the third after the first two sets were shared.