Thank you for joining me for that scintillating day of tennis. Join us tomorrow for all the reaction to today’s matches and the on-court happenings of day six.
Shelton gets huge applause as he leaves the court and, because the night session has already been delayed, Tiafoe only gets to answer one question in front of the New York City crowd on Arthur Ashe.
Ben is an incredible player. He really is. He goes for all kind of shots. It is really annoying. He has a great serve and he is so talented. We are both good players. I hope you guys enjoyed the show.
Tiafoe will face either Alexei Popyrin or the defending champion, Novak Djokovic, in the next round.
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Frances Tiafoe beats Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3
Tiafoe smashes it to take it 40-15 and we are at match point … But Shelton saves. The level of tennis that is being produced is at another level and everyone is on the edge of their seat as Tiafoe serves. It is good and a short rally ends with a fantastic volley at the net. Big Foe wins it!
The greeting at the net could not be filled with more respect and admiration between the two Americans. But 12 months after he lost this match up, Tiafoe goes through to the fourth round, beating Shelton for the very first time in his career.
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*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 3-5 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Everytime it seems Shelton is done, he brings out that powerful serve. He can hit it wide, hit it on the T and it has saved him so many times in this match. He uses that serve to get to 40-15 but Tiafoe hits a rapid forehand winner to make it 40-30. But Shelton holds after Tiafoe hits it long.
We are now at the four-hour mark. Can Shelton break to stay in the match?
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Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 2-5 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) What a service game from Tiafoe! He goes up 40-0 and Shelton can’t get a sniff as the older American sees out the game. Shelton may as well not have had the racquet in his hand for that.
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*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 2-4 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Shelton is trying his best to stay resilient here. He hits his 20th and 21st ace of the match. “Go forward, but be ready for the forehand,” encourages coach/dad.
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Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 1-4 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Tiafoe seems to be sensing it is his time. At 40-15, Shelton’s backhand return is long and the older American takes a 4-1 lead in the fifth set.
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*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 1-3 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Break for Tiafoe! He takes it after Shelton threw absolutely everything at him and finishes it off with an overhead volley. The crowd are loving it, clearly having a favourite.
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Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 1-2 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) A third party has joined the game on Arthur Ashe. A bug of some kind wants the best seat in the house but a ballperson moves it aside.
Shelton goes up 30-15 after Tiafoe’s crosscourt goes wide and the older American nets before being unable to deal with his opponents forehand. Can Shelton break here? Tiafoe hits his third ace of the match to make it 40-30 and then Shelton’s wild forehand takes it to deuce. Tiafoe takes a breather and then sees out the game.
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*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 1-1 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Two aces from Shelton and it seems no nonsense from him. But Tiafoe is playing at such a high level that it is still hard to call. “Slow rhythm on the backhand return,” his coach/dad tells him after he takes the game.
Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 0-1 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Does Big Foe have the momentum now? Great volley from him to take the first game of the fifth set.
*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-6 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Shelton starts with a double fault and then misqueues the forehand but finds a point after Tiafoe nets a backhand. Shelton then saves two set points, the second with a pinpoint forehand.
Tiafoe takes advantage after Shelton’s forehand is long and then it his backhand that goes out. Tiafoe breaks in the final game of the set and we go to a fifth!
ONE-SET SHOOTOUT. pic.twitter.com/iRbBff73TV
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
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Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 4-5 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Ouch! Shelton almost slides into the stand that is underneath the umpire’s chair but the ballperson has likely saves him from a nasty injury. Shelton asks them if they are OK but they seem to be finding the funny side of it. Shelton’s two-footed tackle doesn’t get him to Tiafoe’s drop shot and the older American takes the game. No break in this set yet!
Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 3-4 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Tiafoe with an unreal forehand winner to take the game and the New York City crowd could not be any louder as he beckons to them for support.
*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 3-3 Tiafoe (*denotes server) We are just over the three-hour mark. Tiafoe hits a lightning return down the line for a break point but Sheldon hits one of those powerful serves. The younger American saves another break point and then hits an ace before hitting a blistering forehand on the line for the game. A ballperson gets hits with that final shot but they seem to be OK.
Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 2-3 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Neither player is giving the other a millimeter over here. At 30-30 all, Shelton hits a backhand long and Tiafoe hits a backhand crosscourt shot that Sheldon misses.
Andrey Rublev beats Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
Not the best game from Rublev but he is through to the round of 16. He looked a bit tired at times, given his long five-set match in the previous round.
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*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 1-1 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Tiafoe takes the first game of the third set and gets to 30-30 on Sheldon’s serve in the second game. But Shelton manages to tie it up 1-1 after crosscourt shot.
Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5) Tiafoe (*denotes server) Shelton gets the tie-break with an ace, Tiafoe then hits out and then the younger American hits a fantastic return to give the younger American an early 3-0 lead. He continues with a forehand winner and his coach/dad shouts “great forehand winner”. Clearly something they have been working on. Tiafoe is crumbling here after hitting a lob to give Shelton a 5-0 lead and then another winner. Tiafoe shakes his head before he finally gets on the board and then breaks to make it 6-2 after Shelton hits it wide.
Forehand then long by Shelton … Have we seen a comeback from 6-0 in a tie-break before on Arthur Ashe? Not sure but Tiafoe has cut the lead to 6-4 after Shelton hits it long and then it is only one point between them after the younger American hits another forehand long …. what is happening?
Shelton, with huge pressure on his shoulders in this seventh set point, smashes an ace at 143 mph to take the set. That is the fastest serve of the tournament! He really said: “let me stop messing about and end this”. Wow! Wow! WOW!
Ben Shelton fires down a 143mph ace to clinch the third set! 😵 pic.twitter.com/GIF9XKRWfN
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
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Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 6-6 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Shelton’s forehand is well out, ballooning the ball over the baseline and we go to a tie-break.
Two of America’s finest.
These two are putting on a show! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/zXtEv6wdQ4
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 5-5 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) You can’t separate them. Good serving from the older American to tie it up.
*Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 5-4 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Shelton nets a slicing backhand and his coach (and dad), Bryan Shelton, tells him to use his body more on the serve. He listens and Tiafoe can't return with the forehand before hitting an ace. But then Tiafoe hits a crosscourt volley. Can he break? No, he nets and we go back to deuce.
Tiafoe then misses a forehand but Shelton’s shot is just out and he can’t take the set. Back to deuce again. Tiafoe hits a great dropshot after Shelton hits one. Can he break now? Now the crowd are fully chanting Tiafoe’s name and a double fault from Shelton gives the current crowd favourite the game.
Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 5-3 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Yikes, a double fault from Tiafoe means he fails to hold. He looks really unimpressed with himself. Can Big Ben serve out the set?
*Rublev 6-3, 7-5 Lehecka (denotes server) Rublev is one set away from the third round after. A huge difference to his previous match when he had to come from two sets down. Is it smooth sailing for the world No 6 from here?
Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 3-3 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Shelton has a break point but he hits a volley straight into the net. He drops his racquet and puts his hand on his hips in disbelief. His second break point comes and … straight into the net. Back to deuce. And Tiafoe manages to hold after Shelton’s forehand goes long.
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Shelton 6-4, 5-7, 2-2 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) All tied-up in the third with neither player having broken yet. The excitement has died down a bit here with both players being a bit cautious with their shots.
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Rublev 6-3, 3-4 Lehecka* (denotes server) We will turn to Grandstand for a moment. Lehecka has been struggling with Rublev dragging him inwards in an area he isn’t particularly comfortable in. But he deals with the dropshot and then hits a speeding ace at 160 mph to take the game.
Shelton 6-4, 5-7 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Second set goes to Tiafoe! He makes it look easy as he gets to 40-0 and serves out.
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*Shelton 6-4, 6-5 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Tiafoe finally breaks! He has been constantly asking Shelton the questions and the American No 2 has had the answers. Not here. It is a sneaky almost drop shot that tricks Shelton and his serve can’t get him out of the mess this time. He serves for the set!
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Shelton 6-4, 5-5 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Tiafoe moves 40-0 ahead with some fantastic shot variation and some good serves. But his backhand goes wide and then Shelton starts limping. Something looks to be wrong with his left ankle? Or left thigh? He continues though and somehow cushions a dink volley into the sideline after fighting a flurry of shots to take the point. But Tiafoe speeding forehand earns him the hold.
*Shelton 6-4, 5-4 Tiafoe (*denotes server) When was the last time Shelton went down 0-40 in back to back service games? But the thing with Shelton is that his serve can still bail him out. He gets on the board after Tiafoe hits it long. And then, wow! He shows great composure with serving getting Tiafoe off the court and then a perfect forehand winner. He sees the game out and holds. Surely Tiafoe is scratching his head, wondering how on earth he did not break.
Emma Navarro beats Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
The American survives the shaky waters against the world No 19. She describes the home crowd giving her “chills” on Louis Armstrong, and loves playing in the city she was born in.
It will be another all-American clash as she faces Coco Gauff next. The two recently played against each other at Wimbledon, a match which Navarro won.
*Shelton 6-4, 4-3 Tiafoe (*denotes server) There is an awkward moment where Shelton almost does the splits and he doesn’t look to comfortable in the rallies. He hits some hard serves, clocking in at 129 mph and again at 139 mph (his fastest of the match) when he is facing break point. His great serving continues and somehow he holds after being 0-40 down in that game.
Donna Vekic beats Peyton Stearns 7-5, 6-4
The world No 24 and quarter-finalist here in 2019 is into the next round after beating her American opponent. She hit eight aces, 21 winners and had a period where she on 14 points in a row. She will play Zheng Qinwen in the next round.
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Navarro 6-4, 4-6, 3-3 Kostyuk* (*denotes server) Navarro is forced to hit three smashes to make it 15-15 which shows the level Kostyuk is playing at the moment, even when she is put on the back pedal. We get to deuce after a Navarro shows great balance to hit a lob and after the second deuce, the Ukrainian nets to tie it all up in the third set.
Here is that incredible earlier point from Shelton.
Pure spectacle from the get-go! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/GXnq3hRmY1
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
Shelton 6-4 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Box Office Ben strikes first! He misses a drop shot but is able to move Tiafoe around and the world No 20 nets a backhand to give Shelton the break and the set.
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Wang Yafan beats Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
The three-time US Open finalist falls to the world No 80. It is the Chinese’s first career grand slam round of 16. She will fce Paula Badosa next.
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*Shelton 5-4 Tiafoe (*denotes server) An opening for Tiafoe? Shelton hits a forehand into the net which puts him down 0-30. He then hits a backhand straight into the net after a short rally – triple break back point for Tiafoe … But Shelton finds two winners and Tiafoe slaps his thigh in frustration. Not for long though, he denies a volley winner and deservedly gets the break.
Shelton’s first serve was at 82% before this game and it has now plummeted to 69%.
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Shelton 5-3 Tiafoe* (*denotes server) Tiafoe goes 40-0 and then Shelton mishits a lob so his opponent holds.
Navarro 6-4, 4-6 Kostyuk* (*denotes server) Emphatic play from the Ukrainian as she serves for the set. That last point saw her tumble but she gets her shot off and Navarro nets the return. Another decider on Louis Armstrong is coming up.
*Shelton 4-1 Tiafoe (*denotes server) Shelton has an incredible forehand. He gets up to 40-15 with it and Tiafoe looks at his team as if to say: ‘What the *!$% am I supposed to do about that?’
But Tiafoe fights back and gets to deuce. But oh my, the ball clips the net from Tiafoe’s shot but Shelton’s movement is incredible and he somehow gets there in time to block the shot. He nearly falls over backwards and I have no idea how he got there quick enough.
The crowd are up on their feet, cheering and the world No 13 takes a deep breath as he sits down.
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Thanks Alex; sterling stint as always. Hello again, all. Let’s see how this All-American match up unfolds.
Ben Shelton, whose serve is a major weapon, makes a solid hold to open this match. The crowd are pretty quiet to start – still recovering from Gauff’s victory or unsure who to root for? We shall see. Well, specifically Yara El-Shaboury will see, as I’m putting you all back in her expert hands. Thanks for reading!
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Kostyuk holds; Navarro holds. The latter leads 6-4, 2-1. Ben Shelton is serving to begin his match with Frances Tiafoe. The two are good friends off court. That can often create an interesting dynamic in a match.
A hold for Navarro at the start of her second set. She is having a lot of chats with her coach out there; seems to be working so far. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are making their way on to court. Shelton, the younger player, will be the favourite – but will the crowd decide to back the 21-year-old rising star or the underdog? Could be some divided loyalties there.
Navarro takes the first set 6-4 against Kostyuk, grabbing the first game point on offer. The No 13 seed reeled off three games – including two breaks – in succession there, impressively upping her play when required. What were we saying about a good week so far for US players? Release the bald eagle and let it soar! Or something!
Emma Navarro holds to take a 5-4 first-set lead against Marta Kostyuk. Elsewhere, Victoria Azarenka has won the second set 6-3 against Wang Yafan: those two are starting a decider.
Navarro breaks back in a break-filled match with Kostyuk. They are 4-4 in the first set. Katie Boulter, who was so disappointed by her singles exit yesterday, is back in action in the women’s doubles but her and partner Anna Kalinskaya have lost the first set on a tie-break to the No 8 seeds Demi Schuurs and Luisa Stefani.
Ben Shelton v Frances Tiafoe is the next match on Arthur Ashe. So a guaranteed American winner in what’s been a strong first first week for home players. Although, in saying that, Kostyuk has taken a 4-3 advantage over Navarro in their first set and it’s the Ukrainian to serve. So have I just jinxed every US player with that observation? TBC.
An upbeat Coco Gauff credits her increased aggression after losing the opening set for that triumph as she thanks the Arthur Ashe Court, saying it’s her favourite place to play tennis in the world. She gets a round of boos for that (not really; it’s met with the raucous cheers you’d expect). Elsewhere in Flushing Meadows: Emma Navarro and Marta Kostyuk are 3-3 in their first set. The winner will face Gauff in the next round.
Coco Gauff beats Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Gauff is into the fourth round! Svitolina broke in the penultimate game to give herself a glimmer – but the defending champion shook off any nerves and disappointment. She pressured Svitolina’s serve, took her first match point in this game – and won a really intriguing, see-saw match.
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Svitolina* 6-3 3-6 3-5 Gauff (*denotes server) Wow. Who saw that coming? Gauff had three match points in that game but – from 40-love down – Svitolina fought back. The American’s serve suddenly went awry (she double-faulted twice) but what a fightback from the No 27. She went for it in that game. This isn’t quite over.
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Svitolina 6-3 3-6 2-5 Gauff* (*denotes server) Svitolina may feel that it’s all going against her but she’s no quitter. She makes it through that service game under pressure, blasting some nice forehand shots. Now she has to break Gauff and see if she can induce a nervy wobble in the home favourite.
Svitolina* 6-3 3-6 1-5 Gauff (*denotes server) Gauff has gone from struggling in the first set, superiority in the second, supremacy in the third. Her serve has gone up a level (or three) since the start. She flies through that game and is 1x game away from week two.
Svitolina 6-3 3-6 1-4 Gauff* (*denotes server) The American takes advantage of her first break point to take a 4-1 lead in this set, Svitolina firing a shot into the net. Well, the momentum and the home crowd are against the Ukranian here. The No 3 seed is serving and needs two games to take her place in the next round.
Svitolina* 6-3 3-6 1-3 Gauff (*denotes server) Thanks Yara. In this match, the defending champion has found a new gear since losing the first set. Coco Gauff looks a different player and Elina Svitolina, who’s making a few errors, needs to hold serve here to stop her opponent running way with this decider.
It is time for me to take a short break. Alex Reid is here to expertly guide you through the next hour.
Paula Badosa speaks on the match after her win:
Guys, 5-4 down, I was destroyed. Match point down, I was done. You guys gave me so much strength. Thank you. I think she played an insane level. I wasn’t expecting it. I was a bit confused.
On what she was told by her coach after losing the first set:
My coach said you have to fight. To play aggressive. For a moment, I thought I wasn’t playing her, I was playing Simona Halep. Congratulations to her and her coach.
On playing mixed doubles with Stefanos Tsitsipas a bit later today:
He will have to do all the work. A good lunch will help me so much and the motivation and excitement will help me.
On the support on Louis Armstrong:
I always say the best crowd is in the US. It is not a coincidence my best results are here. I feel so safe and protected here. Thank you guys. I hope to see you at my doubles match.
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Paula Badosa beats Elena-Gabriela Ruse 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8)
Badosa adjusted her positioning to attack Ruse’s second serve and her work gives her a 4-0 lead in the tie-break. But the Romanian refuses to give up and after a couple of risks and a fantastic forehand in a long rally cuts the Spaniard’s lead to 4-3. But then, a few misses for Ruse and Badosa leads 7-5 with Ruse serving.
The Spaniard hits it long and once again, it is a one point game – the tightest of margins. Badosa’s eighth ace makes it 8-6 but Ruse moves her opponent around with a crosscourt backhand before a forehand winner. But at the most crucial of moments, Ruse hits a return out … and then a backhand winner.
9-8 for Badosa and then Ruse’s return is long and the Spaniard wins by the skin of her teeth. A nice handshake at the net between the seeded winner and the qualifier after two hours and 32 minutes – what a grind.
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Svitolina 6-3, 3-6 Gauff* (*denotes server) We go to a decider! An ace from Gauff is what gives her the second set and Svitolina looks annoyed she has let this one slip.
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Ruse 6-4, 1-6, 6-6 Badosa* (*denotes server) We are heading to a tie-break in this third set!
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Svitolina 6-3, 2-5 Gauff* (*denotes server) Svitolina’s accuracy has gone off a touch, making it 30-15 for Gauff after a long forehand. The American then hits another backhand that her opponent misses and she takes the game after another long forehand from the Ukrainian.
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*Svitolina 6-3, 2-4 Gauff (*denotes server) Gauff hits the best backhand she has hit all day, with the power and positioning coming off perfectly to make it 15-15. You can hear a pin drop up until a Gauff hits a massive smash and then a forehand down the line. Big roar from Gauff, big roar from Arthur Ashe. A crosscourt forehand means she breaks. The American asks the crowd for more and they give it to her, gladly.
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Ruse 6-4, 1-6, 5-5 Badosa* (*denotes server) Survival. Badosa holds! She goes into the forehand side of Ruse and the Spaniard is still in this match, to the absolute delight of most of the crowd at Louis Armstrong.
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*Ruse 6-4, 1-6, 5-4 Badosa (*denotes server) What a way to break in those new balls – Ruse hits her first ace (and her fastest serve at 108 mph) and quickly gets to 40-0 after Badosa hits it out. But Ruse nets twice and all of a sudden it is deuce. Ruse takes advantage with another ace, this time at 111 mph and then holds. Can she break for the match?
Ruse 6-4, 1-6, 4-4 Badosa* (*denotes server) This is going to be a close one. Twenty-five games played, new balls introduced and we are down to the home stretch.
*Svitolina 6-3 Gauff (*denotes server) Svitolina is about to serve for the set … A winner down the line and then a Gauff long backhand makes it 30-0. It is silent on Arthur Ashe. A beautiful volley after a drop shot makes it 40-0 and Gauff’s forehand goes wide, giving the world No 28 the first set.
Elina Svitolina strikes first against Coco Gauff! pic.twitter.com/GPRgLN4ZWy
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
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Women’s doubles at the US Open or Spider-Man?
The meme has come to life 😱 pic.twitter.com/98XzXR2PHr
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
*Svitolina 4-3 Gauff (*denotes server) Gauff’s backhand looks so smooth, one of the best on the tour. But the forehand looks disjointed, something she has struggled with all year. But she is up 40-15 after Svitolina returns a forehand wide. However, her shots are not being sustained and we get to deuce after Gauff nets. The American shakes it off though and her backhand has Svitolina running and she strikes to get advantage. But back to deuce after Guaff nets a forehand and the Ukrainian holds.
Svitolina 3-3 Gauff* (*denotes server) Gauff faces another break point early on in the match but she puts up a big ace. At the fourth deuce, Svitolina nets a crosscourt forehand and Gauff’s forehand down the line earns her the game after her opponent misses.
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Ruse 6-4, 1-6 Badosa* (*denotes server) We go to a decider! It was one-way traffic in that second set with the Spaniard hitting three aces, 12 winners and three break points.
Zheng Qinwen beats Jule Niemeier 6-2, 6-1
What a match from the seventh seed! The Chinese earned three break points in the second set on Grandstand to ease into the fourth round and the second week.
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Svitolina 2-2 Gauff* (*denotes server) Gauff is under some pressure after struggling with her serve but she catches up to make it 30-40 with a big forehand. At deuce, the American hits a crosscourt backhand and sees out the game with a beautiful dropshot.
We can hear Gauff’s coach, Brad Gilbert, crystal clear on the feed and he tells her to “hit some height on her backhand”.
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Ruse 6-4, 1-4 Badosa* (*denotes server) Badosa’s serve in the second set has improved massively. Ruse just can’t deal with the power behind it. The Spaniard has now won 8/8 points from her first serve in the second set.
*Ruse 6-4, 1-3 Badosa (*denotes server) Badosa is keeping Ruse from stringing anything together at the moment. She takes the fourth game after going 40-0 and hitting a pinpoint backhand.
*Svitolina 1-0 Gauff (*denotes server) The Ukrainian holds after double faulting when her opponent hits it wide. Arthur Ashe is bouncing and ready to watch their favourite player in the American.
Ruse 6-4, 1-2 Badosa* (*denotes server) The Spaniard hits some beautiful aces to get to 40-15 but it’s deuce in a flash after netting a second serve. What looked like an easy game all of a sudden isn’t but a fantastic forehand after a longer rally wins her the game.
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*Ruse 6-4, 1-1 Badosa (*denotes server) Badosa came back guns blazing to take the first game and Ruse, despite a time-violation warning, shakes it off to take the second.
Coco Gauff will be getting underway on Arthur Ashe soon, the No 3 seed taking on Elina Svitolina. This will be Gauff’s first time facing a seeded player in her title defence. Svitolina is a three-time semi-finalist at grand slams and has reached at least the last eight in 11 slams.
Zheng Qinwen wins the first set 6-2 against Jule Niemeier. It started off quite even on Grandstand but the Olympic champion put together a commanding four game streak. Niemeier had a medical timeout before the final set.
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*Ruse 6-4 Badosa (*denotes server) It’s 30-0 to Ruse but that poor serve was bound to catch up to her eventually and a double fault makes it break point for Badosa. But she can’t see it out and the Romanian takes the set with a backhand.
Ruse 5-4 Badosa* (*denotes server) Ruse is visibly fired up now and the game takes a matter of moments as she puts Badosa on the back foot immediately. She now serves for the set.
*Ruse 4-4 Badosa (*denotes server) Nothing has been easy for either player in this first set so far and both are sliding up and down the scale of excellent play and erratic play. After a second deuce the Romanian manages the game with a short forehand that Badosa can’t get to.
Ruse, the qualifier, has won three points on her first serve. And it is 4-4. The Louis Armstrong effect, I guess?
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Ruse 3-4 Badosa* (*denotes server) Badosa is forcing Ruse to move a lot more and it is causing a lot of unforced errors for the Romanian – nine in total in this match so far. It is a nervy game though as the two alternate their points. Badosa is also struggling with first serves, only hitting 48% of them by the time we reach 40-40. Two aces earn the Spaniard the hold and she takes the lead.
*Ruse 3-3 Badosa (*denotes server) Ruse comes into this game having not won a single point off her first serve. Badosa takes advantage by moving away and hitting a couple of forehands that are hard for Ruse to read. A double fault from Ruse brings a break point for Badosa and Ruse nets a backhand. All tied up!
Ruse 3-2 Badosa* (*denotes server) We get to 40-15 and Badosa is clearly struggling. At this point, she has served 18 points and only won five of them. My limited Spanish comes in handy here. Her coach tells her to concentrate on making her first serve before a ‘Vamos’. She finally finds the first serve to bail herself out of trouble and makes it 40-40 before saving three break points.
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*Ruse 3-1 Badosa (*denotes server) Ruse’s second-serve is too short with very little spin or slice on it and Badosa pounces on it immediately. It is an obvious weakness in the Romanian’s game. But she manages to get to 40-15 after the Spaniard hits several forehand shots well out and she sees out the game.
Ruse 2-1 Badosa* (*denotes server) Badosa is a good mover but Ruse gets inside the court really quickly which eliminates time for the opponent and even someone as mobile as the Spaniard can struggle with some of those shots. Ruse gets the advantage with her firing backhand and then a forehand to see out the game. Three consecutive breaks of serve in this match. Are we living in some alternative universe on Louis Armstrong where players prefer to not serve?
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*Ruse 1-1 Badosa (*denotes server) Badosa manages to sprint towards a Ruse dropshot and hits a winner. She gets to 40-0 with an inch-perfect forehand and the players trade breaks after Ruse hits a shot well-wide. Ruse’s serve isn’t as accurate as it could be. It goes right in the middle, making it very easy for opponents to attack and putting her under pressure immediately.
Ruse 1-0 Badosa* (*denotes server) The 26th seed gets us underway and is immediately under pressure after going down 0-40. The Romanian then hits the game winner after Badosa hits it short, immediately pouncing and moving up from the baseline. Our first break!
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The weather is overcast in New York but we have confirmation that play should start in time. We start with Gabriela Rusev Paula Badosa on Louis Armstrong and Zheng Qinwen v Jule Niemeier on Grandstand.
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After the first two rounds in the men’s singles tournament, Andrey Rublev leads in the most winners hit with 111. The sixth seed fought back from two two sets down to beat Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. The match, which took place in grueling heat conditions, was completed in four hours and six minutes. He continues his campaign for a first slam title today against Jiri Lehecka.
Our Brit watch has proved to be a mixed bag. Katie Boulter suffered one of her most disappointing defeats of the season, crashing out 7-5, 7-5 to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro despite being the favourite. But Jack Draper eased into the third round with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over the Argentine Facundo Díaz Acosta and Dan Evans’s statement 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Mariano Navone came two days after he battled through the longest match in the history of the US Open, recovering from 0-4 down in the fifth set to defeat Karen Khachanov in five sets after five hours, 35 minutes.
The Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp managed a massive victory against Carlos Alcaraz in a 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 win last night on Arthur Ashe.
Having established himself as such a reliable performer in the biggest tournaments, this defeat marks the first time that Alcaraz has lost to a player ranked outside of the top 15 at a grand slam since the French Open in 2021, when he was 18 years old and ranked 97th in the world. It is also his earliest loss at a grand slam since that same year.
With the win, Van de Zandschulp has become the fourth unseeded player in 2000s to defeat in straight sets a Top three seeded at the men’s singles US Open tournament.
Catch up on how it all went down with Tumaini Carayol’s report.
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Preamble
Hello all and welcome to our blog for day five of the 2024 US Open.
Day four was a tasty one. The world No 3 Carlos Alcaraz crashed out in straight sets while Britain’s Jack Draper and Dan Evans marched on.
And so much to look forward to today. The defending champion Coco Gauff and the Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen continue their campaigns as do Ben Shelton, Andrey Rublev, Paula Badosa and more.
Join me for all the build-up, news and action as we see who will reach the fourth round.
And, as always, if you have any thoughts, questions, queries, musings or predictions feel free to send me an email, which you can find at the top of this blog.
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