Dominic Thiem wins the Men's US Open (2020) title

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Britain's Cameron Norrie fought back from two sets down to earn a memorable win over Argentine ninth seed Diego Schwartzman on day one of the US Open.

Norrie, ranked 76th, looked set for a routine defeat before turning it around to win 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 7-5 in New York.

Both struggled to hold serve in a match with 58 break points, Norrie saving two match points in the decider before winning in almost four hours.

Kyle Edmund beat Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik and plays Novak Djokovic next.

The British number two won 2-6 7-5 7-5 6-0 against the unpredictable Bublik, who initially upset the Yorkshireman's rhythm before losing focus and allowing Edmund to take control.

Edmund, 25, faces a tough task to reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in seven attempts, however, with 17-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic lying in wait in round two.

Serbia's world number one Djokovic, who has won all 24 of his matches in 2020, brushed aside Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina in his opener.

"It was a nice win in terms of the mentality. I play well when I'm expressing myself and explosive, when I start matches not in the right way I have to force that out of me," said Edmund, who is ranked 44th.

"It was a good match to win, I could have fallen off and gone down two sets to love or two sets to one."

The four other Britons in the singles - Andy Murray, Dan Evans, Johanna Konta and Heather Watson - play on Tuesday.

The US Open is the first Grand Slam event to be held since the coronavirus pandemic and is being played behind closed doors at Flushing Meadows.

A host of star names - including defending champions Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu - have withdrawn because of health and travel fears, while Swiss great Roger Federer is missing because of a knee injury.

British number three Norrie was handed a tough draw by starting against a consistent and competitive player who is a two-time quarter-finalist at the US Open.

The 25-year-old Briton struggled with his timing in the first two sets, hitting 34 unforced errors to leave himself with an uphill battle to reach the second round.

But he cut the mistakes to just five in the third set and, combined with Schwartzman becoming frustrated after receiving a time violation, threatened a comeback.

"The first two sets I was rushing everything and going for too much. I didn't feel myself out there," Norrie said.

"I felt he had done almost nothing to be two-sets-to-love up. I wanted to hit the ball down the middle, get some rhythm and then I kept the momentum going."

Schwartzman struggled to get out of his rut in the fourth, two breaks of serve by the Briton taking the match into a decider, where the break points continued to flow.

Although world number 13 Schwartzman looked to be waning physically, he had chances at 5-3 and 5-4 to clinch victory before Norrie fought back again.

Norrie's reward is another match against an Argentine opponent in the shape of 103rd-ranked Federico Coria.

"The tennis and the level wasn't that great but I had a good attitude throughout and I was happy with that," Norrie added.

"I'm lucky to get through that one. It was a tough one.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/53978465

 

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NEW YORK(Reuters) - Highlights of the first day at the U.S. Open on Monday (times ET; GMT-4). The Grand Slam, the second this year after Wimbledon was cancelled and the French Open was postponed, is being played without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

2357 OSAKA RALLIES PAST DOI

Former U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka showed no signs of the left hamstring injury that forced her to pull out of the Western & Southern Open final as she beat fellow Japanese Misaki Doi 6-2 5-7 6-2.

2231 JOHNSON KNOCKS OUT ISNER
Steve Johnson dropped the opening set of a see-sawing first round encounter with fellow American John Isner before beating him 6-7(5) 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(3) in a clash that lasted nearly four hours. He will play Ricardas Berankis next.

2210 DJOKOVIC LEFT FEELING AWKWARD AFTER WIN
Novak Djokovic said the behaviour of some members of his support staff during his straight-sets victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur had left him feeling a “bit strange” due to the friendship between the two players.

“... Sometimes you don’t want your box to clap when your opponent makes a mistake. Damir is a very good friend and it was a little bit awkward,” Djokovic said.

2130 DJOKOVIC RACES INTO SECOND ROUND
World number one Novak Djokovic eased past Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur 6-1 6-4 6-1 to reach the second round in just under two hours.

The result extends the Serb’s winning streak to 24 matches in 2020.

2120 GOFFIN GLIDES INTO ROUND TWO
Seventh seed David Goffin fought off a spirited challenge from big-serving American Reilly Opelka to secure a 7-6(2) 3-6 6-1 6-4 victory in the opening round.

1955 MARTIC SEALS COMEBACK WIN
Croatia’s eighth seed Petra Martic overcame a slow start to beat Czech Tereza Martincova 5-7 6-2 6-4.

1822 AMERICANS GAUFF, COLLINS KNOCKED OUT
Coco Gauff, 16, was eliminated in the opening round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career as Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova beat her 6-3 5-7 6-4.

Gauff matched the 30-year-old with 27 winners but the American was broken seven times in the contest.

Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, seeded 14th, also advanced in three sets following a 5-7 6-2 6-2 victory over Danielle Rose Collins.

1645 ZVEREV OVERCOMES ANDERSON CHALLENGE TO ADVANCE
Germany’s fifth seed Alexander Zverev got through a tricky first-round encounter against 2017 finalist Kevin Anderson in four sets, winning 7-6(2) 5-7 6-3 7-5 to move into the second round.

Anderson fired 20 aces to Zverev’s 18 in the battle of the big servers but the South African, who returned to the tour after a series of injuries, was no match for the German’s groundstrokes.

1605 TSITSIPAS AND SHAPOVALOV THROUGH TO SECOND ROUND
Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas made short work of Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas, winning 6-2 6-1 6-1 to advance.

Meanwhile Canadian 12th seed Denis Shapovalov overcame a brief hiccup in the second set before beating 20-year-old Sebastian Korda 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-2.

1515 NINTH SEED SCHWARTZMAN UPSET IN FIRST ROUND
Argentine ninth seed Diego Schwartzman was knocked out in the first round by Cameron Norrie despite taking the first two sets, with the Briton winning 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 7-5 in a marathon encounter that lasted nearly four hours.

Both players served poorly with more than 50 break points in the match in total but Norrie smashed 39 winners and saved two match points in the deciding set to claim his biggest win at a Grand Slam.

1420 KVITOVA AND GARCIA CRUISE INTO ROUND TWO
Sixth seed Petra Kvitova dispatched Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3 6-2 with a powerful display to reach the next round.

1400 LAJOVIC CRASHES OUT
Serbian Dusan Lajovic, seeded 18th, became the first major casualty of the opening round as he suffered a shock 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-4 defeat by Egor Gerasimov of Belarus.

1317 TOP SEED PLISKOVA AND MLADENOVIC ADVANCE
Top seed Karolina Pliskova beat Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-4 6-0 to move into the second round as the Czech looks to win her first Grand Slam title.

Pliskova fired seven aces and smashed 26 winners, constantly winning points at the net in the first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She will next meet France’s Caroline Garcia.

France’s 30th seed Kristina Mladenovic also advanced in straight sets, overcoming the challenge of American Hailey Baptiste to win 7-5 6-2.

1245 FORMER CHAMPION KERBER THROUGH IN STRAIGHT SETS
Germany’s 17th seed and 2016 U.S. Open champion Angelique Kerber moved into the second round with a 6-4 6-4 win over Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Kerber, who was knocked out in the first round last year, converted all five break points in the match but she was tested in the second set when Tomljanovic saved a match point and came back from 2-5 down before the German served out the match.

1213 VONDROUSOVA FIRST TO ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND
The Czech Republic’s 12th seed Marketa Vondrousova became the first player to win a match at the U.S. Open this year after she beat Greet Minnen 6-1 6-4.

Vondrousova, 21, broke her Belgian opponent four times and fired 16 winners to wrap up the match in 63 minutes to advance to the second round.

1110 PLAY UNDER WAY
Play began at Flushing Meadows with the temperature hovering around 22 degrees Celsius (71.6°F) and rain forecast for the evening.

https://in.reuters.com/article/tennis-usopen-highlights/tennis-u-s-open-day-one-idINKBN25S3NT

 

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2020 US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 31 Aug-13 Sept
Coverage: Selected live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app.
Andy Murray staged a stunning comeback against Yoshihito Nishioka in the US Open first round on his long-awaited return to Grand Slam singles tennis.

The 33-year-old came from two sets and a break down against the Japanese to win 4-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

The Briton, whose last major singles match was at the 2019 Australian Open before career-saving hip surgery, started flat and dispirited.

But he found his fight and saved a match point to set up an epic win.

The Scot, who eventually claimed victory in four hours 39 minutes, will face Canadian 15th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.

Re-live the action from day two of the US Open
Comeback win was emotional - Murray
Murray finds his voice and his spirit
Playing in an empty and quiet Arthur Ashe Stadium - a far cry from the noisy stage where Murray won his maiden Grand Slam title in 2012 - his early despondence was all the more noticeable.

In his BBC radio commentary David Law said "Andy Murray does not look like Andy Murray", such was his manner, as he quietly trudged around with shoulders slumped as he was outplayed.

During the first two sets Murray barely berated himself for his five double faults and 30 unforced errors, seeming almost resigned to his fate before his energy levels - and his voice - began to rise towards the end of the third set.

And that was when Andy Murray began to look exactly like Andy Murray.

A roar greeted the blistering forehand that gave him two set points in the third-set tie-break and then he let it all out with a trademark "come on!" when Nishioka netted a backhand on the second.

The character that took him to three Grand Slam titles and the world number one ranking before his body so cruelly let him down shone through as he saved a match point with a crosscourt backhand at 6-5 in the fourth.

It would be nearly an hour later until he himself carved out his own match point, needing to recover from a break down in the fifth game of the fifth - which he did with a sumptuous backhand lob in the very next game - to stay on track.

When Nishioka sent a backhand out on match point, Murray completed his 10th career comeback from two sets down and answered any lingering questions about whether he could still be competitive on the biggest stage.

Murray ticks off another post-op milestone
On his last Grand Slam singles appearance in January 2019, Murray had broken down in tears when he said he feared he might have to retire because of a hip injury.

But he went on to have surgery later that month and just five months later was back in action, playing doubles and winning the Queen's title with Feliciano Lopez.

He played doubles and mixed doubles at Wimbledon that year and then made his singles return on the tour in August 2019.

He skipped last year's US Open to focus on his singles return and was then ruled out of January's Australian Open with a pelvic injury. Further chances to return to the Grand Slam singles stage were then lost because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He has been ticking off the 'since surgery' milestones ever since - a first singles title (October), a first win over a top-10 player (last week) and now he has crossed off three more.

Not only his first Grand Slam singles match, but also a first win in one, and a first five-setter.

"I'm tired. My toes are the worst part I think," said Murray, who had treatment on his toes at the start of the fifth set. "The big toes on both sides are pretty beat up. I did alright physically.

"At the beginning of the match I was apprehensive about playing a long match because I hadn't played one in a while.

"I was sort of pacing myself. Once I got two sets down I had to start putting the after-burners on and managed to get through."

'I need an emergency ice bath'
He is the first player to return to singles after a hip re-surfacing operation, where the femur head is capped with metal and put into an artificial socket.

He will now find out how his new body copes with the recovery from a five-set thriller at a Grand Slam.

And he knows exactly what he needs.

"They have an ice bath in the locker room and they said it was for emergencies," Murray said.

"For me this is an emergency right now. I'll ask and see if they'll allow me to use the ice bath. If not I'll try to get back to the hotel as quickly as I can.

"That's by far the most tennis I've played since the Aussie Open in 2019."

Interestingly, there were echoes of that last Australian Open match in this one - then, he was on the wrong end of an almost identical scoreline when he lost 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

British number ones Konta and Evans into second round
Williams wins in straight sets
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Murray made a cagey start - pacing himself like a marathon runner, just in case the match went the distance.

And when he then lost his way completely at the start of the second set, his Grand Slam return was in danger of turning rapidly flat.

But with an audience made up entirely of star players, who were watching on from their suites in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Murray gradually inched his way back into the match.

His toes took a pounding, but his hip held up, and after an ice bath on site he could start to imagine doing it all again on Thursday.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/53989716

 

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US Open 2020: Serena Williams beats Kristie Ahn in straight sets

Serena Williams began her pursuit of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a dominant 7-5 6-3 win over fellow American Kristie Ahn.

The 38-year-old went a break down in both sets but recovered to win in an hour and a half as she chases Margaret Court's Grand Slam tally.

Williams gathered momentum late on, winning four straight games against the world number 96 in the second set.

"I was really happy with how I fought for every point," she said.

"No matter how I was playing, I just had to get my Serena focus back so that was what I was working on today."

But she will not be joined in the next round by her sister Venus Williams, who lost 6-3 7-5 to Czech 20th seed Karolina Muchova.

An error-strewn performance meant that two-time champion Venus, 40, made her first ever opening-round exit at her home Grand Slam.

Meanwhile, men's second seed Dominic Thiem advanced, having been leading 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 when Spanish opponent Jaume Munar retired from the match.

Thiem, 26, will face Indian world number 124 Sumit Nagal in the second round as he looks to capitalise on the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to win a maiden Grand Slam title.

Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev is also through to the second round, comfortably beating Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-1 6-2 6-4. He will play Australia's Chris O'Connell next.

Women's 10th seed Garbine Muguruza sealed her place in the second round with a 6-4 6-4 win against Japan's Nao Hibino.

Seventh seed Madison Keys is through after beating Hungary's Timea Babos 6-1 6-1, while American second seed Sofia Kenin claimed a 6-2 6-2 victory against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.

But former world number one Kim Clijsters' return to Grand Slam tennis ended in defeat as Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia prevailed 3-6 7-5 6-1.

Belgium's Clijsters - a three-time US Open champion - was given a wildcard for the tournament after coming out of retirement earlier this year.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/53993184

 

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Top seed Karolina Pliskova was knocked out of the US Open in the second round with a heavy defeat by France's Caroline Garcia.

Pliskova, runner-up in 2016, lost 6-1 7-6 (7-2) to the world number 50.

Czech world number three Pliskova was the highest ranked player here in the absence of Australian Ashleigh Barty and Romania's Simona Halep.

Meanwhile, other seeds to tumble were Elena Rybakina (11), Marketa Vondrousova (12) and Alison Riske (13).

But there were victories for fourth seed Naomi Osaka, sixth seed Petra Kvitova, eighth seed Petra Martic and Estonian 14th seed Anett Kontaveit.


'I am not a robot' - Pliskova

Six of the world's top 10 players were already absent from the behind-closed-doors tournament amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And Pliskova's exit may further improve Serena Williams' chances of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title in an open women's draw.

Pliskova hit just one winner in a poor first-set performance and fell a break down early in the second - smashing a racquet in frustration - before improving her level to carve out two set points.

But she failed to convert them and Garcia went on to take it to a tie-break, which she dominated.

"I thought she played great tennis in the first set," Pliskova said. "She was just playing super aggressive, going for her shots.

"I maybe didn't play my best. But that's how it is sometimes. I'm not a robot, so I don't have to play every day amazing."

Garcia, who has won seven tour titles, will face American world number 41 Jennifer Brady in the next round.


'I feel like I should be using my platform' - Osaka

Osaka, who beat Williams to win the US Open title in 2018, said she was "stressed" over whether a hamstring injury would impede her progress before the tournament began.

Playing with heavy strapping on her left thigh, she never looked threatened by Italy's Camila Giorgi and sailed to a 6-1 6-2 victory in 69 minutes.

Osaka faces an even less challenging test in the third round, when she plays Ukrainian world number 137 Marta Kostyuk.

The Japanese 22-year-old has brought seven face masks to Flushing Meadows to highlight racial injustice in the United States, each bearing the name of an African-American who has died.

On Monday it was Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by police in March, and on Wednesday Elijah McClain, who died after being put in a chokehold and injected with ketamine in 2019.

"Tennis - people watch it all around the world," Osaka said. "Things that we think are common names are not common overseas.

"I just want people to have more knowledge. I feel like the platform I have right now is something I used to take for granted and I feel like I should be using it for something."


Kvitova & Kerber through but other seeds tumble

Two-time Grand Slam champion Kvitova came back from a break down in the first set and saved a set point to beat Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

Former champion Angelique Kerber also came through a tough encounter, winning 6-3 7-6 (8-6) against fellow German Anna-Lena Friedsam.

But Kvitova's Czech compatriot Vondrousova - the 2019 French Open runner-up - lost 6-1 6-2 to Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich.


https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54007264

 

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Andy Murray was overpowered by Felix Auger-Aliassime in the US Open second round, losing 6-2 6-3 6-4 in New York.

Murray, 33, came back from two sets down in his first-round match on Tuesday but never threatened to do the same against the 20-year-old Canadian.

He was not able to create a break point against the 15th seed, who hit 52 winners to Murray's nine under the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Auger-Aliassime will face Britain's Dan Evans or Corentin Moutet next.

The British number one and France's Moutet must finish their second-round match on Friday after heavy rain stopped play on Flushing Meadows' outside courts.

"He got quite a lot of free points with the first serve, and then even when I was getting a racket on it he was able to dictate off the first shot of the rally," said Murray.

"Physically, I actually did pretty well I thought in the first round. But I think the more tournaments that you play, the more matches that you play, you build up that sort of robustness in your body which right now I don't really have."

Although this defeat was very one-sided, Murray can take plenty of positives from the past two weeks at Flushing Meadows, having won two matches at the Western and Southern Open before coming from two sets and a break down to overcome Nishioka on Tuesday.

That victory was his first Grand Slam singles match since a career-saving hip resurfacing operation in January 2019. After returning in doubles, he missed last year's US Open to focus on his singles return and was then ruled out of January's Australian Open with a pelvic injury.

Given all that, it was a monumental effort to win in nearly four hours and 40 minutes against Nishioka but the effect was apparent in Thursday's night session as Murray struggled to live with Auger-Aliassime's dazzling array of shots.

The Canadian completely dominated the first set, dictating play from the baseline and hitting 18 winners to Murray's one.

Murray was more competitive in the second set but Auger-Aliassime broke in the eighth game and an ace gave him a two-set lead.

He then converted his fourth break point in the fifth game of the final set and while Murray kept fighting, he only delayed the inevitable with the Canadian serving out the win to love.

Murray will now turn his attention to the clay and preparing for the delayed French Open, which is due to start on 27 September at Roland Garros.

Auger-Aliassime, who the US Open boys' title in 2016, will try to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time when he faces Evans or Moutet.

On this evidence, the world number 21 will provide a tough test for most opponents if he manages to play at a similarly high standard.

His service game was particularly impressive against one of the game's great returners, hitting 24 aces and not allowing Murray to rack up a single break point.

"I think it's all come together. We've been away from tennis for five months and I've been working on my serve. Even with nerves I was able to serve well," said Auger-Aliassime.

"But in the back of your mind you know you are facing Andy Murray. You never know what tricks he's got in his pocket. To close it out is not easy. You're facing a great champion."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54022156

 

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Six-time champion Serena Williams progressed to the third round of the US Open with a 6-2 6-4 win over Russian Margarita Gasparyan in New York.

The American, 38, cruised through the opening set but found the world number 117 a tougher proposition in the second under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof.

The pair broke each other twice before Williams secured a crucial third break in the 10th game to seal victory.

Williams now faces compatriot Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champion.

"She's such a good player - she plays so smooth," Williams said of Stephens. "She looks like she's not taking on energy, then 'blam' - there's five winners. It's not easy."

A handful of the 11 unforced errors Gasparyan made in the first set came in her opening service game when she was broken despite having led 40-0.

Williams then broke again with an excellent overhead to go 5-1 up; although she lost her serve to love in the next, the American bounced back in the following game to break for a third time and seal the set in 35 minutes.

Gasparyan improved markedly in the second set at Flushing Meadows despite going a break down to fall 3-1 behind. The 26-year-old, who recovered from three knee operations earlier in her career, twice broke back and had Williams on the ropes again at 4-4, before the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion eventually held her serve.

The American, who last won the US Open in 2014, broke Gasparyan in the next game to avoid potentially being dragged into a third set.

Williams, used to a large support cheering her inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, said: "I love the crowd here, but this is something cool. I play in the modern era. There's something more calming about it."

This was Williams' 103rd singles win at Flushing Meadows, having passed Chris Evert's Open era record of 101 earlier in the week. She is seeking to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles title.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54022060

 

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US Open 2020: Cameron Norrie loses to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Briton Cameron Norrie's US Open run ended in a four-set loss to Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Norrie led by a break in the third set but then lost 11 of the last 12 games as he fell to a 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 6-2 6-1 defeat in the third round in New York.

The unforced errors mounted for the 25-year-old in the final two sets with Norrie making 57 overall.

Dan Evans was following Norrie on court five to finish his second-round match against Corentin Moutet.

British number one Evans trailed the Frenchman 4-6 6-3 6-5 when rain ended play on Thursday at Flushing Meadows.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54034305

 

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German fifth seed Alexander Zverev says he was told there was "very little chance" his US Open third-round match with Adrian Mannarino would be played because of coronavirus restrictions.

Mannarino is in a "bubble within the bubble" after fellow Frenchmen Benoit Paire tested positive for coronavirus.

The match started nearly three hours late before Zverev won in four sets.

The US Tennis Association said the delay was a result of a "collaborative dialogue with health officials".

Zverev said: "I was told there is very little chance we'd play. I was waiting around and very relaxed. I was happy he could play.

"He was about Benoit Paire so I guess the New York State called and said he shouldn't play. It was political, it was not us players just sitting around."

The statement from the organisers came shortly after the players started their match at Flushing Meadows around 17:15 local time (22:15 BST).

Before that, there was no explanation about why the match on Louis Armstrong Stadium had been delayed for two hours and 45 minutes.

"Communication with the players was ongoing during the afternoon to keep them updated at all times," said the USTA, which added it would not provide more details "given the sensitivity of the medical issues involved".

Once play eventually got under way, Mannarino threatened to cause an upset by taking the first-set tie-break.

Zverev, 23, edged a tight second set before improving considerably in the third and fourth to turn the match around for a 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-2 6-2 victory.

The German world number seven was also helped by Mannarino's movement being hampered by a leg injury.

"There is a lot of room for improvement, I'm not at my best yet," said Zverev, who faces Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina next.

On Sunday, French number 17 seed Paire was replaced in the men's singles draw by Spain's Marcel Granollers at the behind-closed-doors Grand Slam in New York.

The USTA has not named Paire but the player wrote on social media on Monday that he feels "fine for the moment" and has no symptoms.

Those who had been in contact with Paire were told they could still play in the tournament because they were being put in a "bubble within the bubble".

That meant they were not withdrawn from the event but had to stay, practise and train in separate areas to the rest of the main bubble.

It led to accusations of rule-changing by the USTA from Argentine player Guido Pella, who was forced to pull out of last week's Western and Southern Open, along with Bolivian player Hugo Dellien, because their fitness trainer tested positive.

Both Pella, seeded 29th, and Dellien went on to lose in their US Open first-round matches.

The USTA has also faced criticism from players within the group which had been in contact with Paire.

Belgian Kirsten Flipkens said officials told them on Thursday they could not leave the US until next weekend but were able to continue following the same protocols.

However, later on Friday she said they had now been told to quarantine in their rooms.

Flipkens, who lost in the singles on Wednesday and then in the doubles on Thursday, posted a video on Instagram showing her unable to open a window in her room and accompanied by the Queen song I Want to Break Free.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/53981140

 

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World number one Novak Djokovic moved comfortably into the US Open fourth round, beating Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets.

The 33-year-old Serb saw off the German 28th seed 6-3 6-3 6-1 in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Djokovic, seeking his 18th Grand Slam title, remains unbeaten in 2020 and has now extended his winning streak to 26.

But Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is out after blowing six match points against Borna Coric.

He was leading 5-1 in the fourth set but could not get over the line and Coric won six successive games to send the match into a deciding set which the Croatian won to complete a remarkable turnaround 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-4).

The 27th seed, who triumphed after four hours and 36 minutes, will face Australian Jordan Thompson on Sunday as he seeks to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Thompson, 26, reached the fourth round of a major for the first time by beating Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 7-5 6-4 6-1.

Djokovic will play Spanish 20th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the fourth round in New York.

"It was a very good performance for my side and I managed to read his serve well," said Djokovic.

"The second and third sets was really a great feeling on the court."

Djokovic, who beat Britain's Kyle Edmund in four sets in the second round, had easily defeated Struff for the loss of just four games at last week's Western and Southern Open, which was also played at Flushing Meadows.

Struff was more competitive here for the first two sets but ultimately had no answer to Djokovic's relentless power and accuracy, with the Serb breaking to love in the fourth game of the third set before hurrying to the finish.

Canadian 12th seed Denis Shapovalov produced a sensational fightback to knock out American 19th seed Taylor Fritz in five sets.

Shapovalov, 21, trailed two sets to one and was 5-2 down in the fourth before rallying to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for only the second time in his career.

Next up for Shapovalov, who went to four sets in his opening two victories, is Belgian ninth seed David Goffin.

"Obviously I'm tired, it is impossible not to say that after a five-setter. But we've had such a long break so overall the body feels pretty fresh," said Shapovalov.

Goffin made lighter work than perhaps anticipated of in-form Serb 26th seed Filip Krajinovic in a 6-1 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54036806

 

[MenInG]

Six-time champion Serena Williams fought back from a slow start to beat fellow American Sloane Stephens and reach the last 16 of the US Open.

Third seed Williams, 38, was sluggish in the opening set before raising her intensity to win 2-6 6-2 6-2 against 26th seed Stephens in New York.

"It was intense, we always have some incredible matches," she said.

Williams, aiming for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title, faces Greek 15th seed Maria Sakkari next.

Sakkari, 25, beat Williams in the three sets at the Western and Southern Open last week.

Williams gave a damning self-assessment after losing to Sakkari, saying there were "really no excuses" after she let a set and a break lead slip in that match.

Now she has a chance to quickly avenge the loss after showing her fighting qualities against 2017 champion Stephens.

While Williams' game is still nowhere near the devastating levels that have won her 23 major titles in singles, the grit and determination showed in switching gears against Stephens will have sent a message to the rest of the field.

Whether that will be enough to win another Grand Slam, moving level with Australian Margaret Court's record and putting the demons of losing her past four major finals behind her, remains to be seen.

Against Stephens, it was a tale of contrasting opening sets. The younger American dominated the first with Williams lacking intensity, before the roles eventually reversed in the second.

Stephens tried to move 38-year-old Williams around the court in the opener and then picked her off with blistering winners.

"In that first set I don't think she made any errors, she was playing so clean," said Williams.

As you would expect from a former Grand Slam champion, Stephens has plenty of class to trouble the very best.

Yet, the 27-year-old has struggled for consistency in the past couple of seasons and went into the match against Williams having not beaten a top-10 player for almost two years.

That inconsistency showed as the match wore on.

Stephens was gifted an opportunity to break for a 3-2 lead in the second when Williams, who was breathing heavily between serves, produced a double fault.

However, Williams discovered her most potent weapon - her first serve - to hold and demoralise Stephens.

Her level dipped from that point as a rejuvenated Williams won 10 of the last 12 games to continue her record of reaching at least the fourth round in every US Open appearance since 1999.

"I just said I don't want to lose in straight sets, because she was playing good," said Williams, who last won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2014.

"I said, 'Serena, just get a game, get a game' and the next thing I knew I won the second set."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54044691

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: “Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 seed in the men’s draw, was disqualified from the U.S. Open after accidentally striking a lineswoman with a ball hit in frustration,” reports <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/wsVDKBa0nY">pic.twitter.com/wsVDKBa0nY</a></p>— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1302705778394984450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[JaDed]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: “Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 seed in the men’s draw, was disqualified from the U.S. Open after accidentally striking a lineswoman with a ball hit in frustration,” reports <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/wsVDKBa0nY">pic.twitter.com/wsVDKBa0nY</a></p>— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1302705778394984450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Having the worst year as a Tennis player, this man , has missed the easiest opportunity to win the GS.

 

[Smbhayi]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: “Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 seed in the men’s draw, was disqualified from the U.S. Open after accidentally striking a lineswoman with a ball hit in frustration,” reports <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/wsVDKBa0nY">pic.twitter.com/wsVDKBa0nY</a></p>— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1302705778394984450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Isn't tennis ball is soft? Guess it won't cause much pain even if hit harder..

 

[Bhaijaan]

There will be blood.

Poor decision by officials who could not understand what it takes to be a champion.

The only solution is no ball boys and line degrees..Fetch your damn ball ita a small court and you have cameras for everything..

If you come near Tennis players, always be prepared for pain because they give it all. It's a life and death situation for champions of tje calibre of Novak Djokovic also popularly known as the Djoker.

 

[MP2011]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: “Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 seed in the men’s draw, was disqualified from the U.S. Open after accidentally striking a lineswoman with a ball hit in frustration,” reports <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/wsVDKBa0nY">pic.twitter.com/wsVDKBa0nY</a></p>— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1302705778394984450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looks disgraceful even if it was unintentional from Joker.

 

[Hitman]

My favourite Rafeal Nadal not playing it. Neither is Roger Federer. Not watching it.

 

[MenInG]

Top seed Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open for accidentally hitting a ball at a line judge in his fourth-round match.

Djokovic, 33, showed his frustration after losing serve to trail 6-5 against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.

The Serbian world number one took a ball out of his pocket and hit it behind him, striking the female line judge in her throat.

After a lengthy discussion, he was defaulted by tournament officials.

A United States Tennis Association statement said: "In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences, the tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 US Open.

"Because he was defaulted, Djokovic will lose all ranking points earned at the US Open and will be fined the prize money won at the tournament in addition to any or all fines levied with respect to the offending incident."

Djokovic was the heavy favourite to win the men's singles title at the US Open, which is being played behind closed doors and is the first Grand Slam to take place since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Going into the encounter with 20th seed Carreno Busta, Djokovic had not lost a singles match in 2020.

He was aiming for an 18th Grand Slam triumph to move closer to rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who are not playing in New York, in the race to finish with the most men's major titles of all time.

Djokovic's exit means there will be a new male Grand Slam champion for the first time since Marin Cilic won at Flushing Meadows in 2014.

A player outside of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal will win a major for the first time since Stan Wawrinka won the US Open in 2016.

Carreno Busta, who reached the US Open semi-finals in 2017, will play Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals after the 21-year-old Canadian 12th seed beat Belgium's David Goffin 6-7 (0-7) 6-3 6-4 6-3.

Djokovic's costly moment of frustration - how the drama unfolded

Djokovic had been playing well up until the game where he lost serve and had three set points at 5-4 before Carreno Busta fought back from 0-40 down.

However, the world number one also showed a flash of his temper during that ninth game by whacking a ball into an advertising board after the Spaniard brought it back to deuce.

Leon Smith, Great Britain's Davis Cup captain, said he was "surprised" Djokovic did not get a warning for that incident, and felt one might have prevented the controversy which followed.

After Djokovic was defaulted, Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "There has to be consistency, if someone hits a ball with that much venom and temper, call a warning.

"The second one can be dangerous and so it proved to be."

In what proved the final game, Djokovic fell and hurt his shoulder, immediately calling for a medical timeout when trailing 0-30. Following treatment, the match resumed with Carreno Busta sealing the game three points later.

It was then that Djokovic hit the ball away, striking the line judge.

Djokovic appeared to plead his case to tournament referee Soeren Friemel and Grand Slam supervisor Andreas Egli during a long conversation at the net.

Eventually, however, he accepted his fate and shook hands with Carreno Busta, who looked shocked by what had happened as he waited for a decision in his chair.

Djokovic left Flushing Meadows without doing his news conference and later posted an apology on his Instagram page.

\Djokovic's opponent Pablo Carreno Busta: "I didn't see the moment, I was looking at my coach, celebrating the break and then I saw the line judge on the floor. I was in shock.

"When they were talking at the net I was focused in case I had to continue playing. This moment was so long. Finally Novak gave me the hand.

"I think it was not intentional. I don't think anyone of us do this intentionally. It's just the moment. It was bad luck.

"Of course you can't do this. The rules are the rules. The referee and the supervisor did the right thing but it isn't easy to make this decision."

GB Davis Cup captain Leon Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "It's a habit. He did it five minutes beforehand, with much more venom, and he was just lucky it hit the advertising board. It could have hit one of the ball kids."

Martina Navratilova, winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles: "Unbelievable what just happened on the court at the US Open - Novak Djokovic defaulted for inadvertently but stupidly hitting a lineswoman in the throat with a ball and the officials had no choice but to default. Wow. Glad the woman is OK - we must do better than that."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54051920

 

[MenInG]

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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0AzAOH2cp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weightrmal; line-height:17px; text-decorationne; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I’m not disclosing her name to respect her privacy. As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior. I’m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Thank you and I’m so sorry. Cela ova situacija me čini zaista tužnim i praznim. Proverio sam kako se oseća linijski sudija, i prema informacijama koje sam dobio, oseća se dobro, hvala Bogu. Njeno ime ne mogu da otkrijem zbog očuvanja njene privatnosti. Jako mi je žao što sam joj naneo takav stres. Nije bilo namerno. Bilo je pogrešno. Želim da ovo neprijatno iskustvo, diskvalifikaciju sa turnira, pretvorim u važnu životnu lekciju, kako bih nastavio da rastem i razvijam se kao čovek, ali i teniser. Izvinjavam se organizatorima US Opena. Veoma sam zahvalan svom timu i porodici što mi pružaju snažnu podršku, kao i mojim navijačima jer su uvek uz mene. Hvala vam i žao mi je. Bio je ovo težak dan za sve.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-spacewrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/djokernole/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weightrmal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Novak Djokovic</a> (@djokernole) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-09-06T2231+00:00">Sep 6, 2020 at 3:58pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

 

[bones]

My favourite Rafeal Nadal not playing it. Neither is Roger Federer. Not watching it.

Not a fan of tennis then?

 

[bones]

There will be blood.

Poor decision by officials who could not understand what it takes to be a champion.

The only solution is no ball boys and line degrees..Fetch your damn ball ita a small court and you have cameras for everything..

If you come near Tennis players, always be prepared for pain because they give it all. It's a life and death situation for champions of tje calibre of Novak Djokovic also popularly known as the Djoker.

Rules are rules so it's not like they changed them just for him or just for the match. But him being kicked out like this will kind of not do the winner any good because many will keep asking, could you have beaten Djokovic if Djokovic had not beaten himself?

However total disqualification for something like that is crazy. A set being taken off or 50% fine would be plenty punishment I think. I mean it will hurt Djokovic in his race to Goat-hood big time but not financially, he'll soak it up fine and move on financially. But someone ranked 50 or lower losing all of their prize money given the curent economic crisis just doesn't seem fair.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Rules are rules so it's not like they changed them just for him or just for the match. But him being kicked out like this will kind of not do the winner any good because many will keep asking, could you have beaten Djokovic if Djokovic had not beaten himself?

However total disqualification for something like that is crazy. A set being taken off or 50% fine would be plenty punishment I think. I mean it will hurt Djokovic in his race to Goat-hood big time but not financially, he'll soak it up fine and move on financially. But someone ranked 50 or lower losing all of their prize money given the curent economic crisis just doesn't seem fair.

This is clearly an overreaction by officials.

Just goes to show Tennis is not a game of men.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Looks disgraceful even if it was unintentional from Joker.

No it does not look disgraceful at all.

Careless? Yes.
Should players avoid this? Yes

Should any player, let alone the #1 seed be dropped from the grand slam for this? You have got to be kidding me

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Way to harsh, ridiculous decision

 

[Bhaijaan]

Federer was also penalized for carelessly throwing ball out of playing area. These officials seem to always choose wrong places and players to show their authority.

 

[MP2011]

No it does not look disgraceful at all.

Careless? Yes.
Should players avoid this? Yes

Should any player, let alone the #1 seed be dropped from the grand slam for this? You have got to be kidding me

It did especially considering the reaction of the victim.

However I agree, he should not have been booted out of a grand slam like this.

 

[Mamoon]

Djokovic paid a price because of toxic feminism. If he had struck a man, he would not have been booted out of the tournament.

These Karens would have stormed social media and accused USTA and ITF of misogyny.

 

[Bhaijaan]

The referee was Swiss

 

[MenInG]

Serena Williams books her place in the US Open quarter-finals.

She beats Maria Sakkari 6-3 7-6 6-3

 

[Indiafan]

Djokovic paid a price because of toxic feminism. If he had struck a man, he would not have been booted out of the tournament.

These Karens would have stormed social media and accused USTA and ITF of misogyny.

Kuch bhi. He has shown many many such instances in the past and was lucky to get away. Almost hit match officials many times with rackets and balls

Rules are rules. Most countries and authorities don't make different rules for their best players

Never expected such a blatant sexist post from you of all people.

 

[MenInG]

Novak Djokovic has asked his fans not to abuse the line judge at the centre of his US Open disqualification.

 

[Uzi]

Never been a fan of Djokovic. Unfortunate way to go out, but he has previous. He has had a number of close calls before.

Quite amusing to see it though. Not sure why they were in discussions on the court for a while after the incident as he should have been defaulted straightaway.

 

[MenInG]

Time for #USOpen quarter-final action!

Serena Williams faces Tsvetana Pironkova...

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Zverev better not scrape the tournament. I think Medvedev favourite, want Them to win

 

[MenInG]

Serena Williams kept alive her hopes of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 win over Tsvetana Pironkova in the US Open quarter-finals.

The American six-time champion, 38, struggled early on with the variety of shots from the unranked player who was in her first tournament in three years.

 

[Firebat]

US Open 2020: Serena Williams & Naomi Osaka target 2018 rematch

Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka will be hoping to secure a rematch of the 2018 US Open final when both semi-finals take centre stage on Thursday.

Six-time champion Williams, 38, who lost that infamous match, faces former world number one Victoria Azarenka.

Japan's Osaka faces 25-year-old American 28th seed Jennifer Brady.

"I think she's a really amazing player, she has the variety that I wish I had so I'm a bit jealous," said 22-year-old Osaka.

Brady, the first female college player since Lori McNeil in 1987 to reach this stage, only won her first title last month. She also comes into this match having won 11 of her past 13 matches, never dropping a set in those victories

Osaka added: "She's super nice and I think it's going to be a really tough match and I think we're both going to try our best."

The Japanese player has improved as the tournament has progressed, with impressive victories over Estonian 14th seed Anett Kontaveit and then American Shelby Rogers in the quarter-finals.

Williams, similarly, has improved match by match and has noticeably grown stronger in the longer contests.

Her victory over Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday was her third successive three-set win at this tournament, and her second where she came from a set down.

"In the beginning I was a little bit fatigued for whatever reason so obviously I can't do that if I want to keep winning so I am going to try to figure that out," said Williams, who is seeking to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

She has faced her opponent Azarenka on 22 occasions, and won 18 of their meetings.

However, the Belarusian seems to be in peak condition. On Wednesday she showed glimpses of the form that led her to two Australian Open titles and the world number spot in the early 2010s during her 6-1 6-0 win over Elise Mertens.

"I'm so excited about this amazing opportunity to play a champion, someone I respect a lot and who's my friend," she said of her forthcoming semi-final. "I hope it will be fun - it'll be fun for me."

Osaka's match against Brady opens up the double bill at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at 00:00 BST before third seed Williams plays Azarenka.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54095960

 

[MenInG]

Serena Williams' latest bid for a 24th Grand Slam singles title ended as Victoria Azarenka rolled back the years to reach the US Open final.

Williams, seeking to equal the all-time record for majors, raced away with the first set but lost 1-6 6-3 6-3 to the inspired former world number one.

The American called on the trainer for an Achilles problem early in the third set and struggled physically from then.

Belarusian Azarenka faces Japan's 2018 champion Naomi Osaka in the final.

Two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka had been appearing in her first Grand Slam semi-final since 2013 after troubled times on and off the court.

But she has been in fantastic form in recent weeks, having now won 11 matches in a row after victory in the Western & Southern Open just before the US Open.

 

[MenInG]

Japanese fourth seed Naomi Osaka reached another US Open final after producing a high-quality performance to edge past American Jennifer Brady.

Osaka, who won the 2018 title, edged an enthralling first set with a dominant tie-break before Brady impressively rallied to force a deciding set.

Both maintained a high level at the start of the third before Osaka took control to win 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 6-3.

Osaka, 22, will play Victoria Azarenka in Saturday's final.

Former world number one Azarenka beat 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in Thursday's second semi-final at Flushing Meadows in New York.

 

[sweep_shot]

US Open 2020: Alexander Zverev beats Pablo Carreno Busta to reach men's final

Germany's Alexander Zverev reached his first Grand Slam final in the most difficult manner after fighting back to beat Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in a tense US Open five-setter.

Spoiler

Fifth seed Zverev, 23, looked lost as Carreno Busta played smartly and precisely to race into a two-set lead.

But Zverev showed incredible resolve to turn the match around and win 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 against the 20th seed.

Zverev will play Dominic Thiem or Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's final.

Austrian second seed Thiem, 27, faces Russian third seed Medvedev - who lost to Spain's Rafael Nadal in last year's final - in Friday's second semi-final at Flushing Meadows.

The final on Sunday will see a new Grand Slam champion crowned for the first time since the 2014 US Open when Croatia's Marin Cilic won.

The absence of Nadal and Switzerland's Roger Federer at the behind-closed-doors Grand Slam, plus the expulsion of Serb top seed Novak Djokovic for hitting a line judge with a ball, has given the chance for a new name to be etched onto a major trophy.

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka was the last man outside of the 'Big Three' to win either the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon or US Open, following his win at Flushing Meadows in 2016.

The chances of Zverev becoming the newest Grand Slam champion looked slim after Carreno Busta's strong start.

But the former world number three is now one win away after a remarkable comeback in a semi-final which was neither high-quality or engrossing.

The German grinned incredulously as he waved his fists towards his box when Carreno Busta lamped a return into the net on the second match point.

"I knew I had to come up with better tennis and be more stable," said a relieved Zverev.

"I knew I had to play better, I've never come back from two sets to love but I'm happy to do it at this stage.

"I'm through to my first Grand Slam final and that's all that matters."

Zverev shows both sides of his ability in strange match
Zverev has long been touted as one of the next generation to eventually replace Nadal, Federer and Djokovic at the top of the men's game, but has too often showed a number of weaknesses which have led to many doubting his true credentials.

Here, the world number seven showed both sides of that make-up as he came back to win from a two-set deficit for the first time in his career.

Zverev lacked purpose and intensity in the opening two sets as a focused Carreno Busta executed the perfect game plan to take advantage.

Zverev's second serve is a glaring weakness in his game and it came to the fore again as things went from bad to worse in the second set.

Double faults in each of his opening two service games contributed to Carreno Busta opening up a 3-0 lead and he ended a one-sided set having won just three of 19 points on his second serve.

Another telling stat was Zverev's 22 unforced errors compared to just three from Carreno Busta's racquet. That led to former US Open semi-finalist Tim Henman describing Zverev's second-set performance as a "horror show" in his role as a television analyst.

Suddenly, Zverev loosened up in the third and began to look more like the player who won the ATP Finals two years ago. His service game improved drastically as he earned four holds to love and also cut down on the unforced errors.

Zverev maintained that level in the fourth as it became a question of whether Carreno Busta could handle his nerves.

The German continued to hit more winners than unforced errors in the decider, helping him break serve in the first and last games of the set.

In truth, it was a mixture of Zverev winning the match and Carreno Busta losing it.

More credit must go to Zverev, though, for showing an incredible resolve and refusing to panic when he faced defeat.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54126174.

 

[The Viper]

US Open 2020: Naomi Osaka beats Victoria Azarenka to win third Grand Slam title

Naomi Osaka demonstrated her growing maturity to fight back against Victoria Azarenka in a compelling US Open final and claim her third Grand Slam title.

Japanese fourth seed Osaka, 22, won 1-6 6-3 6-3 for her second US Open title.

Osaka was overwhelmed in the first set and was in danger of trailing 3-0 in the second before recovering to win 10 of the next 12 games to take momentum.

Belarusian Azarenka, in her first major final since 2013, was broken for 5-3 in the decider before Osaka served out.

Osaka shrieked with joy as she took her second match point, then calmly lay on the court and stared at the New York sky as she contemplated her latest achievement.

Osaka's level raised considerably as 31-year-old Azarenka was unable to maintain the intensity she showed in a one-sided opening set.

The fightback ensured Osaka, who won the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open, maintained her record of winning every Grand Slam final she has played in.

"I don't want to play you in any more finals, I didn't really enjoy that, it was a really tough match for me," Osaka jokingly told Azarenka.

She added: "It was really inspiring for me because I used to watch you play here when I was younger. I learned a lot, so thank you."

Another US Open title for Osaka - but a contrasting occasion

Osaka's maiden victory at Flushing Meadows two years ago came in straight sets against Serena Williams in a hostile environment following the American's infamous argument with umpire Carlos Ramos.

It left Osaka in tears as she stood on the podium waiting to collect her first Grand Slam trophy.

This second success could not have been more different.

Here she had to fight back from a set down against an inspired Azarenka - and navigate a tricky decider which could have swung either way - on an Arthur Ashe Stadium left virtually empty because of the coronavirus pandemic.

And even in what were still strange circumstances, Osaka could this time enjoy the moment with a beaming smile as she lifted the prize in the company of her team and rapper boyfriend Cordae - even if she'd had to take the trophy from the table herself rather than be presented with it because of social distancing rules.

Osaka looked a little lost as Azarenka overwhelmed her in a fast start, hitting 13 unforced errors and struggling to cope with the Belarusian's proactive play and controlled aggression.

Draping a towel over her head at changeovers was a sign of Osaka's concerns. Her attempts to collect her thoughts and regain her composure did not initially work, however.

Another wayward forehand prompted a frustrated Osaka to throw her racquet to the floor in disgust.

Eventually, though, the mental resilience which she says she has developed over recent months came to the fore.

"I just thought it would be embarrassing to lose this under an hour," said Osaka, who will rise to third in the world after her win.

That resulted in a major momentum shift in her favour as Azarenka threatened to move 3-0 ahead in the second set.

A rasping forehand by Osaka at 40-30 proved pivotal, not only in the game, but ultimately in the whole match as she seized control to level.

The former world number one maintained that level in the decider to earn a 4-1 lead, but was unable to convert one of four break points to move 5-1 ahead.

That might have proved costly when Azarenka immediately put the set back on serve, only for Osaka to battle back again by winning what proved to be the final two games.

Osaka gets the world talking

Not only has Osaka impressed on court during the Cincinnati Masters-US Open bubble in the past month, she has also won many admirers for her activism in the fight against racism and police brutality in the United States.

A few days before the start of the US Open, Osaka pulled out of her Western and Southern Open semi-final in protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man, by police in Wisconsin.

Before her US Open first-round match, she wore a face mask with the name of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot dead by a policeman in March.

Osaka, who has Japanese and Haitian parents, and was brought up in the United States, said she had seven masks with seven different names.

Her target was to reveal all of them by reaching Saturday's final and that provided her with extra motivation to win the title, according to her coach Wim Fissette.

"I felt the point was to make people start talking," Osaka said after her victory.

"I've been inside the bubble and not sure what's going on in the outside world. The more retweets it gets, the more people talk about it."

Azarenka wins hearts but falls short of another Slam

Former world number one Azarenka was aiming to complete a remarkable renaissance by landing her first Grand Slam title since defending her Australian Open crown in 2013.

Few had predicted she would compete for the sport's biggest prizes again after a turbulent past few years.

Azarenka took time away from the sport to give birth in December 2016 and had her comeback stalled by a lengthy custody battle over son Leo.

Last week she admitted she had thought about quitting when the WTA Tour was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

She had won only one match in the previous year going into last month's restart, but came back from the enforced break reinvigorated and possessing a fresh perceptive on life.

That enabled her to win a first WTA title in four years when Osaka pulled out of their scheduled Western & Southern Open final with a hamstring injury - and she continued her form in the Grand Slam.

Ultimately though, she could not become the fourth mother to win a major title as Osaka consigned her to a third defeat in a US Open final.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/54132546

 

[asadee]

Hoping Dominic Thiem wins his first slam tonight

 

[Firebat]

US Open 2020: Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev set for New York final

German fifth seed Alexander Zverev says "the two best players in the world" are contesting the US Open men's final when he plays second seed Dominic Thiem.

The pair are close friends and both aiming for a maiden Grand Slam title when they meet at 21:00 BST on Sunday.

Zverev, 23, is competing in his first major final, while Austria's Thiem, 27, has lost his previous three finals.

"It's huge pressure for both of us. We have been working very hard for a long time to win a Slam," Thiem said.

The final at Flushing Meadows in New York will end with the crowning of a new Grand Slam champion for the first time since the 2014 US Open, when Croatia's Marin Cilic won.

The absence of 2019 champion Rafael Nadal and Swiss great Roger Federer at the behind-closed-doors Grand Slam, plus the expulsion of top seed Novak Djokovic for hitting a line judge with a ball, has given the chance for a new name to be etched on to a major trophy.

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka was the last man outside the 'Big Three' to win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon or US Open, following his win at Flushing Meadows in 2016.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54132539

 

[MenInG]

Austria's Dominic Thiem clinched his first Grand Slam title after a gritty fightback from two sets down stunned Alexander Zverev in the US Open final.

Second seed Thiem, 27, had lost his previous three major finals and looked destined for another agonising defeat.

But 23-year-old Zverev, playing in his first Slam final, became edgy at key moments and Thiem took full advantage.

Both players failed to serve out victory in a tense decider before Thiem sealed a 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6 (8-6) win.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54135700

 

[bones]

Hoping Dominic Thiem wins his first slam tonight

He won as expected before the final. However so many people asking the question, could he have beaten the big 3 in BO5? He'd already lost 3 finals to them.

Best way to shut the critics up, go out and beat them in the next slam and win it. For me, it's too late for that anyway, the big 3 are very old so it won't be Thiem beating them it'll be father time.

 

[MenInG]

Novak Djokovic says he must "move on" from his disqualification at the US Open but that he also may never forget the incident.

The world number one was disqualified in the fourth round last week for hitting a line judge with a ball.

Djokovic, 33, had already apologised for the incident which saw him take a ball from his pocket and hit it behind him, striking the judge in her throat.

"I felt really sorry to cause the shock and drama to her," said Djokovic.

Speaking at a media conference in Rome, the 17-time Grand Slam winner added: "It was totally unexpected and very unintended but, when you hit the ball like that, you have a chance to hit somebody that is on the court.

"I accepted it and I had to move on. Of course I didn't forget about it, I don't think I'll ever forget about it.

"Of course it was a shock to finish the US Open the way things finished for me."

Line judge Laura Clark collapsed to the ground and could be heard gasping for breath after being struck by the ball hit by Djokovic, who had just had his serve broken by Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.

He pleaded his case with tournament referee Soeren Friemel and Grand Slam supervisor Andreas Egli during a long conversation at the net but later said the incident had left him feeling "sad and empty".

The Serb is now preparing to play in the Italian Open - his first tournament since his misdemeanour - in order to ready himself for the French Open which begins on 27 September.

"I don't think I'll have any major issues coming back to the Tour and being able to perform well," he added.

"It's great I think that I have a tournament a week or 10 days after it happened because I feel the earlier I get back in competition mode the faster I'll overcome the memory and re-programme it. I'm hoping for the best."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54145030

 

[Firebat]

Dominic Thiem has 'dedicated his whole life' to Grand Slam win

US Open champion Dominic Thiem says his "whole life" has been dedicated to winning his maiden Grand Slam title.

Austrian second seed Thiem fought back from two sets down to beat Germany's Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final.

Thiem, 27, overcame a nervous start - and being unable to serve out victory in a tense deciding set - to win 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6 (8-6) in New York.

"I achieved a life goal, a dream of myself, which I had for many, many years," the world number three said.

"I dedicated basically my whole life until this point to win one of the four majors. Now I did it. That's also for myself a great accomplishment.

"I mean, it's by far not only myself, it's an accomplishment from all my team, from all my family. I guess also today is the day where I gave back a huge amount of what they did for me."

Thiem is the first man born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam singles title.

He has been one of the most consistent players on the ATP Tour over the past five years, winning 17 titles and qualifying for every year-end ATP Finals since 2016.

Thiem has now reached the final at the Australian, French and US Opens, but that success has so far not translated to Wimbledon, where he has won only five matches in the six years he has competed at SW19.

This year's US Open was an unusual tournament, where several top players did not compete because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the event was held behind closed doors in almost empty stadiums.

That led to some pundits and players suggesting there would always be an asterisk next to the winners in the history books.

However, while six of the women's top 10 did not play, only 2019 champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, injured Swiss great Roger Federer and France's Gael Monfils were missing from the men's top 10.

Serbian top seed Novak Djokovic also suffered an unusual early exit after being defaulted for hitting a ball at a line judge in his fourth-round match.

Thiem blamed his nervous start on the pressure of going into the match labelled as the favourite.

He had previously lost the 2018 and 2019 French Open finals to Nadal, before Djokovic fought back from 2-1 down in sets to beat him in February's Australian Open showpiece.

"We both didn't face one of the 'big three', so I guess that was in the back of the head for both of us," said the Austrian.

"That's why we were nervous. It was a very good chance for the both of us."

He said he thought that now he had one Grand Slam title it would be easier for him to chase more success at the highest level.

"Because, of course, I had it in the back of my head that I had a great career so far, way better career than I could ever dreamt of, but until today there was still a big part, a big goal missing," he added.

"With this goal achieved, I think and I hope that I'm going to be a little bit more relaxed and play a little bit more freely at the biggest events."

His next opportunity for Grand Slam success will come round quickly, with the rescheduled French Open beginning on 27 September.

Meanwhile, Zverev - who was playing in his first major final - believes his time will come, despite the disappointing nature of this defeat.

"I was super close to being a Grand Slam champion. I was a few games away, maybe a few points away," said the world number seven, who broke into tears during his runner-up speech.

"What upset me the most is not the third set, it's the fifth set. I had a lot of chances in the fifth set and didn't use them.

"I'm 23 years old. I don't think it's my last chance. I do believe that I will be a Grand Slam champion at some point."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/54135693

 

[asadee]

He won as expected before the final. However so many people asking the question, could he have beaten the big 3 in BO5? He'd already lost 3 finals to them.

Best way to shut the critics up, go out and beat them in the next slam and win it. For me, it's too late for that anyway, the big 3 are very old so it won't be Thiem beating them it'll be father time.

He nearly beat Djokovic earlier this year in Australia, who is arguably the best hardcourt player ever in history. Nadal at French Open is a beast and even the likes of Federer and Djoko haven't been able to conquer him. So to expect Thiem to have beaten them in those 3 slam finals is a little unfair. The fact that he was able to hold his nerve in crunch moments tells me he will win many more now that he has gotten this monkey of winning a major off his back. He has a complete game and that single handed backhand is to die for