(New York) Caroline Wozniacki continues to have success in her return to the game. The 33-year-old Dane won 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Friday against American Jennifer Brady, another player back in action after a long absence.
Wozniacki raised his fist in the sky and looked down the stands at his spouse after earning his ticket to the round of 16 at the U.S. Open, only his third tournament since his turn after a three-and-a-half-year absence .
“It’s a dream come true to play here at Arthur Ashe Stadium and to have this support,” Wozniacki said in his on-field interview after his win. It’s a great honour. »
Wozniacki will face sixth-seeded American Coco Gauff, who beat Belgium’s Elise Mertens 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, in the next round. Until then, she plans to enjoy some time with her 2-year-old daughter, Olivia, and 10-month-old son, James.
The former world No. 1 and 2018 Australian Open champion left the tennis world in 2020 to start a family. She took advantage of an invitation from the organizers to access the main draw in New York and she believes she has the tools to extend her career.
In the evening, the fourth seed Elena Rybakina was eliminated from the tournament against Sorana Cirstea. Down 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4, Rybakina is the top seed to be knocked out so far.
Cirstea, 30e seeded, advanced to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first of her career. Rybakina wanted to reach the round of 16 at this tournament for the first time.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion had had some good results on hard courts this year and hoped to continue that momentum as she made the Australian Open final. Rybakina also won the Indian Wells tournament, before being a finalist in Miami in the days that followed.
Rybakina had taken advantage of the abandonment of Ajla Tomljanovic in the second round, she who withdrew with a knee injury. Rybakina, however, was not at the top of her game in her first match since Monday, she who committed 56 unforced errors. She also got broken six times.
PHOTO CHARLES KRUPA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
In the evening, the fourth seed Elena Rybakina was eliminated from the tournament against Sorana Cirstea.
Cirstea will face the 15e seeded Belinda Bencic, Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Iga Swiatek was merciless past Kaja Juvan, beating the Slovenian from qualifying 6-0, 6-1 in just 49 minutes. The world No. 1 has thus reached the fourth round of the United States Open.
Swiatek, also defending champion in New York, has lost just nine games since the start of the tournament. The Pole has won 19 rounds to nil this season.
“I didn’t like having to beat my best friend,” Swiatek said in an on-court interview after her match. It was like playing against my sister. I don’t have many friends, but she is my best friend. »
In the next round, Swiatek will face the Latvian and 20e seeded Jelena Ostapenko, 2017 French Open champion. Ostapenko defeated American Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
PHOTO MARY ALTAFFER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
World number 1 Iga Swiatek hugs her best friend on the circuit Kaja Juvan after the match.
The American and 10e top-seeded Frances Tiafoe advanced to the third round with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(6) win over No. 22 Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Last year, Tiafoe defeated Rafael Nadal, on his way to the semi-finals.
Tiafoe, 25, admitted that all of his preparation this season has been in preparation for the US Open.
“The rest of the summer didn’t matter to me. It’s this tournament that really matters,” said Tiafoe.
PHOTO BRENDAN MCDERMID, REUTERS
Frances Tiafoe
His compatriot and 14e top seed Tommy Paul reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time in his career with a 6-1, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 win over the Spaniard and 21e seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Paul ended the game by hitting a 15e ace.
“I think I served well and did well going into the net. I also managed to use the whole court,” said Paul, who reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Paul will now face 20-year-old American Ben Shelton, who defeated Russian Aslan Karatsev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
American Taylor Fritz, No. 9, joined his compatriots in the fourth round early in the evening. He defeated Czech qualifier Jakub Mensik 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
A fifth American could reach the fourth round on Saturday, when Michael Mmoh plays Britain’s Jack Draper.
“They are a talented group and have always done well within their age group. We all played in important matches in the lower tiers. Now we find ourselves in the elite,” mentioned Tiafoe, who will face Australian Rinky Hijikata in the next round.
“When you see guys you’ve known for a long time being successful, it also makes you believe in them. It can create a domino effect,” he added.
Meanwhile, No. 10 Karolina Muchova beat American Taylor Townsend 7-6(0), 6-3 in another third-round match.
PHOTO DANIELLE PARHIZKARAN, USA TODAY SPORTS
Karolina Muchova
Muchova, who reached the final at the French Open this year, matched her career-best result at Flushing Meadows by unsettling her rival with numerous serve and volley combinations. Townsend committed 39 unforced errors.
Finalist in Cincinnati in August, Muchova will face in the fourth round the Chinese Xinyu Wang, who beat the Slovak Karolina Schmiedlova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
In the evening, No. 2 Novak Djokovic came from behind to win 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 against fellow Serbian Laslo Djere, No. 32. Djokovic is looking for a 24e major title.
A loss at this stage of the tournament would have been Djokovic’s earliest in New York since 2006.
The match lasted over three hours and 30 minutes and ended shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday night.
It was an eighth victory for Djokovic when he lost the first two sets of a major tournament match. He also improved his game record having gone to the limit at 38-11.
