Defending champion Daniil Medvedev has reached the third round of the ongoing US Open 2022 after beating France’s Arthur Rinderknech in the second round in straight sets by 6-2, 7-5, 6-3, here on Thursday.
With this win, the World No. 1 has now reached the third round at Flushing Meadows for the fifth consecutive year. He has now won 20 of his past 22 matches at the year’s final major. Medvedev will next play China’s Wu Yibing, with the prospect of a fourth-round blockbuster against Australian Nick Kyrgios if they both win their next match.
The 26-year-old Russian constantly threatened Rinderknech’s serve, converting five of the 17 break points he earned. Medvedev also saved all three break points he faced to advance after two hours and 11 minutes. Medvedev’s next opponent, Wu, defeated Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 after three hours and 46 minutes.
The 22-year-old became the first male singles player from China to reach the third round of the US Open in tournament history (since 1881) and the first male singles player from China to advance to the third round at a major since Kho Sin-Khie at Wimbledon in 1946.
Serena Williams retirement on hold after win over world No. 2
Playing more like a world number one than a player ranked outside the top 600, Serena Williams turned back the clock on Wednesday to stun world number two Anett Kontaveit 7-6(4) 2-6 6-2 and move into the third round of the U.S. Open, putting her retirement plans on pause.
Defeat has always been hard to swallow for the fiercely competitive Williams and the 40-year-old American’s relentless will to win was on full display during an absorbing two-hour 27-minute contest of unexpected high quality, breathless intensity and drama.
Williams had signalled her intention to retire earlier this month, saying she was “evolving away from tennis”, but never confirmed the U.S. Open as her final event. Any farewell has now been put on hold with Williams due back on centre court on Thursday for a doubles match with older sister Venus, followed by a third round clash on Friday with Australian Ajla Tomljanovic who was a 1-6 6-2 7-5 winner over Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina.
With 23 Grand Slam titles and widely regarded as the greatest women’s player of all time, Williams indeed has done it all on the tennis court.
Coco Gauff moves into third round
America’s Coco Gauff defeated Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 7-6 (4) in a second-round match in the U.S. Open here on Wednesday.
At the age of 18, the No.12-seeded Gauff is the second-youngest player left in the women’s draw — and yet, she’s widely viewed as one of the favourites to win the US Open title, along with top-ranked Iga Swiatek. Reaching the final at Roland Garros has accelerated the expectations surrounding this teenager — perhaps most importantly in her own mind. She recently became the second-youngest WTA doubles No.1 in history and is seeded No.2 alongside Pegula this fortnight. She’s also No.6 in the WTA Race to the Finals for singles players on the strength of advancing to the quarterfinals in Toronto.
In fact, her next opponent, Madison Keys, was among a group of three seeded Americans that are also through to the third round in bottom-half.
