The likes of Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka booked third round spot at Flushing Meadows.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTThe sweltering temperatures reached 35 degrees on Wednesday at the US Open, which was matched by the scorching tennis on show.
Around the grounds at Flushing Meadows the shocks, blazing performances and hot shots created another catalogue of memorable moments. Here are the key headlines from stateside...
The home crowd certainly have plenty to shout about in Queens.
Defending champion Coco Gauff roared into the third round with a 6-4, 6-0 passage past Tatjana Maria on Arthur Ashe Stadium. In the process the 20-year-old lined-up a Box Office Last 32 clash with No.27 seed Elina Svitolina. "I have nothing to lose," declared Gauff on the topic of retaining the title. "I'm 20-years-old and already have one under my belt."
In terms of the stars and stripes, there were also straight sets victories for former finalist Madison Keys and Emma Navarro, who set up a third round tussle with No.19 seed Marta Kostyuk.
Ben Shelton struck some pulsating shots on the run to down Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, whilst Frances Tiafoe was leading Alexander Shevchenko by two sets before the Kazakh was forced to retire.
Time for a Shelton versus Tiafoe rematch. "I am really looking forward to it," said Shelton, a semi-finalist last September. "We had a great (four-set) battle in the quarters last year and I am sure it will be another popcorn match."
What about Tiafoe's take on being reunited with Shelton? "He's very much like me in how excited and energetic he is on the court and has such a big game and big shots and serves big and gets the crowd going," said the 2022 semi-finalist. "He's young, funny, cracks jokes. Just about as immature as I am. It's going to be tough but I'm super excited."
American No.1 Taylor Fritz quelled the firepower of Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-1 to bolster Team USA's progress.
Other men's Top 10 talent advancing included No.9 seed Grigor Dimitrov downing Rinky Hijikata 6-1, 6-1, 7-6(4) and 2020 runner-up Alexander Zverev ousting Alexandre Müller 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-1 to book a third round berth.
Last year in New York, Novak Djokovic, en route to an unprecedented 24th men's singles Grand Slam title, was forced to battle from two sets down wrestling fellow Serbian Laslo Djere.
Reunited on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night, the reigning champion led 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 prior to Djere's retirement.
In doing so, Djokovic posted his 90th victory at the US Open. Earning another slice of history, Djokovic becomes the first man to achieve that tally across all four majors.
The evergreen 37-year-old will be severely test in the third round up against Montreal Masters 1000 champion Alexei Popyrin, who has taken Djokovic to four sets at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2024.
➡️ Interview Alexei Popyrin: "I'm able to compete with the best players in the world"
For the second match in a row, Paris 2024 gold medallist Zheng Qinwen was taken the distance. The No.7 seed found the formula 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-2 to defeat Erika Andreeva.
Since the beginning of May, then ranked as low as No.140, Paula Badosa was been on an astonishing run, claiming 22 of her past 28 matches. The most recent triumph was an impressive 6-3, 7-5 scoreline over in-form American Taylor Townsend.
As a reward for her finest US Open to date, former world No.2 Badosa will duel with qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The Romanian was in "dreamland" having dispatched Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-4, 7-5 for a maiden venture into a major third round.
Having extended her stay at the US Open, Badosa had some heartfelt words for her boyfriend and mixed doubles partner Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was defeated in the opening round by Thanasi Kokkinakis.
"We’re looking forward to it," said the Spaniard ahead of their mixed doubles campaign. "It’s really nice to share the court together. We spend time off court, but also on court. It’s really special in a slam. It’s like a dream come true. Big shout out to him. He’s going through tough moments. But he’s a champion and he will always be a champion.”
There is nowhere else to look, Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka was facing the exit door at two sets and 3-0 down to qualifier Mitchell Krueger, but somehow reeled in the American for a sensational 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 tide turner.
His next opponent, No.6 seed Andrey Rublev, will know that exact feeling, having also erased a two-set deficit to overcome Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
On top of that, No.18 seed Lorenzo Musetti fended off two match points to inch past Miomir Kecmanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 to advance into the Last 32 too.
Take a bow Rublev and Rinderknech.
This 37-shot lung-bursting exchange, in that searing heat, deserved a standing ovation. Take a look at the video below.
How cute is this? World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka had an extra special fan in the house during her routine 6-3, 6-1 dismissal of Lucia Bronzetti.
The young girl, with the matching outfit, matching tiger 'tattoo' caught the eye of Sabalenka and got to meet her hero.
Prepare for your heart to melt...
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
