US Open: A review of Day 5's events

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Sorona Cirstea beat former Wimbledon Champion Elena Rybakina, Image Credits: US Open

Men's draw:

Novak Djokovic came back from two sets down to win his second-round match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium against his fellow countryman Laslo Djere. This was the 23-time grand slam champion’s eighth comeback from two sets down in a major tournament. Djere began the match by breaking Djokovic in the very first game and then saving three break points in his next two service games. The Serbian No.2 showed great skill at the net winning 8 of the 9 points in the first set while also attacking Djokovic’s second serve continuously. Djere took the first set 6-4.

Djere began the second set in a similar attacking fashion as he put relentless pressure on Djokovic’s serve bringing out a couple of breaking points before managing to convert one taking the second set 6-4. It all went downhill for Djere after the second set as a rejuvenated Djokovic suddenly seemed to be a man on a mission taking the next two sets 6-1 6-1. Djere was broken five times in these two sets as he was put under immense pressure by Djokovic who brought 12 breakpoints on Djere’s serve.

Djere couldn’t hold onto the opportunities he created as Djokovic’s experience proved too much for him. Djokovic broke early again in the fifth set and sealed the match winning the final set 6-3. In stark contrast, Taylor Fritz had an easy outing against the 18-year-old Jakub Mensik winning the match 6-1 6-2 6-0. Fritz had no trouble whatsoever throughout the match as he didn’t face a single breakpoint.

Dominic Stricker who took out Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round, continued his advance into the fourth round of the US Open by beating Benjamin Bonzi in five sets. It was his first fourth round appearance and he needed to come back after losing the first set 2-6 by winning crucial points at critical junctures thereby taking the next two sets.

Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and Ben Shelton won their matches against Adrian Mannarino, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Aslan Karatsev respectively. All three of them won their matches in four sets.

Women's draw:

The World No. 4 and the former Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina crashed out of the US Open in the third round against world No. 30 Sorona Cirstea. Cirstea came out with an aggressive mindset to put pressure on Rybakina early. She achieved that by breaking Rybakina in the fourth game of the first set as she brought out three break points in that game. Cirstea then took control of the set winning it 6-4 in 34 minutes including hitting a beautiful half volley on set point.

Cirstea began the second set by breaking Rybakina in the first game but Rybakina managed to break Cirstea immediately. Both players could then hold on to their serve, although, Cirstea had to save six breakpoints in total before the tiebreaker. Rybakina raced to an early lead of 4-0 in the tiebreaker but Cirstea showed resilience once again to even it out to 4-4. Rybakina needed five set points before clinching the set.

In the third set, both players completely seemed out of touch on their own serves as there were seven breaks in total. Cirstea edged out the advantage as Rybakina double-faulted on match point. Cirstea won the match 6-3 6[4]-7 6-4.

Iga Swiatek continued her dominance over lower-ranked players by winning her match against Kaja Juvan 6-0 6-1. The Pole won 50 out of the 65 points and at one stage won 13 points in a row to clinch the match in just 50 minutes. In stark contrast, most of the other top seeds had to fight it in three sets to advance to Round four.

Caroline Wozniacki defeated Jennifer Brady coming from a set down. Wozniacki lost her serve twice in the first set and lost it again early in the second set. However, as she broke back Brady in the second set, she looked like a completely different player she dominated Brady beating her 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Karolina Muchova won her match in straight sets against Taylor Townsend but not before being pushed to the tie-breaker by the American. Once into the tie-breaker, Muchova found her form winning the tiebreak 7-0 and then taking the second set 6-3. Coco Gauff lost the first set to Elise Mertens 3-6 but came back brilliantly as she only lost three games in the next two sets winning them 6-3 6-0.

References

  1. Main Image Credits: US open Link: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/photos/index.html
  2. Thumbnail Image Credits: US Open Link: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/photos/index.html