written by Marvin A. Azrak.
The second stanza of the 2022 US open, accentuated by robust dalliance, saw Serena Williams persist to the round of 32 after her deranging of NO2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 on Wednesday night in front of another raucous contingent of Williams-clad fans.
The 23-time grand slam champion had previously announced she would be “evolving away from tennis” and retiring after the tournament. At 41 and having only played five matches all season due to injury, it’s stupefying to have watched her effectively refurbish the vigorous form displayed throughout her 25-year career. Elsewhere, candidates for the next American tennis great have augur’d their tales, particularly 18-year-old sensation Coco Gauff, who recorded her second consecutive sweep and a spot in the third round. On the men's side, we’re still on track for a Medvedev-Nadal final after big wins from both. Still, victories from Carlos Alcaraz and Nick Kyrigos have maintained the ambiguity this tournament annually brings.
SECOND ROUND TAKEAWAYS:
SERENA’S ENCORE:
The sequel on Wednesday followed the spectacle from Monday’s 6-3, 6-3 first-round win over Danka Kovinic, which was perceived as the proper sendoff for the legend, assuming her shortcomings would arise in her next match against the second-ranked player in the world Anett Kontaveit. However, to the mirth of another dense crowd, Serena unleashed a resolute brand of tennis, relishing the serve, intangibles, composure, and defense that allowed her to hold her own against the 27-year-old hotshot and, as the match progressed, elevated her level of play amassing flashes of her ethereal play from slams past. “I still have a lot left in me,” Williams said in court in her post-match interview, “I’m just Serena… trying to leave it all out there”. She faces 46-ranked Aja Tomoljanovic on Friday with a shot at qualifying for the slam’s second week, despite currently being ranked NO605 in the world.
HOT COCO:
Coco Gauff steamrolled into round three with a convincing 6-2, 7-6(4) win over Elena-Gabriela- Ruse on Wednesday, converting on 4/5 of her break point opportunities and emerging victorious in the extended rallies.
SAKKARI’D:
2021 Semifinalist and world NO3 Maria Sakkari was upended by 75 seed Xiyu Wang 3-6, 7-5, 7-5, creating a pregnable quarter in the draw up for the taking.
THE WINNING KEY:
Despite a valiant effort from Camila Gorgi, the 20th ranked Madison Keys overcame a 2-5 deficit in the decisive 10-point third set tiebreaker for an enrapturing 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(6) win. It was an affair that was sloppy at times, with the two heavy hitters combining for 85 unforced errors. Still, the intensity overshadowed discrepancies, developing into an instant classic and the tournament’s most ambrosial climax.
SWIATEK, PEGULA, AND COLLINS ENJOY ROUND 2 PEALS OF LAUGHTER:
Top-seeded Iga SWIATEK routed former US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday, as the tournament favorite continuously makes light work of her early opponents. Top-ranked American Jessica Pegula basked in the home crowd to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Aliaksnadra Sasnovich, and Daniel Collins skylark’d Cristina Busca 6-2, 7-5 just two days after dispatching former world NO1 Naomi Osaka in straights.
RAFA, MEDVEDEV, KYRIGOS, ALCARAZ, THROUGH TO RD3:
Reigning champion Danil Medvedev pulverized Arthur Rindkerknech 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 and has outscored opponents 37-16 thus far. The always fierce Nick Kyrigos toughed his way into round three with a blistering 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Benjamin Bonzi. Rafael Nadal rallied following what he sufficed as “One of the worst starts of my career,” trailing Fabio Foggini 2-6, 2-4 before storming back for a resounding 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 win to close out round two at the open and improve to 21-0 in grand slam matches this year. Carlos Alcaraz slammed his second consecutive Argentinan opponent into submission, defeating Federico Cora 6-2, 6-1, 7-5.
JACK DRAPE’S FAA:
Representing Canada, ninth-ranked Felix-Auger- Aliasme was stunned by 53 seed Jack Draper from Great Britain, who, galvanized by the prime-time crowd, used his prolific serve to catalyze a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 triumph.
PAUL, GALAN MAKING MOST OF THE PARTY:
Tommy Paul and Daniel Galan entered this US Open eluded what it felt like to win a match in New York, yet now have two. Paul eked out another five-set victory over fellow American Sebastian Korda 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the third round in Queens for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, qualifier David Galan off his upset four-set win over NO4 seed Stefanos Tstipas in round one, defeated Australian Jordan Thomson 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a 3-hour 52 marathon. The two have genuinely made the best of their newfound success in the big apple.
CORIC’D BY THE BROOKS TRAIN:
The igneous 29th ranked Borna Coric was poised for a deep run this fortnight. Still, American Jensen Brooksby infringed the Croatian on his home turf, winning their second round tussle 6-4, 7-6(10) 6-1, and will meet 19-year-old phenom Carlos Alcaraz, in the third round.
GRIGOR’D AGAIN:
For the third straight year, Grigor Dimitrov was extinguished in the second round of the US Open. He hasn’t displayed affective competence since his trip to the 2019 semifinal, where he fell to eventual champion Rafael Nadal. This time, he was victimized by American Brandon Nakashima 7-6(5), 7-5, 6-3, as the 69 seed advanced to round three at the open for the first time in his career.
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