The final farewell for Serena Williams wasn’t the only noticeable news from another memorable day at the 2022 US Open.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTWhat a night on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It will be one of those you remember where you watched Serena Williams bring the curtain down on her one-of -a-kind career.
Elsewhere, the US Open was packed with sensational tennis and milestone matches. Here is what you might have missed from New York.
Daniil Medvedev’s title defence is going according to plan. The world No.1 breezed past history-making qualifier Yibing Wu 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 to motor into the last 16.
Well, the second week has served up a blockbuster with Australian Nick Kyrgios up next.
Medvedev claimed a feisty 7-6(1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 duel at the Australian Open, but Kyrgios gained revenge in Montreal last month 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-2.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFTThis is a tough one to call. 23rd seed Kyrgios is in the form of his life, leading the ATP Tour on wins since the beginning of June as Wimbledon finalist and lifting the Washington silverware.
The 27-year-old lit up another night session on Friday, firing 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 onto the scoreboard against promising American wild card J.J. Wolf.
“At the US Open this is the furthest I’ve ever been so it’s a special year for me already, and hopefully I can keep it going,” stated a resurgent Kyrgios, improving to 34-9 in 2022.
“I definitely feel like the way I'm playing, the game plan and the success I had against him in Montreal, I definitely feel like I have a fighting chance. Not many players can say that right now, going in to play Medvedev at the US Open. I think it's going to be a fun battle.”
Medvedev echoed that sentiment.
“We are both quite electric. You never know what's going to happen in the future,” stated the top seed.
“I respect him for what he does. Even if sometimes people can criticise me or him. Nick is a little bit different from other tennis players sometimes on the court. That's his choice. That's his life. I'm not the one to judge. I feel a lot of respect for him.”
The fly with Caro celebration keeps on coming out as Caroline Garcia is simply soaring.
The Frenchwoman is riding a hot streak of 29 wins in her past 33 matches as the Cincinnati champion rocketed 31 winners past 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in a 6-3, 6-2 clinic.
“Very, very intense every single point, every single game,” said 17th seed Garcia, breaking new ground in New York. “Just really happy with the way I played. I manage also the match.”
However, the former world No.4 is brushing aside any title talk with full on focus.
“Ha-ha. It's still a long way for me. It's three match, three wins,” added Garcia. “Obviously it's great to be in the second week for the first time in US Open. Things can go fast.”
The 28-year-old will be the strong favourite up against American Alison Riske-Amritraj , seeking a first Grand Slam quarter-final since Roland-Garros 2017.
“I'm great. I'm calm. Everything goes right,” chuckled Garcia, speaking and competing with such clarity.
“No, it's obviously a challenge every day. You have expectation from the outside. You have expectation about yourself, about your game, what you want to do, what you want to keep improving. It's a challenge of every minute. I'm just enjoying it. It's good pressure, we'll say, a positive energy. We are just focused on that.”
An exuberant celebration said it all, No.5 seed Ons Jabeur was thrilled to make a maiden fourth round at Flushing Meadows.
“Finally! means a lot,” said the relieved Tunisian having dispatched Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. “I know that I don't play the best on hard court, but it's always amazing to see how I'm improving, how I'm pushing my limits.
“I just don't want to stop here. You know how much I love New York, how much I want to be here. I'm just gonna keep fighting and keep pushing and breaking records here.”
2019 semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini came out on top in a pulsating four-set tussle with 2012 champion Andy Murray to set up a last 16 duel with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Coco Gauff followed on Arthur Ashe Stadium and dazzled once again, with some ferocious striking to defeat fellow American Madison Keys 6-2, 6-3.
Roland-Garros finalist Casper Ruud became embroiled in a brutal four-hour battle with home charge Tommy Paul, eventually escaping 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-0.
The Norwegian, in with a shout to finish the fortnight as world No.1, will contend with plenty of French flair in the fourth round. Lucky loser Corentin Moutet continues to rip through the draw, taking down world No.66 Pedro Cachin 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a match dripping with creativity.
No.3 seed Carlos Alcaraz meets Jenson Brooksby for the first time, remember the young American took a set off Novak Djokovic in the fourth round at US Open 2021.
Four-time champion Rafael Nadal will seek a second week ticket going up against familiar foe Richard Gasquet, with a 17-0 record in his corner.
The ever-green Alize Cornet will battle with 19th seed Danielle Collins in what promises to be full of fireworks.
On Louis Armstrong Stadium major champions Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova collide, whilst world No.1 Iga Swiatek will be looking to maintain her perfect 14-0 record against players outside the Top 100 in Grand Slam play when the Pole takes on world No. 105 Lauren Davis in the night session.
Grandstand has an electric Order of Play, which is finished off by French youngster Clara Burel hoping to spring another shock against No.6 seed Aryna Sabalenka.
ROLAND-GARROS
20 May - 9 June 2024
