Andy Murray clinched his 200th Major victory with a less-than-straightforward win in straight-sets against the unpredictable Frenchman Corentin Moutet, while 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev and America’s top-ranked player Jessica Pegula scored quick opening round victories elsewhere on Day 2 in New York.
Pegula and Medvedev waste no time on Day 2
- Elena Rybakina vs. Ajla Tomljanovic and Caroline Wozniacki vs. Petra Kvitova a pair of intriguing second-round matches in today’s night session
- Carlos Alcaraz eased to 6-2, 3-2 ret. win over injured Dominic Koepfer, after rival Jannik Sinner’s 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 victory vs. Yannick Hanfmann
- Eight seeded players fell to early exits across Day 2 play, including Caroline Garcia [7] and Croatian pair Donna Vekic [21], Borna Coric [27]
Pegula [3] bt. Giorgi 6-2, 6-2
On a day where three of her American compatriots progressed into round two in the women’s draw, Montreal champion Jessica Pegula made relatively quick work of familiar foe Camila Giorgi on Arthur Ashe in their third meeting of the season.
Giorgi, who surprised Bianca Andreescu as a qualifier in the Canadian city but couldn’t back up that scalp in the subsequent round, has giantkilling potential but her booming ball-striking capabilities can be limited by keeping her on the move.
Pegula found her rhythm to secure an early break and dropped just three points behind her first serve (89%, 25/28) in a match quickly evading the Italian’s grasp.
She fended off four break points, holding serve to start set two but the world no. 3’s persistence paid off – gladly seizing the break at 3-2, at the seventh time of asking.
She’ll play Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig on Thursday, with either Wimbledon semifinalist Elina Svitolina [26] or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova awaiting the winner this weekend in R3 – a stacked portion of the draw that looks up for grabs.
2021 champ Medvedev gets up and running
Medvedev [3] bt. Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0
2021 titlist Daniil Medvedev served eight aces, had a +28 differential between winners and unforced errors (41-13) while reeling off nine consecutive games from 3-1 up in set two to finish with a flourish against Hungary’s Attila Balazs during a ruthless start to the day’s play on Arthur Ashe. The 27-year-old showed no mercy.
There will be tougher tests in the forthcoming rounds, naturally, but Medvedev’s lapses of concentration – unforeseen performance dips – have cost him dearly on a handful of occasions this season, like a first-round French Open upset or Alexander Zverev exacting some long-awaited revenge in Cincinnati this month.
So with that in mind, long may this clinical streak continue as the Russian looks to quietly bide his time and prepare for another deep Major run.
When he’s on-form, the tennis is a joy to behold and much has been said about another Djokovic-Alcaraz final, but he’ll be looking to disrupt those plans.
Up next for him in R2: Australia’s Christopher O’Connell, after the 29-year-old held his nerve against compatriot and doubles specialist Max Purcell in a four-set battle.
Speaking of Australians, that’s a section of the draw featuring Alex de Minaur [13] – who beat the former world no. 1 earlier this month after two tight sets in Toronto.
Brit watch as Draper, Boulter among winners
- Miyazaki vs. Olympic champion Belinda Bencic set for Wednesday, Jodie Burrage will face Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday
- Beware what awaits you: Tough trio of opponents beckon for Jack Draper, Murray and Dan Evans after their respective straight-set victories
- Cameron Norrie, who reached R4 twelve months ago, finds himself in the same section as defending champion Carlos Alcaraz… and Evans too
After Lily Miyazaki’s first Major victory in straight-sets against Margarita Betova (6-3, 6-3) on Day 1, five other British players were in action during a busy second day at Flushing Meadows and all ultimately proved successful too.
16th seed and last year’s Wimbledon semifinalist Cameron Norrie needed little over 90 minutes to dispatch of Russia’s Alexander Shevchenko (6-3, 6-2, 6-2) while 21-year-old talent Jack Draper continued his return from another troublesome injury layoff, proving too much for Radu Albot in straight-sets elsewhere (6-1, 6-4, 6-3).
Dan Evans [26] had a more difficult outing against Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan but also got the job done (6-4, 6-2, 7-5) without the need for an extra set or two while Andy Murray endured the entire Corentin Moutet experience on the Grandstand court in a three-hour tussle against a Frenchman who crucially couldn’t keep his cool.
As mentioned above, the step-up in opposition is considerable between rounds.
Draper will face Hubert Hurkacz [17], having twice lost to the Pole in three-set encounters over the past ten months… while Murray also has a ranked adversary next in Grigor Dimitrov [19], in their first showdown since the Beijing 2016 final.
Evans will prepare for a maiden meeting against the dangerous Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, who surprised many by reaching the 2021 quarterfinals and has been a steady contender on tour despite struggling for form in recent months.
Stay tuned to moandsports.com for the latest coverage, as I’ll continue producing daily pieces (news, round-ups, features) across this fortnight as the final Major – and inevitable storylines – develop over the coming days…
Picture source: Getty Images
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