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Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semi-finals despite first-round losses at the US Open on Tuesday, while two-time champion Naomi Osaka made a tearful and colourful return to Flushing Meadows.
World number one Sinner recovered from a set and a break down to beat 140th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald in his first match since being embroiled in a doping test controversy.
Alcaraz, the third seed and 2022 champion in New York, recovered from a second-set deficit to beat 186th-ranked qualifier Li Tu of Australia 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The Italian Sinner prevailed 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 over American opponent McDonald at Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning 18 of the final 22 games.
The 23-year-old was returning to the field just a week after failing two drug tests in March.
However, he escaped a longer ban after officials decided he was not guilty of the presence of the banned anabolic agent clostebol in his body.
“A lot of support”
“I think the reaction from the fans has been great, when the news came out, even during the practice sessions, there has been a lot of support,” Sinner said.
“It’s still not easy one bit. You have to go through it day by day.”
Alcaraz, who won the first of his four Grand Slam titles in New York in 2022, starts the night session against To, who has not won a match on the main tour this year.
However, Tu thrilled the crowd as he was set to face a player who was attempting to become the third man in the modern era to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year. After losing the opening set, Tu equalised on the fifth set point in the second set.
But Alcaraz dashed any signs of a surprise result to win the match and record his 15th consecutive Grand Slam match win.
“He surprised me”
“He surprised me a bit. In the first set he was nervous but after that he composed himself and played great tennis,” the Spanish star said.
Naomi Osaka, who missed last year’s tournament after giving birth to her daughter Shai, caused an upset by beating 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko.
Former world number one Osaka, now ranked 88th, won 6-3, 6-2, her first win over a top 10 seed in four years.
The Japanese star hit nine aces among 19 winners and made just five unforced errors compared to his opponent’s 21.
Her tennis play was as eye-catching as her outfit. Osaka took to the court wearing a brightly colored giant bow on the back of her jacket and a frilly skirt over her game dress.
To complete the outfit, the 26-year-old added tiny bows to the heels of both shoes.
“Last year I was watching Coco (Gauff) play and I wanted to step on these courts again,” four-time major winner Osaka said in tears.
“means a lot”
“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it… winning this match and being in this atmosphere means a lot to me.”
World number one and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek defeated 104th-ranked Kamila Rakhimova after saving three set points in the second set.
French Open champion Swiatek, seeking a second New York title to add to her four triumphs in Paris, beat the plucky Russian 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to take her match-winning record this season to 54.
However, the Polish player had a disappointing performance as he made 41 unforced errors.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev, who dashed Novak Djokovic’s dream of a calendar Grand Slam by winning the 2021 US Open, cruised to a four-set win over Dujan Lajovic.
Tsitsipas stunned
Greek 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has never reached the second week at the tournament, was beaten 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 by Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.
2016 champion Stan Wawrinka lost 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci.
Men: Second Round: 9-Dimitrov (Bull) bt Hijikata (Aus) 6-1, 6-1, 7-6(4); Griekspoor (Ned) bt 21-Báez (Arg) 6-1, 2-0, ret; Nakashima (USA) bt Cazaux (Fra) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; 32-Lehecka (Cze) bt Krueger (USA) 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. First Round: 25-Draper (GBr) bt Zhang (Chi) 6-3, 6-0, 4-0, ret; Kokkinakis (Aus) bt 11-Tsitsipas (Gre) 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5; 1-Sinner (Ita) bt McDonald (USA) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2; 5-Medvedev (Rus) bt Lajovic (Srb) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1; 24-Fils (Fra) bt Tien (USA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2; 10-De Minaur (Aus) v Giron (USA) 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4; Evans (GBr) bt 23-Khachanov (Rus) 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4; 16-Korda (USA) bt Moutet (Fra) 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-0; O’Connell (Aus) bt 26-Jari (Chi) 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; 3-Alcaraz (Asp) bt Tu (Aus) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; 14-Paul (USA) v Sonego (Ita) 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
Couple: Bhambri (India) and Olivetti (Fra) vs Segerman and Thrack (USA) 6-3, 6-4.
women, Second Round: Mertens (Bel) bt Tomljanovic (Aus) 6-3, 6-2; Niemeyer (Ger) bt Uchijima (Jpn) 6-4, 6-0; 26-Badosa (Asp) bt Townsend (USA) 6-3, 7-5; Ruse (Roo) bt 8-Krejcikova (Czech) 6-4, 7-5; 14-Keys (USA) bt Joint (Aus) 6-4, 6-0. First Round: Osaka (Jpn) bt 10-Ostapenko (Lat) 6-3, 6-2; 21-Mira Andreeva (Rus) bt Osorio (Col) 6-2, 7-6(4); Zarazua (Mexico) bt 28-Garcia (Fra) 6-1, 6-4; 15-Kalinskaya (Rus) bt Davis (USA) 6-2, 6-2; 4-Rybakina (Kaz) bt Aiava (Aus) 6-1, 7-6(1); 18-Schnyder (Rus) bt Podoroska (Arg) 6-0, 6-1; 15-Samsonova (Rus) bt Wang (Chn) 6-2, 7-5; 22-Haddad Maia (Bra) bt Avanesyan (Rus) 4-6, 6-0, 6-2; 5-Paolini (Ita) bt Andreescu (Can) 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4; 6-Pegula (USA) bt Rodgers (USA) 6-4, 6-3.
Fallen seeds
Male: 21-Baez, 11-Tsitsipas, 23-Khachanov, 26-Jari
women: 8-Krejcikova, 10-Ostapenko, 28-Garcia, 23-Fernandez
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