2019 US Open Day 6: Naomi Osaka reminds world why she's the No. 1 seed
Here’s a recap of Saturday’s action from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Shapovalov can’t quite knock off Monfils
While he took it to the fifth set, Canadian Denis Shapovalov couldn’t quite pull off the upset on Saturday night at the US Open.
Shapovalov fell to France’s Gael Monfils 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in a marathon match that lasted more than three hours.
LAMONF does it!@Gael_Monfils celebrates in serious style after a 5-set thriller over Shapovalov...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/HRJX7sRrgs
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019
🔥LIGHT 🔥 IT 🔥 UP 🔥@Gael_Monfils at his very best...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/TKRZf3LdUw
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019
Monfils, the No. 13 seed, will advance to the fourth round to take on Spain’s Pablo Andujar.
Nick Kyrgios falls to Andrey Rublev
Nick Kyrgios is headed home.
The No. 28 seed fell to Russia’s Andrey Rublev 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 on Saturday night in the third round of the US Open.
💪 @AndreyRublev97 💪
The Russian defeats Kyrgios 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 and will face Berrettini in R4...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/AsrCaVcioP— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019
After a brief heated incident with the officials in his opening round match in New York, Kyrgios again got into it with a linesman on Saturday night in a bizarre rant after the official approached the chair umpire to report an “audible obscenity.”
Kyrgios later called the line official a “whistleblower,” and said he couldn’t see well because he was playing too much “Call of Duty” before the match.
Rublev will take on Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the fourth round.
Naomi Osaka cruises over Coco Gauff
In a rather anti-climactic development for easily the US Open’s most anticipated match, No. 1 seed and defending champ Naomi Osaka made 15-year-old Coco Gauff look like ... a 15-year-old.
After an exchange of breaks early in the first set, it was all Osaka as she abused Gauff’s serve and ripped winners at will (a total of 24) on her way to a 6-3, 6-0 win.
A touching scene emerged following the match, as Osaka had a quick heart-to-heart with the tearful Gauff.
❤️🎾@Naomi_Osaka_ | @CocoGauff#USOpen pic.twitter.com/ouVQenQki6
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019
Osaka will advance to the fourth round with the win, facing No. 13 seed Belinda Bencic. The 21-year-old now finds herself in quite the enviable position, as Bencic actually represents the highest seed left on her side of the draw before the finals.
Meanwhile, Gauff will head home having further established herself as a significant part of tennis’ future.
Nadal eases into Round of 16
No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal handily defeated Korea’s Hyeon Chung for his 60th US Open win. He won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, and advanced to the second week of the Open for the 11th time in his career.
He will face the winner of the match between John Isner and Marin Cilic.
Wozniacki defeated in straight sets
Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki fell in the third round in straight sets to 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu, who won her 10th consecutive match.
Andreescu, making her US Open debut, continued her breakout year. She generated 17 break points and followed through on six of them, overpowering Wozniacki at times. Wozniacki also dealt with a nagging ankle injury throughout the match.
Bianca Andreescu beats Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.
10 consecutive wins for Bibi, who is now 41-4 in 2019.— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 31, 2019
The Canadian will take on another upstart youngster in Taylor Townsend in the Round of 16.
Townsend continues surprising run
American Taylor Townsend, who upset reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep on Thursday, continued her run in the US Open with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Sorana Cirstea to advance to the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.
Terrific Taylor
The 23-year-old 🇺🇸 reaches R4 of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career after defeating Cirstea 7-5, 6-2.@TaylorTownsend | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/DY0jUzqaFX— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2019
Townsend’s strategy of attacking the net and playing volleys rather than staying back flustered Cirstea. Townsend came to the net 75 times, successfully using a technique that is rarely seen. The support from the crowd in Queens was audible as she came from behind to win the first set and took command in the second set.
“I’m here now,” Townsend told ESPN after the match. “We’re going to ride this thing all the way.”
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