Popyrin advances Halep powers past Kucova as rain delays play at Flushing Meadows
Alexei Popyrin has progressed to the third round of the US Open after beating 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov.
Popyrin took the first two sets in tiebreaks before the Bulgarian retired mid-way through the fourth set with an apparent foot injury, giving the Australian a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 4-0 win.
Alexei Popyrin returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov in their second round match.Credit:Getty Images
World No.2 and 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, reached the third round for the fourth straight year with a comfortable 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory over unseeded German Dominik Koepfer.
Russian fifth seed and former quarter-finalist Andrey Rublev overcame an early wobble to beat Spain’s Pedro Martinez 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (7-5), 6-1, 6-1.
In the women’s draw, former world No.1 Simona Halep has continued her fine form at Flushing Meadows with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win over Slovakian Kristina Kucova to move into the third round of the US Open.
The match was one of the few completed early on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEST) as rain suspended play in New York.
Defending champion Naomi Osaka, of Japan, progressed to the third round after receiving a walkover from Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.
Simona Halep returns the ball to Kristina Kucova during their second round clash.Credit:Getty Images
“I have been feeling unwell these past few days dealing with a non-COVID related viral illness,†wrote Danilovic on social media.
“I was really looking forward to playing against Naomi on Arthur Ashe Stadium today, but not to be this time.â€
As a result, Halep’s clash with Kucova was moved to the covered show court, paving the way for the Romanian to progress in style.
On the Louis Armstrong Stadium court, which has a retractable roof, two-time grand slam winner and ninth seed Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, powered past German Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round.
Theirs were two of the only matches to start on time on a day of heavy rain in New York as puddles filled the grounds around the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.
The outside courts were empty for some time while they dried. Once they did, fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina, of Ukraine, beat Spain’s Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-5.
The 20th-seeded Tunisian Ons Jabeur, meanwhile, routed Colombian Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 6-0, 6-1 in 53 minutes.
Three-times US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka overcame unseeded Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) to set up a meeting with Muguruza.
Reuters
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