Memorable moments from Day 2 at US Open:Returning to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time in three years—for the first time since he won his fourth US Open title in 2019. Rafael Nadal headlined the second night of the 2022 US Open. Fans saw the 22-time Grand Slam champion serve, swing and roar his way to victory… though not without an opening-set surprise.
V
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S @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/nw5NDM1bLY— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022
Of course, plenty of other matches offered excitement and drama. Some fan favorites played their first and only match in Queens this year—and at least one, Sam Querrey, capped a brilliant singles career.
#USOpen night sessions carry.
Just ask @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/llcuqtIA7F
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022
Here are our top stories from Day 2 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Nadal wins four-set battle against Hijikata:
Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, the 21-year-old currently ranked world No. 198, played out of his mind in an opener against the former world No. 1. Even Nadal, 36, looked stunned as Hijikata zipped across the court, belting back powerful shots. After relinquishing the opening set, Nadal took control —even as his opponent proved relentless in a three-hour thriller. The Spaniard capped the match with an exclamatory winner for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory. In winning the Round 1 match, Nadal clinched his 20th Grand Slam victory of the year.
An abdominal tear just weeks ago forced Nadal to withdraw from Wimbledon ahead of his scheduled semifinal, but health concerns were put to rest in this acrobatic opener. At least, for now.Next up for Nadal: Italy’s Fabio Fognini.
Venus Williams exits in Round 1:
Quite a finish for Alison Van Uytvanck in Arthur Ashe Stadium! pic.twitter.com/yqiI6LB3pD
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2022
In her Open Era record 91st Grand Slam main-draw appearance, former world No. 1 and two-time US Open champion Venus Williams fell to Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck on Tuesday afternoon in Ashe.
Venus, the 42-year-old who has won seven Grand Slam titles, won only a single game in the first set. She upped her level in the second, nearly matching her aggressive 28-year-old opponent, but lost in a 7-6(5) tiebreak.
It’s unclear what exactly the future holds for Venus, although she’s not finished in Flushing Meadows. She and sister Serena are scheduled to compete in the doubles competition later this week.
“It’s always an honor to play a legend,” Van Uytvanck said in a post-match interview. “She means so much to women’s tennis — tennis in general — and I was so happy to play her for the first time on Arthur Ashe.”
A salute to a living legend.@Venuseswilliams waves to the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium. pic.twitter.com/qdl6019nms
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2022
2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu loses opener:
Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open women’s singles titlist, fell to France’s Alizé Cornet on Tuesday night, 6-3, 6-3, in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
.@alizecornet is victorious in Armstrong!
She defeats Raducanu, 6-3, 6-3 to advance to Round 2. pic.twitter.com/RHAd0zCBxv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022
The No. 11 seed at this year’s tournament, Raducanu became the first defending champion since Angelique Kerber in 2017 to lose in Round 1.
Cornet, the world No. 40 who is unseeded this year, has toppled big foes in 2022. She snapped world No. 1 Iga Swiatek’s 37-match winning streak in the third round of Wimbledon last month.
“I’m sorry I beat her tonight but I’m really happy with my performance,” Cornet said post-match. “I was fighting my heart out and hanging in there. I think my game at the net was pretty good, I think it was a bit of everything, playing with a bit of variation, and it definitely worked tonight.”
She gave us a historic run last summer.
See you soon, @EmmaRaducanu 👏 pic.twitter.com/xzMuLNghcl
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022
Two-time US Open winner Naomi Osaka falls to Danielle Collins:
In a late-night Arthur Ashe Stadium opener that contained the drama of a final, the 2018 and 2020 US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan—a former world No. 1—fell to American Danielle Collins in two tight sets, 7-6(5), 6-3.
Collins on the run 👟 pic.twitter.com/yERPCy7Suc
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022
It was the fourth match-up between Collins and Osaka, but the former’s first victory.
“When you lose to someone three times, you get a lot of information on what you can do better,” said Collins. “I just wanted to give myself the best shot to try to improve and do better than I did the last time and the time before, because with Naomi being the player that she is, she definitely whooped me the last time.”
Even with a 3-0 lead in the first, Osaka couldn’t stop Collins’ momentum. The Florida native scored three games of her own in reply and eventually forced a tiebreak, which she won in the very last moments.
Danielle Collins' cmon: elite. pic.twitter.com/KdNUIPyOda
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022
Though Osaka put up a fight for most of the second set, Collins capitalized on a forehand error to secure a break, jumping ahead 5-3. She served out the match in one hour and 34 minutes.
Jack Sock retires despite leading Diego Schwartzman
No. 14 seed Diego Schwartzman advanced into Round 2 of the 2022 US Open after dropping the first two sets of a very physical match against American Jack Sock. From the start of the third set, the American was hampered by a back injury that forced him to concede the contest and allow Schwartzman to advance, 3-6, 5-7, 6-0, 1-0 (ret.).
Former No. 1 Azarenka edges past qualifier Krueger
Victoria Azarenka, the former No. 1 and two-time major champion, advanced to the second round of her 15th US Open, outlasting the determined American teen Ashlyn Krueger, a qualifier, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. The last day match on Court 5 began with the lights on and under slightly cooler temperatures.
Jule Niemeier powers past American wild card Sofia Kenin
On a blustery night on Grandstand, 2022 Wimbledon quarterfinalist and world No. 108 Jule Niemeier continued her exemplary summer at the Slams, defeating wild card and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, 7-6, 6-4, to reach the second round of the US Open for the first time.
Back on the big stage, Tiafoe tops Giron in all-American affair
Tuesday evening on Court 17, Frances Tiafoe got his 2022 US Open campaign off to a proper start. He played his best tennis in the biggest moments to defeat fellow American Marcos Giron, 7-6(0), 6-4, 6-3.
Hurkacz eases past Otte into US Open second round
Hubert Hurkacz kick-started his 2022 US Open with a convincing straight-sets win over Oscar Otte, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Putintseva saves 13 break points, defeats Anisimova
2020 US Open quarterfinalist Yulia Putintseva earned her second Grand Slam win of the season with a first-round upset of 24th seed Amanda Anisimova on Tuesday in the Grandstand.
Rublev takes down Djere in a tough five-setter in Round 1
The sun was beating down on Court 5, and No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev and Serbia’s Laslo Djere brought some heat of their own in their Round 1 encounter at the US Open.
In 3 hours, 41 minutes, Rublev beat Djere in five sets, 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4 in their first meeting on a hard court.
Bencic prevails over Petkovic
Belinda Bencic’s resume is dressed to impress. She struck gold in 2021, taking the top singles prize at the Tokyo Olympics. The No. 13 seed been ranked as high as No. 4 in the world—and won the women’s singles title in Charleston this spring, the sixth of her career.
For her Round 1 match, the 25-year-old Swiss phenom faced the veteran German Andrea Petkovic, No. 104 in the world, whose buzz has been about her plans to retire.
Bencic has won two of their three prior contests—and that storyline continued today. Her clean, aggressive play earned her the win, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Badosa survives resurgent Tsurenko for second US Open win
years ago, Lesia Tsurenko was a US Open quarterfinalist and a fixture in the WTA’s Top 30. On Tuesday on Court 17, the battled-tested veteran showed there’s still some of that level left in her—one that No. 4 seed Paula Badosa needed all of her mettle to overcome.
Spain’s top player came from a set down to see off Tsurenko in a tough, physcial match on Court 17 that lasted 2 hours and 31 minutes, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3.
“I’m happy about the win. I think it was a tough battle there today. She played pretty well. I played, depends. First set wasn’t that good, second and third was better. It still took me some time to adapt to the conditions. It was a tricky day today,” Badosa said in victory.
“But I fought until the last point. So that gave me I think the match and I’m really happy.”
Cilic clinical in Round 1 sweep
Croatia’s Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion who is seeded No. 15 at this year’s tournament, started slow but still managed a mostly clinical opening-round victory over German qualifier Maximilian Marterer in Grandstand, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.
Clara Burel upsets Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina
Almost eliminated in qualifying, Clara Burel played with house money against reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and hit the jackpot in pulling off the upset victory on Tuesday.
In the latest example of finding success by taking advantage of opportunities when they are presented, France’s Burel made the most of the few chances she had on Court 12 to make a statement win at the US Open. Rybakina, the most recent Grand Slam champion, took almost none of the many presented to her in that same match, and her stay in New York is now a very short one.
Burel was consistently steady at the most important stages of the match, leading her to a surprise 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Pliskova secures three-set win over Linette
Five years after Karolina Pliskova beat Magda Linette in the straight sets at 2017 US Open, Pliskova did it again on Tuesday, but this time it went the distance, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(8).
Spanish phenom Carlos Alcaraz tested but pushes on
On Tuesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz took his first step in that direction, defeating the up-and-comer Sebastian Baez, 21, of Argentina, 7-5, 7-5, 2-0 (ret). The match turned tricky in the second set, just as Alcaraz appeared ready to run away with it
Kvitova tested early, rolls late against teen Andreeva in Round 1
Czech it out: Petra Kvitova defeated 18-year-old qualifier Erika Andreeva 7-6(3), 6-0 to move into the second round of the US Open.
Isner dominates Delbonis to move on to Round 2
John Isner had lost in the first round of the US Open each of the last two years—and the 37-year old American seemed determined to change that trend on Tuesday.
Isner never faced a break point en route to a dominating 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 win over Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis in the Grandstand.
Linda Fruhvirtova continues to impress in attack, neutral and defense
Qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova continued to impress in both attack and defense with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Xinyu Wang.
Cameron Norrie stays on the rise with commanding first-round win
Richard Finn
Two players on polar opposite career paths kept on them Tuesday with the meteoric climbing Cameron Norrie beating the slumping Benoit Paire in the opening round of the 2022 US Open.
Except for a brief drop in his play in the middle set, No. 7 seed Norrie was comfortably in control against the Frenchman for a 6-0, 7-6(1), 6-0 win on the sun-filled Court 5 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Muguruza passes Tauson test in Round 1
No. 9 seed Garbiñe Muguruza passed a tough test with flying colors on Day 2 of the 2022 US Open.
Pitted against one of women’s tennis’ brightest young talents, the big-hitting Clara Tauson of Denmark, Muguruza used all her experience in crucial moments to come away with a 6-3, 7-6(5) victory.
Dimitrov exacts Grand Slam revenge against Johnson
Grigor Dimitrov got a second chance before the end of 2022 to finish a Grand Slam match against Steve Johnson on his terms, and the Bulgarian started and finished with a flourish.
The No. 17 seed was barely troubled by the American to start Day 2 at the US Open, as Dimitrov came through with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Johnson to advance to the second round.
Aryna Sabalenka knocks out Harrison
It’s been a hot summer for No. 6 seed Aryna Sabalenka.
The big-hitting Sabalenka is fresh off a semifinal match in Cincinnati, where she lost to tournament winner Caroline Garcia. She also played a semifinal match at the 2021 US Open, when she was ranked No. 2 in the world. For her Round 1 match this year, the 24-year-old Sabalenka drew American Catherine Harrison, a qualifier ranked 243 in the world, who is best known for deft doubles play.
So if you arrived at Court 10 for a show of booming power versus tactical touch—well, there was some of that. But from the beginning, power prevailed and Sabalenka took the match, 6-1, 6-3.
Iga Swiatek defeats Jasmine Paolini in straight-set win
Arriving at the US Open as the world No. 1 for the first time, Iga Swiatek is the ultimate target for the draw.
But to achieve what Swiatek has accomplished in 2022, being at the top is about twisting everything into a positive.
Expectations and pressure brushed aside, the Pole found her stride to accelerate into the second round with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Jasmine Paolini on Day 2 of the Grand Slam.
Jessica Pegula wins in opening round
Since the start of 2020 only five women have recorded more wins at the Grand Slams than Jessica Pegula. In her best season at the Slams to date, the 8th-seeded American hopes to ride her confidence to the next level in New York.
She’s on her way after she executed a 6-2, 6-2, takedown of Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic on a balmy day at the Open, in 64 minutes. The steady, methodic American gradually took over the run of play against the 89th-ranked qualifier, while taking care to conserve her energy beneath the screaming midday sun, which left most spectators crowded into the shaded seats in the Grandstand.
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