Osaka in 3rd round after Danilovic withdraws; Djokovic wins
NEW YORK: Defending champion Naomi Osaka returned to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday when her opponent withdrew because of illness. Osaka had been scheduled to face Olga Danilovic of Serbia in the first match of the day. Instead, the US Tennis Association moved the match between women’s No. 12 seed Simona Halep and Kristina Kucova into that spot.
That figured to be one of the few matches to start on time on a day when heavy rain was expected in the New York area. Puddles filled the grounds around the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, though rain had stopped as fans began to enter for the day session.
On Tuesday, world No 1 Novak Djokovic won without playing his best to reach the second round in his quest for a calendar-year Grand Slam and record 21st major title. The 34-year-old Serbian star dominated much of the way in beating 18-year-old Danish qualifier Holger Rune 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-1 after two hours and 15 minutes in the night feature at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “It wasn’t the best of my performances,” Djokovic said. “At the same time, he played well in the second set when it mattered and I didn’t serve well in the second set.”
History-chasing Djokovic, who has won eight of the past 12 Grand Slam events, will next face 121st-ranked Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, a rival the top seed admitted he didn’t know much about. “I know this court well,” Djokovic said. “Hopefully that’s going to help.”
Djokovic would complete the first men’s singles calendar-year Slam since Rod Laver in 1969 by winning the crown on the New York hardcourts. He would also break the deadlock for all-time men’s Slam titles at 20 which he shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent due to injuries, as is defending champion Dominic Thiem.
Rune, ranked 145th, began cramping in the third set and struggled to finish.
“From the third or fourth game in the third set, he couldn’t move much,” Djokovic said. “You
could see he struggled a lot. I feel for him.”
Tokyo Olympic champion Alexander Zverev stretched his win streak to 12 matches and warned he has his eyes on denying Djokovic the Slam.
Fourth seed Zverev, who beat Djokovic in an Olympic semi-final, dispatched American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.