Wawrinka survives, Murray sent packing Serena, Venus to meet for 30th time
NEW YORK: Stan Wawrinka survived searing heat and a spirited Ugo Humbert to reach the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as fellow former champion Andy Murray’s return ended in the second round.
Wawrinka said he wasn’t surprised at the challenge produced by 139th-ranked Humbert, a lefthander who was playing his first tour-level event this week after a dominant summer on the developmental Challenger circuit.
“I knew it would be a difficult match,” said Wawrinka, who was pleased to find himself feeling fit after prevailing 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and 21 minutes. he will next take on Milos Raonic.
Meanwhile Murray, the 2012 US Open winner who was playing his first Grand Slam in 14 months, is still fighting to find full fitness after hip surgery in January. He gave himself a mixed review after a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, whose only win over Murray in 14 prior meetings was at the 2009 Australian Open.
“I think some of the tennis I played today was some of the best I’ve played since I had the surgery or since I came back,” said Murray, who was irked to surrender the first set after holding a set point, but pleased to have enough in the tank to push Verdasco through five break points in the final game before the Spaniard converted his third match point.
Rafael Nadal was spared the worst of the conditions, although it was still muggy when he capped the Ashe Stadium action against Canadian Vasek Pospisil.
‘MURRAY MISTAKEN IN HEAT-RULE RANT’
Andy Murray was plenty steamed Wednesday at the idea that US Open officials weren’t enforcing their extreme heat rules effectively, but Fernando Verdasco said he could just chill out. Murray and Verdasco availed themselves of the policy allowing players a 10-minute heat break in matches pushed beyond straight sets.
Murray returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium fuming at the umpire, saying he’d seen Verdasco chatting with his coach -forbidden during heat breaks.
Verdasco said, he knew he wasn’t allowed to talk to his coach — and he didn’t. “I didn’t speak anything to any member of my team,” Verdasco said. NEWYORK:SERENA and Venus Williams will clash for the 30th time on Friday with a place in the last 16 of the US Open at stake.
Six-time champion Serena eased into the third round encounter with a 6-2, 6-2 win over German world No 101 Carina Witthoeft on the back of 30 winners and 13 aces.
Venus, the 2000 and 2001 champion in New York, made the third round for the 17th time with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Camila Giorgi of Italy. Friday’s match will be the earliest the sisters have met at a Slam since the 1998 Australian Open in what was also their first ever clash. It will be their sixth in New York. Venus won their second round clash in Australia in 1998 but Serena, bidding for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title, has built up an advantage over the last two decades, enjoying a 17-12 head-to-head superiority.
“Friday will be incredibly hard,” said Serena before she jokingly hit back at Venus’s claim that when they last met at a Slam in the final of the 2017 Australian Open her sister had an advantage as it was “two against one.” That was a reference to Serena being in the early stages of pregnancy with her daughter Olympia. “I guess I had a little advantage but it’s going to be hard for me on Friday,” said 36-yearold Serena, who’s the 17th seed this year.
“It’s a tough match to have so early in the tournament. We would have liked to have played later but it is what it is. It’s not the end of the world. As always we will come out and try our best. So cheer for me, cheer for Venus. Whatever, it will work.”
FOUR BIATHLETES FACE DOPING CHARGES: IBU
MOSCOW:THE International Biathlon Union (IBU) said on Thursday that four Russian biathletes have allegedly committed anti-doping violations, but did not disclose their identities.