The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Defending champion Osaka moves on; Gauff knocked out
Defending champion Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday when her opponent withdrew because of illness. Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza also reached the third round, ending long stretches without success in Flushing Meadows for the two-time Grand Slam champions.
They were among the few players to squeeze in victories early on a rainy afternoon, when play started late and then was suspended briefly on the outer courts.
Osaka had been scheduled to face Olga Danilovic of Serbia in the first match of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Instead, the U.S. Tennis Association moved the 12th-seeded Halep’s match against Kristina Kucova into that spot.
Halep won 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round for the first time since a quarterfinal appearance in 2016. She was knocked out in the first round in both 2017 and 2018 — the latter the first time the No. 1 seed lost in the U.S. Open first round.
But she has made a strong return after missing the French Open and Wimbledon with a calf injury.
“Already it’s a better result than when I was healthy, so it’s a good thing to be in the third round here,” she joked.
Sloane Stephens used her big forehand to take eight of the last 10 games and eliminate 17-yearold Coco Gauff in an all-american matchup on Wednesday night.
Stephens needed just 66 minutes to claim the second-round contest 6-4, 6-2 under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 2017 U.S. Open champion and 2018 French Open runner-up only faced one break point and saved it.
She managed to handle the 21st-seeded Gauff ’s big serves and break her three times.
The ninth-seeded Muguruza got past the second round of the U.S. Open for the first time since 2017 when she beat Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2. She will play three-time U.S. Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka. The No. 18 seed beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 7-6 (1).
“I think it’s going to be a very difficult match. I think she always plays great here,” Muguruza said. “I think that’s the best. Just to go out there and play with people that are top level.”
Halep and Muguruza — who have won the French Open and Wimblebon — played two of the only 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.
The outside courts were empty while they were being dried so play could eventually start.
Once they did, fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina beat Rebeka Masarova 6-2, 7-5, and No. 20-seeded Ons Jabeur raced to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Maria Camila Osorio Serrano in 53 minutes.
Osaka would have been going for her 17th straight victory in a Grand Slam match. Danilovic wrote on Instagram that she was dealing with a viral illness unrelated to COVID-19.