So, into a second-set tie-break between Rublev and Dimitrov, and it feels key. Dimitrov serves a double-fault to fall 2-0 down. The yips? No, he makes bank with second serve, and gets his first point. Rublev aces for 3-1 up. Then Dimitrov wins a huge rally, clattering the ball home. Then follows up with a serve and volley. It’s 3-3 and they’re slugging it right out. A Rublev leaves him 5-3 down. And then a missed volley at the net means it is 6-3 down. He’s no Pat Cash. Dimitrov clanks the winner of the next and has a two-set lead.
And he wears it well, sealing his hold with an ace; he leads 6-5 in the second while Ruud, playing better than I’ve seen him for a while, leads Fritz 6-3 1-2 on serve.
But I’m off for a break, so here’s John Brewin to hang with you for the next hour.
Dimitrov’s backhand has been the decisive shot in this match so far. I know why Rublev planned to target it – it’s so rare to see a reliable one-hander – but it’s not working. He does, though, curve a fine forehand winner down the line for 15-30; a service winner restores parity and consecutive aces put an exclamation mark on the hold. Pressure switches to Rublev at 5-5 in the second…
Ruud holds comfortable and leads Fritz 6-3. Meanwhile, Dimitrov sets about Rublev’s serve at 30-0, forehand whacking levelling the game – he’s got such a lovely, flowing stroke – but when an error gives him break point, Rublev saves it with a forehand of his own. No matter: he’s soon up advantage, and when a huge forehand misses the sideline – by a fraction – we’re somehow back on serve in set two. Rublev, though, handles the disappointment, and Dimitrov must still hold to stay in the set at 6-3 4-5.
He’s got it! Rublev makes yet another break point and this time, Dimitrov’s backhand lets him down, wafted long; at 5-3 in the second, the Russian will now serve for one set apiece.
Serena is in the house again and she’s seeing a decent tussle, Rublev in the ascendancy but unable to break. To leave Ashe for a moment though, Ruud has just broken Fritz for 5-3 in the first and will now serve for the first set.
Or not! Rublev rushes through a love-hold, a tasty half-volley on the forehand clinching the game. I can barely stand the tension of the breaker in prospect; Dimitrov leads 6-3 3-4.
Rublev might just hitting a seam, taking 0-30, but a wild forehand, then Dimitrov alters momentum in the next rally with a big backhand before finishing the point with a jazzer down the line. But at 40-30, Rublev hits a fine return and pick-up, staying at the net to finish the point. Again, though, Dimitrov does the necessary to secure his hold and knowing Rublev as we do, it’s hard not to wonder if his aggravation at failing to break will lead to him being broken himself. Meantime, Ruud fights through deuce for his hold for 4-3.
Gosh, at 30-all, Rublev conjures a wondrous forehand, cross-court, on the run, and on to the tootsies; from there, he closes out, gesticulating at his box for something or other. Dimitrov leads 6-3 2-3 while, on Armstrong, Fritz has just held for 3-3.
A fantastic get from Rublev, the ball again directed at the Dimitrov backhand, allows him to clean up and make 0-15; an ace restores parity. But at 15-40, Rublev has a sniff … quickly extinguished, then can’t make advantage with a swing-volley, instead letting Dimitrov play another and botching an overhead. He loves that as much as you might imagine and when a forehand loops long, we remain on serve on set two; in a sense, this match is similar to Badosa-Wang, close but one player’s ability to handle big points the difference.
Ruud opens with a comfy hold while on Ashe it’s a hold apiece, meaning Dimitrov leads 6-3 1-2; I’m wondering if Rublev has found some equilibrium because he looks calmer and is playing a bit better.
Dimitrov races to 0-40 on the Rublev serve but despite it all yerman doesn’t lack for character or desire and he quickly makes deuce. He’s hitting to the Dimitrov backhand a lot but the ball keeps coming back – a change in tactic might be necessary – but Rublev secures a crucial hold to trail 3-6 1-0.
On Armstrong, Ruud and Fritz are out and will soon get us going. “Both playing OK but neither in great form,” returns Coach Calv. “I don’t massively rate either at that level.”
Yup, I agree – I’d be staggered if either wins a Slam, though I have enjoyed Fritz recently.
Down 30-0, Rublev goes long with a forehand return and yelps his disgust, but Dimitrov burns the first set point with a long backhand. Ahahahaha! No matter, Dimitrov annihilates an ace down the T, and he leads 6-3. As for Rublev, I wonder if he’s getting any help managing his emotions; you get the sense he’d be a better, happier player with a bit of that.
Serving to stay in the set, Rublev nets a backhand which means, at 30-all, Dimitrov is two points away from the set. But a good return elicits a forehand error and deuce, only for a miraculous backhand, on the slide and sent zoning low across the face of the net, to raise game point; Dimitrov applauds and Rublev apologises. From there, though, the number six seed secures the hold, forcing his opponent to serve for the first set at 5-3.
Before long Rublev is good to go again, holding for 2-4 before making 15-30. Then, at 30-all, Rublev finds a fine, deep forehand that makes deuce … only to botch a forehand thereafter; Dimitrov lets him off with a double. For all the good it does him: Dimitrov is struggling for his holds but he’s making them, and leads 5-2 in the first.
Rublev, who’s been whacking his hand with his racket, calls for the trainer having cut the bottom of his left hand his own self. In co-comms, Anabelle Croft calls it “embarrassing”, but I don’t see it like that – he struggles to manage emotions, but so do lots of people, he’s just a tennis player so we see him do it on telly.
Righto, time to focus on our men’s match in progress, and it’s Dimitrov up 3-1 having broken to love. And Rublev, who’s already assaulted himself in anguish, has burned three break points in the game in progress … which ends suddenly, Babyfed guiding a glorious one-hander down the line. He leads 4-1.
Next on Armstrong: Casper Ruud (8) v Taylor Fritz (12).
Badosa takes a moment when asked her first question, savouring and composing. She saw the clock during the second game and thought gosh, it’s so humid and this is taking so long, then told herself “She’s tough but i’m tougher,” vowing to stay out there for three hours if that’s what was required. She’s loving it on court and doesn’t want to cry – last year she was unable to compete and a few months ago she was thinking about quitting, having lost belief in herself and with her back injury not improving.
Reminded she has a winning record against both Gauff and Navarro, she says she’s mates with both and loves both. Gauff is so good so young and inspiration, while Navarro, she says, is tough.
Finally, asked what she’s listening to, she says she’s always listening to reggaeton to get pumped and loves to dance, so though she likes everything, latino music is where it’s at – and to evidence the preference, she shows us a few steps. I am so, so happy for her – what an affirming story it is to see her enjoying her tennis and hitting her levels.
This was a closer match than the scoreline suggests but Badosa was still much, much too good. she makes her second major quarter, looks in terrific form, and neither Navarro nor Gauff will fancy facing her next.
Badosa hasn’t made the last eight of a major since Roland Garros 2021 so closing out here might not be easy and, as I type, Wang plants an inside-out forehand winner on to the sideline for 0-30. The serve, though, gets Badosa out of trouble, but Wang comes in to dispatch a drive-volley and raise a seventh break point; again, it’s saved via serve. And when Wang makes advantage, she can’t find the forehand she needs to convert and Badosa quickly earns her first match point…
Yeah, our women’s contest is as good as over, Badosa breaking to lead 6-1 5-2; she’ll shortly serve to stay in the match.
“This will be a good match, says Coach Calv of our men’s tussle. “A great opportunity for both of them to show they’re better than what people think they are. Dimitrov is playing outrageously well, but he tends to find a way of messing up. He’ll try and ruin Rublev’s rhythm using his slice and coming to the net.”
Terrific backhand winner down the line from Wang for 0-15, but one into the net levels the gam, then at 15-30, Badosa slams a forehand winner on to the sideline. And when Wang makes 30-40, the only surprise is that break-point is removed by way of backhand. And shonuff, Badosa eventually closes out, up a set and a break at 6-1 4-2; on Ashe, Dimitrov holds in game one and Rublev quickly followssuits.
Badosa quickly makes 0-30 while, in comms, Marion Bartoli discusses the excellence and consistency of her ball-toss. Back on court, though, Wang quickly levels the game, only to stray long on the forehand when up game point. I think this is our first deuce of the set after loads in the first, and Badosa makes the most of it, making advantage and unleashing yet another forehand winner to secure her break! At 6-1 3-2 she’s nearly in the quarters
Up 40-0, Badosa unleashes a double, but quickly closes out. She leads 6-1 2-2.
The games are going faster now, Wang holding comfortably to trail 1-6 2-1, while Rublev and Dimitrov will soon be out on Ashe.
Wang makes 15-30 but yet again, Badosa finds a big first serve when she needs one, backs it up with an ace, and quickly secures her hold.
Poor old Wang. A stunning winner down the line – so far, her forehand has been the difference – gives Badosa 0-15, but Wang finds one of her own to level the game. A double, though, amps up the pressure … and Wang responds well, securing a crucial hold. Badosa leads 6-1 0-1.
The roof on Armstrong is closed and now we know why: it’s drizzling so play on outside courts has been suspended.
Badosa opens with an ace, then a terrific forehand into the corner is too good. And from there, she closes out a 6-1 set, which doesn’t reflect the balance of play but illustrates just how important the extra power and is.
A love-hold for Wang, forcing Badosa to serve for the first srt at 5-1.
I’m really enjoying this Badosa performance. Again, Wang makes it tight, reaching 30-all, and again a big but controlled forehand releases pressure. But a double takes us to deuce, again, then a winner and an ace make 5-0 and Wang is in big trouble, playing more or less as well as she can and getting nowhere.
So far Wang’s played fairly well with no reward, Badosa’s heavy artillery taking from her her opportunities. And shonuff she nails another at 30-all then quickly converts for the double-break and Wang os somehow both competing and not competing. Badosa 4-0 Wang
Badosa has played the big points well so far, down 30-40 and unleashing an inside-out forehand winner – though Wang will be disappointed with the return that made it happen. Another, this time down the line, brings Badosa advantage, and from there she seals her consolidation to lead 3-0.
Badosa makes 0-15 then drags a forehand wide; Wang reinforces with an ace out wide, then raises two game points with a forehand schlepped into the net. Badosa, though, saves one then clobbers a forehand winner on the leap and she’s relaxing into this, you sense. And again, we wind up at deuce, Badosa cleverly working a chance to punish a further forehand winner for advantage. But then she nets one, meaning another deuce, another Badosa forehand, into the forehand corner, yanking her another break point … and a booming rendition of the same, almost a table-tennis shot from half-court, means she leads 2-0. Wang is doing alright – well, even – but as we said at the top, if Badosa keeps the head, I’m not sure how she can be beaten here.
At 15-all, Wang whams an inside-out forehand winner – that’ll get her going – then, at the end of the longest rally of the match so far, Badosa nets one of her own, handing over two break points. The first is confiscated via service winner, the second when a moon ball drops long. But it’s soon advantage Wang, the long game allowing both players to settle, and a forehand winner from Badosa restores deuce. And from there, it looks like the game is secures, a big serve-forehand combo on advantage looking definitive … but a terrific forehand winner from the corner when no such thing looked possible means another deuce. And, though Badosa must then save yet another break point, she eventually secures a nine-minute hold which, though it suggests a close contest, also makes clear where the power advantage lies. Badosa leads 1-0.
Badosa to serve, and …play.
Badosa and Wang are on court knocking up; Wang looks nervous.
Like Navarro, Badosa is an NYC native – though she didn’t stay there – and also feels a strong sense of belonging when she competes in this competition. She’ll feel she can win this thing too – worse players than her have – however impregnable Sabalenka seems.
Every time I see Martina on the screen it gives me a little surge of joy. Stay well, champ.
Badosa, remember, has had back problems so severe she was told she might never play again, and also struggled with depression. Seeing her give the ball such joyful thumps is inspiring and energising to see, and if she can hold it down, I don’t see how Wang can beat her.
A little Badosa background…
Yo dudes and welcome to the US Open 2024 – day seven!
We’re there aren’t we? After a first week of ludicrous action all over the show, we’re down – or up – to ludicrous action on the show courts, and there’s plenty of it.
We open on Armstrong with the heartwarming resurgence of Paula Badosa, rehabilitated and imposing her brave power-hitting in invigorating style. Chances are she has too much for Yafan Wang, but it doesn’t take much for game as big as hers to go haywire under pressure – and there’s plenty of that here.
On Ashe, meanwhile, we begin with a potential belter. Andrey Rublev wants it so badly you can feel it across the Atlantic, but he hasn’t quite found what it takes to beat a better player when it really matters. And though Griggzy Dimitrov isn’t that, he is a canny and classy operator who’s improved with age and, given the players who’ve gone out, he’ll be wondering if he might just force something he thought had passed him by.
Otherwise, we’ve got ourselves an enticing slugfest between Casper Ruud and the surging Taylor Fritz, while Brandon Nakashima, also in the form of his life, tries to upset Alexander Zverev.
And the day sesh closes on Ashe with a potentially nasty ruckus for the champ. Coco Gauff isn’t playing quite as well as she was this time last year, whereas Emma Navarro has never played better. At 23 the sense is that she’s hitting her stride, all her best Grand Slam performances coming in 2024. At Wimbledon, she couldn’t handle the situation when things got intense, beating Gauff handily before taking a last-eight hiding off Jasmine Paolini. But a New York, New York local, she’s much happier on the hard than the grass, so don’t be surprised if she does something special today – again.
Play: 11am local, 4pm BST
Source: theguardian.com
