Iga Swiatek survived an unexpected challenge to reach the third round of the US Open on Thursday, while defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance and Naomi Osaka regained her rhythm at Flushing Meadows.
However, the day’s most dramatic moments belonged to Coco Gauff, who fought back from tears mid-match to defeat Donna Vekic, avenging her Olympic defeat in Paris.
Second seed Swiatek, coming off her Wimbledon triumph and Cincinnati title, faced a tougher-than-expected test against unseeded Suzan Lamens, prevailing 6-1 4-6 6-4 in a thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “It got a bit complicated in the second set, but I’m happy that I could reset and start playing better in the third,” Swiatek said, sealing victory with an ace and setting up a third-round clash with 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya.
World number one Sinner cruised past Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-2 6-2, booking a third-round meeting with Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov.
Osaka, the 23rd seed, defeated American Hailey Baptiste 6-3 6-1, reaching the third round for the first time since 2021. “I was just really trying to focus and not give her any free points and just be positive. I’m really excited to be moving better,” said the two-time champion. She also commented on Wednesday’s on-court row between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko, condemning the Latvian player’s remarks toward her opponent.
Thursday night brought drama as defending champion Gauff struggled with her serve against Vekic, who had beaten her at the Paris Olympics. After breaking down in the first set, Gauff found inspiration from gymnastics icon Simone Biles in the stands. “I saw her and … she helped me pull it out,” Gauff said. “I was thinking like, ‘If she can go on a six-inch beam and do that with all the pressures of the world, then I can hit the ball in the court.’”
In men’s action, Stefanos Tsitsipas was eliminated by Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in a marathon five-set clash on the Grandstand, with the 26th seed falling 7-6(5) 1-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 after more than four hours. German third seed Alexander Zverev overcame British qualifier Jacob Fearnley 6-4 6-4 6-4 on Louis Armstrong Stadium and will face Felix Auger-Aliassime next.
Early finishes allowed organisers to move a high-profile first-round doubles match featuring 45-year-old Venus Williams to the second-largest stadium, where fans packed the stands. Williams, partnering Canadian Leylah Fernandez, defeated sixth seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez 7-6(4) 6-3. “This is the best partner I’ve ever played with outside Serena,” Williams said. “We’re a great team.”
Australian Alex de Minaur advanced with a 6-2 6-4 6-2 win over Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki, while compatriot Maya Joint was eliminated by eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 7-6(2) 6-2 in the final match on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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