2019 US Open tennis Day 2 live: Nick Kyrgios rival Steve Johnson attacks ‘shit show’
A frustrated opponent has let rip at the Australian during extraordinary scenes | WATCH
- Draw opens up for Kyrgios
- Nadal crushes Millman
- Shaky start for Osaka
- Tsitsipas slams umpire
- Good day for the Aussies
Welcome to live coverage of Day 2 of the US Open tennis tournament, the year’s final grand slam. Australia’s Nick Kyrgios is playing his first-round match.
• Fed-up rival attacks Kyrgios ‘show’
Courtney Walsh 3.30pm: Kyrgios scores fiery triumph
The combustible Nick Kyrgios has capped a stellar day for Australian men at the US Open with a performance that was brilliant in shotmaking but punctuated with a smattering of his usual fireworks.
The controversial Canberran stormed off the court after the first set the last time he was pitted against tough American Steve Johnson in a tournament in Shanghai in 2017.
Almost angelic by his lowly behavioural standards early on against the American today, Kyrgios’s infamous temper simmered towards boiling in the second set of his 6-3 7-6 (1) 6-4 victory in 2hr 1min.
MORE: Kyrgios lets rip at ‘corrupt’ tour
Do your dance Nick Kyrgios! 🕺 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/XlUkCdxfka
— ESPN (@espn) August 28, 2019
“Steve is a hell of a player. He is one of my good mates in the locker room,” he said. “I had to serve well and just dictate play and I am just happy to get through. It was pretty clean.
“I knew (the second set) was an important set. If he got that set, the match could have been very different and we would probably still be playing now.”
Playing his first match since being levied with a record fine of $167,000 for an appalling tantrum in the Cincinnati Open a fortnight ago, the Australian was sanctioned for an audible obscenity directed at umpire James Keothavong.
But he eased the pressure when clinching the set with a magnificent tiebreaker that demonstrated the best of what Kyrgios can bring to a sport he had lambasted just games earlier.
After framing a forehand early in the second set, the Australian No. 1 was captured by courtside microphones stating he “couldn’t have picked a more boring sport as a profession. No f..king joke.”
That prompted him to aggressively ask Keothavong; “What the f..k are you doing?”. It gave the Englishman no choice but to issue a code violation.
Kyrgios would not be alone in pondering whether he has made the correct career choice given his inability to retain his focus or rein in his temper.
Johnson was not overly amused by the antics and was clearly angered when Kyrgios showed scant respect for his first serve in the penultimate game of the match.
The fraying of his temper aside, the 24-year-old was focused enough to ensure he progressed to a second round clash against French wildcard Antoine Hoang with relative ease.
There is little doubt the 28th seed was keen to ensure a match that started after 11pm in New York did not progress well beyond midnight, even if it was occurring in the city that never sleeps.
Quizzed if he enjoyed playing so late, the dual-grand slam quarterfinalist said he would request a day match against Hoang.
Prior to the match, Kyrgios was delighted to see boyhood friend Thanasi Kokkinakis claim his first win at grand slam level in four years and congratulated him on social media.
3.15pm: Kyrgios wins
The 28th seed seals a 6-3 7-6 (1) 6-4 victory in 2hr 1min. He’ll play 104th-ranked Antoine Hoang in the second round. Kyrgios banged down 24 aces and 53 winners in a power-laden showing that offers a glimpse of what he’s capable of.
3pm: ‘Stop f..king around’
It seems Kyrgios’s opponent isn’t exactly thrilled at his antics, calling the Australian out during a rant at chair umpire James Keothavong. You reckon there might be a few people who agree with Steve Johnson.
"That's your job!"
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) August 28, 2019
Nick Kyrgios isn't happy about fans walking the aisles during points... but Steve Johnson wasn't happy with Nick! 🤬
Catch the #USOpen LIVE on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Fxe9qdmJ4W
2.50pm: Double break
Steve Johnson drops serve to start the third set, then again to go down 3-0 in a horror stretch for the American. Kyrgios looks headed for the second round.
2.35pm: A two-set lead
The second set goes to a tiebreak, where Kyrgios elevates his game with some audacious shot-making and romps through it 7-1. The 28th seed has managed to calm down after a run-in with the chair umpire, turning his attention to winning the match. The second set took 54 minutes, Kyrgios won a staggering 91 per cent of points on his first serve.
Nick Kyrgios can be exhausting but he's nearly always entertaining pic.twitter.com/xkJrLlRdl2
— CJ Fogler (@cjzer0) August 28, 2019
2.15pm: Heat is rising
Kyrgios is starting to get annoyed in the second set. As he prepares to serve at 4-4 he cops a code violation for an audible obscenity. After holding serve, with the help of an incredible crosscourt forehand, the Australian goes after umpire James Keothavong. “Why are you looking at me while I’m serving,” he demands.
"Code violation, audible obscenity, warning, Mr. Kyrgios." So, here we go, then.
— Jason (@Hurleytennis) August 28, 2019
2pm: Kyrgios laments ‘boring’ career
He’s not having too many problems with opponent Steve Johnson, but Nick Kyrgios seems more at odds with his career choices.
“You could not have picked a more boring sport as a professionâ€
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) August 28, 2019
Nick Kyrgios is the best #USOpen pic.twitter.com/zBNUmzaNTh
1.40pm: Aussie gets first blood
Nick Kyrgios has taken the first set after a battle against Steve Johnson. The Australian saved two break points to hold serve at 3-3, then broke in the next game to go ahead. He served out the opener 6-3 to wrap it up in a tick over 30 minutes.
So @nickKyrgios races through the first set, a set peppered with supreme shot making. pic.twitter.com/dLWOgxxPa4
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) August 28, 2019
1.10pm: Kyrgios ‘excited’ to start campaign
Former tour player and coach Brad Gilbert gets a quick chat in with Steve Johnson and Nick Kyrgios as they head out to play. The Australian describes his opponent as a good mate. “I'm excited to be playing at this stadium (Louis Armstrong Stadium),” he says. “I just want to get out there and have some fun.”
12.55pm: Sabalenka reigns supreme
Ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka has edged out compatriot Victoria Azarenka 3-6 6-3 6-4 after a hard-fought match, which lasted 2hr 13min. Sabalenka had almost twice as many unforced errors as Azarenka but she also notched three times as many winners, handing the Belarusian a second-round match-up against Yulia Putintseva, from Kazakhastan.
12.45pm: Relief for Aussie ace
Thanasi Kokkinakis, who defeated Roger Federer in the Miami Open last year but then injured a knee in a freakish accident on court in Rome a week later, said it was a tremendous relief to post another grand slam win.
“It was a hell of a feeling, for me. Obviously I feel like I’ve had a lot of my tennis career so far to this point taken away,” he said.
“It’s definitely a massive relief. I got a little nervous serving for the match but I think that’s normal coming from where I’ve been.
“I was happy with how I was able to bounce back to win a convincing fourth set in the longest I’ve played in some time. It was definitely a good feeling.”
Tasked with now confronting Nadal, the South Australian said he could wait for an opportunity that proved beyond his compatriot John Millman today.
“I know what he brings. I’ve seen him play enough, I hope. I’m going to play my game and see what happens,” he said.
“I’ve played a lot of lefties in my last tournament so (I’ll) treat it like a better version of them. I’m going to give it a crack. I haven’t played him since I was 17, so it should be fun.”
12.25pm: Showdown looms
Australians Jordan Thompson and Alexei Popyrin will square off in the third round if they follow up their wins today. Here’s how they advanced:
12.10pm: Nick plays waiting game
The Belarus grudge match between ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka and two-time US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka has stretched to a third set, pushing the Nick Kyrgios-Steve Johnson encounter further back. It’s now after 10pm Monday local time, meaning the Australian will likely get on about 1.30pm AEST.
11.55am: Monfils avoids trouble
French 13th seed Gael Monfils has had a comfortable win over Albert Ramos to reach the second round, quite an achievement for the seeded men today. Monfils eased to a 7-6 (2) 6-4 6-3 win. He’s the highest seed remaining in the quarter of Nick Kyrgios’s draw.
Courtney Walsh 11.45am Millman’s ‘big three’
A year after an astonishing run to the US Open quarterfinals, John Millman has been unable to repeat the heroics in New York this year.
But the Australian now has another claim to fame that few, if any, can match.
In his last three matches at the US Open, he has played the most successful men in the history of tennis in Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on one of the world’s grandest courts, Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Queenslander, as expected, fought hard against Nadal in a match that was far more competitive than the 6-3 6-2 6-2 scoreline indicates.
The 30-year-old, who stunned Federer in the 4th Round a year ago, gave all he had against the world No 2.
But the Australian effectively possesses a style too similar to the 12-time Roland Garros champion, their opposing hands aside, to truly trouble him.
As solid as Millman is from the baseline, there has scarcely been anyone better in this facet of the game than the Spanish legend, who proved to have too many weapons in an entertaining affair.
Nadal, a three-time champion in New York, paid tribute to the character of Millman after the match.
“It was a lot of tough points, his movement is great and he showed last year what he is able to do when he is playing well,” Nadal said.
“I came on court with a lot of respect for him and I am very happy with the way I played.
“Always at the beginning, the first match, everything is a little bit new and even if I played here a lot of times, the beginning is not easy,
“To be the first match, I think I played a good match … and in general terms, I am happy with the way I started, for sure.”
The Davis Cup representative had opportunities on return against Nadal but was unable to convert one of the three chances to break that he had.
In comparison, the 18-time major champion claimed converted 33 per cent of the 15 break point opportunities he held. Nadal closed out the match with a thumping forehand winner.
In an indication of the sportsmanship possessed by Millman, he signed autographs for fans on the way off the court despite the loss and later gave a security guard a tap on the shoulder to thank him.
The Brisbane resident entered the US Open ranked 60 but will slide at least 30 spots in the rankings as a result of being unable to defend the 350 ranking points he earned last year.
11.30am: All over for Millman
Rafael Nadal is comfortably through to the second round after a 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over John Millman. The match lasted 2hr 7min and featured the Spanish great at his overpowering best — heavy ground strokes and effective serve that the Australian failed to crack once. Three-time champion Nadal will now face another Australian, Thanasi Kokkinakis, for a place in the third round.
11.05am: Carnage opens way for Kyrgios
If Nick Kyrgios can take care of business today, he’ll find his section of the draw has already opened up beautifully. Fourth seed Dominic Thiem, Eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut and 18th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime have all been knocked out during a stunning day of action. They all stood between Kyrgios and a potential semi-final berth. In addition, 30th seed Kyle Edmund has been toppled, leaving only Matteo Berrettini (24) and Gael Monfils (13) as the seeded players in the mix with the Australian.
alright, people. Thiem, Tsitsipas, and RBA all gone. who is making the semifinals out of one of the wildest Grand Slam sections of all time? pic.twitter.com/K7jdLR5lO0
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) August 27, 2019
10.45am: Millman down two sets
Rafael Nadal is rolling, pocketing the second set 6-2 with an ace. He broke Millman’s serve twice in that set, wrapping it up in 42 minutes. Millman’s second serve has been punished by the second seed, who has also been able to move his opponent around the court at will. It’s a long way back from here for the Australian.
Courtney Walsh 10.35am: Aussies strike form
Thanasi Kokkinakis has continued a stellar day for Australian tennis in New York by claiming his first win at grand slam level in more than four years.
The talented South Australian, who has been stricken with injuries since a breakthrough season in 2015, performed with distinction to defeat Ilya Ivashka 6-3 7-6 (8) 6-7 (4) 6-2 in 3hr 48m.
It was a highly physical match, with the 23-year-old swapping powerfully struck groundstrokes with his Belarusian rival, who was match-hardened after qualifying.
Kokkinakis, a former US Open boys finalist, joined compatriots Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Alexei Popyrin in the second round.
The winner of the John Millman-Rafael Nadal match will play Kokkinakis, while Nick Kyrgios is due to play Steve Johnson later today.
The sky appeared the limit for Kokkinakis back in 2015 when he reached the third round at Roland Garros and tested Novak Djokovic in a quality match on Philippe Chatrier Stadium.
But he has played only two grand slam matches in the past two years, with this US Open the Adelaide resident’s first outside of Australia since the US Open two years ago.
The world No 203 received a wildcard into the event and made the most of it, displaying tremendous grit and composure when under pressure.
10.20am: Coco-mania grips US Open
Coco Gauff is quickly becoming the Comeback Kid, AP reports. With her parents jumping out of their front-row seats and a raucous partisan crowd backing her at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 15-year-old rallied from a break down in the third set to get past Anastasia Potapova of Russia 3-6 6-2 6-4.
“I was trying to calm myself down,” Gauff said in her post-match interview. “I was almost out.”
That she was. But similar to the way she saved match points in a Centre Court match at the All England Club during her captivating run to the fourth round there, Gauff did not give in or give up.
All along the way, her mother and father were clapping and yelling, celebrating nearly every point their daughter claimed.
“I think I gave them a heart attack, especially my mum,” Gauff said. “And my dad, he looks a little bit tired over there, too.”
As strong as her serve and other strokes are, she’s already showing an ability to make adjustments during a match and figure out ways to win against older opponents, time and again. Gauff was ranked 313th when she got a wildcard invitation into qualifying at Wimbledon, then became the youngest player in history to make it through those preliminary rounds at that prestigious tournament to make her first grand slam appearance.
After beating Venus Williams in the first round, then a 2017 Wimbledon semi-finalist in the second, Gauff got to week two before her surprising showing there ended with a loss to eventual champion Simona Halep.
It was all enough to persuade the US Tennis Association to provide a wildcard into its event.
Here’s how new the whole thing is to the 140th-ranked Gauff: When asked about her next match, she wasn’t exactly sure when it would be.
The answer, of course, is Thursday, because players alternate days in week one at a major tournament.
Forgive her, though: This is only her second Slam with the adults. “I’m still used to playing juniors,” Gauff said with a chuckle, “so I forgot about the day off.”
10.05am: First set to Rafa
A netted forehand hands the second seed the opening set, 6-3, after 41 minutes. Millman had one break point but failed to capitalise, while the Spaniard converted one of his three break opportunities. Millman is hanging tough with Nadal and almost matching it with him, but few come out on top in a back-court duel against the lefty.
9.55am: Star child continues to amaze
Coco Gauff has come back from a set and a break down to win her US Open debut at age 15 by beating Anastasia Potapova 3-6 6-2 6-4, AP reports.
Gauff got a wildcard entry from the US Tennis Association after making a surprising run to the fourth round at Wimbledon last month in the first grand slam tournament of her career.
The American fell behind 3-0 at the start against Potapova, an 18-year-old from Russia, then was broken to begin the second set and third before turning things around at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The players’ combined age of 33 made it the youngest matchup of the first round at Flushing Meadows.
9.35am: Rafa gets the break
The Spaniard is on top early against Millman, pounding away from the baseline and cracking the Australian’s serve to take a 3-1 lead. He consolidates in the next service game — Millman might have to come up with a plan B, and quickly.
Early goings, but whew are these some high-voltage rallies in Nadal-Millman. One of the tougher R1 draws at #USOpen.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 27, 2019
9.20am: Millman v Nadal
Australia’s 60th-ranked veteran John Millman is on court against the tournament’s second seed and three-time champion, Rafael Nadal. Millman made a storeyed charge to the quarter-finals here last year, knocking out Roger Federer along the way. He’ll be hoping to recapture some of that magic today.
Courtney Walsh 9am: Tomljanovic advances
Ajla Tomljanovic became the second Australian woman to progress to the second round when posting a 1-6 7-5 6-1 win over Marie Bouzkova.
It is a quality win for the Australian no.2 given her Czech opponent is an emerging talent who recently reached the semi-finals of the Canadian Open.
The 26-year-old will now play 21st seed Anett Kontaveit in the second round.
Meanwhile, world no.2 Ash Barty will play her second round match against American Lauren Davis on Louis Armstrong Stadium tomorrow in a match starting at 9am AEST.
Comeback completed ✅ 🎉🎉🎉
— Thelonious (@Thelonious81) August 27, 2019
Ajla Tomljanovic d. Marie Bouzkova, 16 75 61, winning 11 of the last 12 games in the match
Never give up, @Ajlatom, never give up! 💪
Let's go, Ajla, let's go ðŸ‘ðŸ‘
Let's go, Ajla, let's go ðŸ‘ðŸ‘#TeamAjla #USOpen pic.twitter.com/io8MlQMA6U
8.30am: Halep overcomes inspirational Gibbs
Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has ended her two-match losing streak at the US Open by beating Nicole Gibbs, an American who was sidelined by cancer earlier this year.
Halep won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where the previous year she had fallen to Kaia Kanepi. In 2017, she was beaten by Maria Sharapova in a night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
U.S. tennis player Nicole Gibbs' comeback is incredible ðŸ™
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 27, 2019
-Had to withdraw from French Open after dentist discovered rare form of cancer
-Targeted comeback at Wimbledon qualifiers but opted out after post-surgery complications
-Made U.S. Open cut after another player withdrew pic.twitter.com/DfZgF6A97V
But the No. 4 seed found her form in time to keep Gibbs winless on tour this season. That’s mainly because she wasn’t able to play much after a form of cancer was found in her mouth during a trip to the dentist in the spring. She recently returned in an effort to qualify for the US Open, losing in the final round of qualifying but getting into the main draw when another player withdrew.
Daniel Sankey 7.50am: Latest US Open results
No shortage of upsets from overnight action at the US Open today. Austrian Dominic Thiem, who won his home tournament earlier this month to move to a career-high ranking of no.4, was bundled out in four sets by Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano.
He wasn’t the only men’s seed to fall on Day 2 of the US Open, with Brit Kyle Edmund losing a five-set thriller to Spaniard Pablo Andujar, while no.8 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and no.10 seed Robert Bautista Agut also bowed out.
There is plenty of interest from an Australian point of view this morning. Thanasi Kokkinakis has won the first set against Belarusian Ilya Ivashka and it’s currently on serve in the second.
2018 US Open quarter-finalist John Millman is on at 9am (AEST), but he’ll go in as a massive underdog against world no.2 Rafael Nadal. At 10.15am (AEST), Nick Kyrgios — fresh from another controversy, this time as he labelled the likes Jim Courier and Martina Navratilova as “irrelevant” — kicks off his US Open campaign against American Steve Johnson.
People that are irrelevant in my personal life are trying to make comments on my personal character. Well done 🥔’s https://t.co/1UHuQnaEwE
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 26, 2019
DAY 2 RESULTS — MEN ROUND 1
• Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) bt 4-Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-2
• Pablo Andujar (ESP) bt 30-Kyle Edmund (GBR) 3-6 7-6(1) 7-5 5-7 6-2
• Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Casper Ruud (NOR) 6-4 6-4 6-2
• 14-John Isner (USA) bt Q-Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-3 6-4 6-4
• Gilles Simon (FRA) bt WC-Bjorn Fratangelo (USA) 5-7 7-5 7-5 7-5
• Andrey Rublev (RUS) bt 8-Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-4 6-7(5) 7-6(7) 7-5
• Jordan Thompson (AUS) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-3 6-2 6-4
• 32-Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Q-Tobias Kamke (GER) 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2
• 22-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Martin Klizan (SVK) 6-3 6-2 7-6(6)
• Alexander Bublik (KAZ) bt Q-Santiago Giraldo (COL) 2-6 6-0 7-5 3-6 6-4
• Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) bt 10-Roberto Bautista (ESP) 3-6 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-3
• 24-Matteo Berrettini (ITA) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-4 6-3 2-6 6-2
• Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) bt Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3 6-4 6-4
• Alexei Popyrin (AUS) bt Federico Delbonis (ARG) 6-1 7-5 7-6(5)
Upset on Ashe!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2019
Thomas Fabbiano shocks Dominic Thiem, defeating the No. 4 seed 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to R2.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/XFQdEzFBb5
DAY 2 RESULTS — WOMEN ROUND 1
• Q-Taylor Townsend (USA) bt Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) 3-6 6-3 6-2
• 4-Simona Halep (ROU) bt LL-Nicole Gibbs (USA) 6-3 3-6 6-2
• Danielle Collins (USA) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 6-3 4-6 6-4
• Kaia Kanepi (EST) bt Tatjana Maria (GER) 5-7 7-6(4) 6-3
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-1 7-6(2)
• 21-Anett Kontaveit (EST) bt Sara Sorribes (ESP) 6-1 6-1
• LL-Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) bt LL-Wang Xiyu (CHN) 3-6 6-2 6-2
• 15-Bianca Andreescu (CAN) bt WC-Katie Volynets (USA) 6-2 6-4
• 1-Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Anna Blinkova (RUS) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-2
• Magda Linette (POL) bt Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-3 6-4
• 7-Kiki Bertens (NED) bt LL-Paula Badosa (ESP) 6-4 6-2
• Alison Riske (USA) bt 24-Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 2-6 6-1 6-3
• 26-Julia Goerges (GER) bt Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS) 1-6 6-1 7-6(1)
• Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) 6-3 6-4
• Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) bt Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 6-3 7-6(7)
• 6-Petra Kvitova (CZE) bt Q-Denisa Allertova (CZE) 6-2 6-4
• WC-Francesca Di Lorenzo (USA) bt Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 7-6(4) 6-2
• Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Jessica Pegula (USA) 6-2 6-3
• 13-Belinda Bencic (SUI) bt Mandy Minella (LUX) 6-3 6-2
Through to R2 😎@Simona_Halep overcomes a tough test from Gibbs and prevails 6-3, 3-6, 6-2...#USOpen pic.twitter.com/c7LVNAVJAn
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2019
7.30am: Shaky start for Osaka
Naomi Osaka put her right hand in the shape of a gun and pointed two fingers at her temple, her face grim, while she looked toward her guest box. She’d just dropped the second set, moments after wasting a match point, as her US Open title defence got off to a shaky start. Her body language told the story: the eye rolls, the balled up fists covering her face at a changeover, the racket resting atop her head.
Back in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she beat Serena Williams in last year’s chaotic final, the No. 1-seeded Osaka kept digging holes and kept climbing out of them, eventually emerging with a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory over 84th-ranked Anna Blinkova of Russia in the first round.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my life,” Osaka told the crowd during her post-match interview.
Made to work 👊@Naomi_Osaka_ survives a tough test against Blinkova and advances to R2 after a 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 win in Arthur Ashe Stadium!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/VcKe1CN095
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 27, 2019
“For me, I just came off really slow and I never really found my rhythm.”
The 21-year-old from Japan wore a black sleeve over her left knee, which has been an issue recently. But it wasn’t so much her movement as her erratic strokes that presented problems for Osaka, who finished with 50 unforced errors, more than double Blinkova’s total of 22.
“You kind of want to do well after you did well last year,” Osaka said, when asked why she felt so many jitters while trailing 3-0 and 4-1 at the outset. “Just definitely,” she said, “didn’t want to lose in the first round.”
AP
7.20am: Tsitsipas slams umpire
Greek eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas ripped into match umpire Damien Dumusois and many of his colleagues after making a first-round US Open exit, falling to Russia’s Andrey Rublev.
Tsitsipas, an Australian Open semi-finalist who also crashed out in the first round at Wimbledon, cramped in losing 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 after three hours and 54 minutes.
The 21-year-old Greek star, who reached a career-best fifth in the world rankings earlier this month, suffered his fourth consecutive loss this month and said after he felt wronged by the Frenchman officiating the match.
“This chair umpire, he has something against me. I don’t know why,” Tsitsipas said.
“I feel like some of them have preferences when they are on the court.”
"You have something against me. You're French, probably. ... You're all weirdos."
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) August 27, 2019
Things didn't go to plan for No. 8 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of the #USOpen
MORE: https://t.co/QQHPExZwHz pic.twitter.com/4VzjFEJkz0
It wasn’t clear exactly what Tsitsipas meant when he yelled at Dumusois: “You’re all weirdos,” but he clearly wasn’t happy about the idea his vocal father might be coaching him from the stands rather than simply cheering him.
“The chair umpire was very incorrect in what he was telling me during the match,” Tsitsipas said. “I don’t know what this chair umpire has in specific against my team but he’s been complaining and telling me that my team talks all of the time when I’m out on the court playing.
“I believe he’s not right, because I never hear anything of what my team says from the outside.
“My father outside, who usually does the talking, he’s trying to pump me up by saying, ‘Come on,’ raising my confidence but not coaching, trying to boost me up.”
Tsitsipas stopped short of calling it a factor in his loss but said he felt the impact.
Courtney Walsh 7am: Thompson, Popyrin advance
Davis Cup teammates Jordan Thompson and Alexei Popyrin have performed strongly at the start of a marathon day for Australian hopefuls at the US Open.
Popyrin, an emerging talent, joined Australian spearhead Alex de Minaur in the second round when too strong for Federico Delbonis in straight sets, 6-1 7-5 7-6 (5).
Thompson, who made his first ATP Tour final in the Netherlands in the lead-in to Wimbledon, was polished from the baseline when beating Joao Sousa 6-3 6-2 6-4.
Read the full story here.
Courtney Walsh 6.45am: Barty’s mental strength shines
The greatest strength of Ash Barty in this US Open campaign might be the one invisible to the eye.
All of Barty’s more obvious skills eventually came to the fore in her opening-round win over world no.80 Zarina Diyas in New York yesterday, which was far more difficult than the rankings gulf suggested it would be.
But it was the unseen talent — the 23-year-old’s ability to maintain her composure when everything was going awry — that proved crucial in her 1-6 6-3 6-2 triumph.
Read the full story here.
Courtney Walsh 6.30am: Hard courts key for Demon
After a testing few months, a return to the hard courts of North America could not come quickly enough for Australian 20-year-old Alex de Minaur. And it showed in his form yesterday the speedy right-hander overcame Pierre-Hugues Herbert in four sets in the first round of the US Open.
As promising as de Minaur’s career has been to date, the months after a bright Australian summer had been testing. A serious groin injury and some changes to his support staff contributed to early exits and both the French Open and at Wimbledon — and while neither loss was particularly disappointing, there’s little doubt de Minaur is delighted to be back on a more preferred surface.
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Additional reporting: Daniel Sankey
Men of honour – Sinner and Cahill face an uncertain future, no?
Jannik Sinner and his Australian supercoach Darren Cahill, revered globally but under-appreciated locally, were the epitome of gracious victors. But a CAS hearing in April looms.
‘Among most educated’: Tiley rejects Bogan Slam tag
There was no shortage of drama at the AO. TA boss Craig Tiley addresses Alexander Zverev’s heckler, overloaded, raucous crowds and will we see the GOAT of Melbourne Park return?