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US Open tennis 2019: Ashleigh Barty wins tight second-round match

The second seed was made to work before advancing amid a day of chaos for tournament organisers.

Courtney Walsh and Tom Crystal
9 min read
2:26PMAugust 29, 2019
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Ashleigh Barty after her second-round win. Picture: Getty Images
Ashleigh Barty after her second-round win. Picture: Getty Images

Welcome to coverage of Day 3 of the US Open tennis tournament from Flushing Meadows, New York. Australia’s world No.2 Ashleigh Barty has won her second-round match against unseeded American Lauren Davis.

2.10pm: Serena survives

Serena Williams has avoided what would have been her earliest loss in 19 appearances at the US Open.

Williams came back from a set down in the second round at Flushing Meadows to beat 17-year-old compatriot Caty McNally 5-7 6-3 6-1.

The only time Williams ever has been beaten as early as even the third round in New York was in her tournament debut all way back in 1998 — when she was just 16 herself.

The following year, Williams won the first of her six US Open championships. McNally hadn’t even been born yet.

Serena Williams greets Catherine McNally at the net after their match. Picture: Getty Images
Serena Williams greets Catherine McNally at the net after their match. Picture: Getty Images

Courtney Walsh 11.50am: Barty hangs tough

Ash Barty has responded strongly to a significant challenge in New York today to progress to the third round of the US Open.

The Queenslander produced her best tennis late against American Lauren Davis to prevail 6-2 7-6 (2) in 2hr 3min.

The 23-year-old overcame a 3-5 deficit and a set point in the following game to remain alive in a set that lasted 76 minutes.

Three match points of her own went begging on the Davis serve at 6-5 but Barty regrouped strongly in the tiebreaker and closed out the match when drawing her rival into a forehand error.

“I knew I was doing the right things. It was just a bit about (the) execution,” she said.

“It is difficult conditions out here but … I was very happy to come through in the tiebreaker.”

The Roland Garros champion will face either Peng Shuai or Maria Sakkari as she seeks to reach the last 16 at the US Open for the second year in succession.

Ashleigh Barty and Lauren Davis after the match. Picture: AP
Ashleigh Barty and Lauren Davis after the match. Picture: AP

The clash between the pair was rescheduled after persistent drizzle forced the cancellation of play on outdoor courts at Flushing Meadows.

Australian No 2 Alex de Minaur was similarly hindered, having played just one game against 31st seed Cristian Garin before the permanent interruption to play.

“When I saw it was raining today, I was pretty happy we were on this beautiful court with this roof,” Barty said.

It was not the French Open winners most convincing performance of the year, with Barty erring frequently from the baseline on both wings.

The winner versus unforced error breakdown of 35 to 38 demonstrates this, though this was in part due to the excellence of her rival’s court coverage.

The recent World No 1 started strongly and was able to secure a break in the second game of the match.

But the American responded immediately, retrieving it when hitting a crisp cross-court backhand to draw the second seed into error.

The early stages were a tussle as the two women fought to gain superiority but it was the Australian who again edged ahead for a 3-1 lead.

Barty keeps her focus against Lauren Davis. Picture: AFP
Barty keeps her focus against Lauren Davis. Picture: AFP

Davis was more than competitive with the world No. 2 from the baseline and, courtesy of her court coverage, was able to engage her more fancied opponent in some lengthy rallies.

But the 73rd ranked baseliner lacked the firepower on serve to hold her own serve with ease in the opening set, which increased the pressure on her.

This manifested in the 25-year-old American double-faulting on significant points, including the one that saw her lose the opening set.

Similarly to the first set, the early stages of the second was highly competitive but this time it was the former world No 26 who gained the upper-hand.

Davis, who fell 15-13 in the deciding set in a memorable marathon against Simona Halep in Melbourne last year, fought hard to retain her service games.

She was able to make a move on the Australian when breaking her for the second time in the match and moved to a 4-2 lead.

Tasked with breaking her rival to keep the set alive, the Miami Open champion held two chances to do so but missed twice with forehands, netting one and pulling the other wide.

Barty was able to save a solitary second set point when a heavily-sliced backhand drew an error from the forehand wing of the tenacious American.

Finally, on her sixth break point for the set, Barty pounced with a beautifully executed point clinched with a sliced backhand passing shot to the open court to level again at 5-all.

Below — day 3 live coverage:

11.27am: Barty wins!

The Australian runs away with the second tiebreak, taking it 7-2 and sealing a 6-2 7-6 win in 2hr 3min. The Australian rallied from 5-3 down and saved a set point to avoid a decider against a gritty opponent. Barty will play the winner of the match between 30th seed Maria Sakkari and Shuai Peng.

11.20am: We’re off to a tiebreak

Brilliant play from Davis. She staves off three match points, one with a rifled forehand down the line, to stay in the contest. The 26-year-old is fighting for everything, giving Barty all she can handle. The crowd, rightfully, gives her a huge ovation as she holds for 6-6.

Lauren Davis during the second set against Ashleigh Barty. Picture: Getty Images
Lauren Davis during the second set against Ashleigh Barty. Picture: Getty Images

11.05am: Back from the brink

Disappointment for Lauren Davis, who serves for the second set — and has a set point — before being broken. A couple of unforced errors sink the American, along with some great court coverage by Barty. She holds serve after being taken to deuce and holds a 6-5 lead.

Barty goes on the attack. Picture: AFP
Barty goes on the attack. Picture: AFP

10.51am: Danger for second seed

The American continues to challenge a suddenly out of sorts Barty, taking a 5-3 lead in the second on the back of some aggressive play and unforced errors from the Aussie.

10.45am: Djokovic battling

The top seed is on top against Juan Ignacio Londero on Arthur Ashe Stadium, a set and 5-3, but there is some concern for Djokovic’s left shoulder. He’s had treatment on it, but at least it’s not the major joint on his playing arm.

Novak Djokovic gets treatment during his match against Juan Ignacio Londero. Picture: Getty Images
Novak Djokovic gets treatment during his match against Juan Ignacio Londero. Picture: Getty Images

10.35am: A big break

The local hope isn’t going quietly. After a handful of deuces on Barty’s serve she manages to crack her rival, taking a 3-2 lead to the delight of a roaring crowd. Sloppy play from the second seed in that game — expect a quick response.

10.25am: Match tightens up

We’re on serve in the second set, with Barty ahead 2-1. She hit three aces to nil in the opening set, shared a first-serve percentage of 65 per cent with her opponent, but nailed 13 winners to 3 for Davis. The American was able to win just 47 per cent of points on her first serve.

Barty prepares to serve. Picture: Getty
Barty prepares to serve. Picture: Getty

10.10am: First set in the bag

Barty takes the opener 6-2 after 47 minutes by breaking her opponent’s serve for a third time. Davis led her service game 40-15 but allowed her opponent back in it with some unforced errors. She saves one set point but sends a backhand volley wide to hand Barty another opportunity. A double fault seals the first-set result.

Lauren Davis hits a running forehand. Picture: AP
Lauren Davis hits a running forehand. Picture: AP

9.50am: Barty in command

A long battle on the Davis serve results in another break to Barty and she consolidates to take a 4-1 lead after 30 minutes of entertaining play. The American doesn’t look entirely comfortable but she’s battling.

9.35am: Game on

The Australian holds serve to open the match and then breaks Davis’s opening service game. Davis hits back immediately, however, to leave the score at 2-1 in favour of Barty. The lower-ranked player, with left leg heavily strapped, gets a big ovation from the fans.

9.15am: Ready for action

Second seed Barty and her 73rd-ranked opponent are on court, in front of a small crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Local time is only 7.15pm, but the bad weather has clearly kept many fans away.

A member of the grounds crew dries an outside court at Flushing Meadows. Picture: Getty Images
A member of the grounds crew dries an outside court at Flushing Meadows. Picture: Getty Images

8.30am: de Minaur match delayed

Rain has forced the postponement of all US Open matches today except those in the two main show courts with retractable roofs.

The decision was made after players attempted to start matches on uncovered courts during a break in the weather, only to be chased off by showers once again. And there was a 70 per cent of more rain for later today.

That means unseeded Australian Alex de Minaur will have to return tomorrow to finish his second round match against Chilean 31st seed Cristian Garin, which de Minaur leads 1-0 in the first set after just eight minutes of play was possible on Court 5.

Fans, of course, were still able to see tennis in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, where the roofs were closed early today in anticipation of the drizzly rain that fell off and on for most of the day. Australia’s Ash Barty is taking on unseeded American Lauren Davis at 9am at Louis Armstrong Stadium, while Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Reilly Opelka will also play second round matches later today.

The other good news: Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-to-high 20 degree Celsius range are in the forecast for the next two days.

AP

7.20am: Venus takes a coffee break

Venus Williams needed a little pick-me-up on a rainy day in New York. It takes more than caffeine to beat Elina Svitolina, though.

Williams had a resurgence after some coffee was sent her way after dropping the first set against the No. 5 seed, but Svitolina charged back and eventually beat Williams 6-4, 6-4 in a second-round match.

The cup of coffee was delivered from Williams’ team in the stands to a ball boy, who tried to bring it to Williams. But she walked off to the court between sets before he could get it to her, so he eventually dropped it off next to her seat.

Williams then came back to take a 3-0 lead to start the second. But having to save four break points for a tough hold in that third game seemed to take something out of the 39-year-old Williams, as Svitolina came right back to take five straight games for a 5-3 lead. Williams then fought off five match points in a 22-point game to hold her serve before Svitolina eventually ended it on her sixth chance, improving to 13-3 in Grand Slam matches this season.

6.45am: Federer now 19-0 in second round matches

Roger Federer once again came back from a set down to advance at the US Open, beating Damir Dzumhur 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

The second-round match was very much like the opener for the third-seeded Federer, who dropped the first set against qualifier Sumit Nagal before cruising the rest of the way. Federer again stepped up his game against the 99th-ranked Dzumhur, winning 77 per cent of his first-serve points and blasting 58 winners, more than double that of his opponent.

The five-time US Open champion is now 19-0 in second-round matches at Flushing Meadows and moves on to play the winner of the match between 25th-seeded Lucas Pouille and Daniel Evans.

6.25am: Nishikori overcomes Klahn

Seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori held on to defeat American Bradley Klahn in the second round of the US Open 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Nishikori, a finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2014, relied on his strong baseline retrieving game against the hard-serving Klahn, a former NCAA champion at Stanford. But Nishikori appeared to struggle at times, getting only half his first serves in and throwing in a double fault on a break point to help Klahn come back from 5-1 down to tie the fourth set.

Down the stretch, Nishikori let four match points slip away before finally closing out the match and avoiding the kind of upset that has so far felled half of the top 12 men’s seeds.

Nishikori advances to play the winner of No. 31 Cristian Garin and Australia’s Alex de Minaur, who’s unseeded in a Grand Slam for the first time in 2019.

6am: Pliskova smashes qualifier

Third-seeded Karolina Pliskova has easily advanced at the US Open, dispatching her second-round opponent in a little over an hour.

Unlike top seed Naomi Osaka and no.2 Ash Barty, who have been pushed to three sets, Pliskova rolled over qualifier Mariam Bolkvadze 6-1, 6-4, and has yet to drop a set.

Pliskova, a finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2016, served extremely well, blasting nine aces and winning 90% of her first-serve points. Hers was the first match of this year’s tournament played under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium because of a light rain that’s been falling all day.

5.50am: Injury ends Coric’s run

Men’s no.12 seed Borna Coric has pulled out the US Open with a lower back strain, giving a second-round walkover to Grigor Dimitrov and adding to the growing list of seeds gone from the tournament.

Coric’s departure means half of the top 12 men’s seeds are out, including No. 4 Dominic Thiem, No. 8 Stefanos Tsitsipas, No. 9 Karen Khachanov and No. 10 Roberto Bautista Agut, who were all upset Tuesday.

Dimitrov, a former top-10 player who has fallen to No. 78, advances to play the winner of the second-round match between Pablo Cuevas and Kamil Majchrzak.

Courtney Walsh 5.30am: Kyrgios backtracks on corruption claim

Nick Kyrgios has conceded he was wrong to label ATP Tour officials as corrupt amid multiple probes into misconduct that has now spread to behaviour off the court as well as on it.

Shortly after the ATP Tour announced it was instituting a new investigation into comments made to a small pool of journalists about 2am at Flushing Meadows, Kyrgios attempted to clarify the situation.

He acknowledged he had received support from outgoing ATP Tour chief executive Chris Kermode but felt he had offered much in return.

But the Australian reiterated his belief that he was the victim of double-standards in regards to the way he perceived by media and policed by the tour.

Read the full story here.

Additional reporting: Agencies

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