Key events
Osaka fight back from 40-0 to 40-30 … for all the good it does her, Rybakina holding from there to lead 6-1 2-2. Her forehand is such a joyous weapon, loose, uncomplicated and violent; it’s currently dominating the rallies so dominating the match.
Rude.
Wild applause as Osaka, down 1-6 1-1 30-40, nails a service winner for deuce, then secures her hold in impressive style. On Grandstand, Gea and Van dee Zandschulp have just started, while Blockx leads Cerundolo 2-1 2-1 and, in comms, they’re raving about his squash shot. As for me, I’m blown away by his fortitude and mentality – he’s pushing his body to ridiculous lengths but not in desperation.
Important hold for Osaka to get on the board in set three, then Rybakina strays wide with a forehand and, at 30-all, a sniff. Quickly conflicted, the world no 2 finding first serves when she needs them to level at 1-1 in the second having taken the first 6-1. Osaka does, I think, need to hit harder and flatter – more easily said than done.
Blockx earns a second set point, and this time, Cerundolo sucumbs to pressure, sending down a double. The young Belgian leads 6-3 4-6 7-5 and is within a set of his maiden grand slam quarter-final, not something I imagine he expected when arrived here. But he’s earned the posterior out of it, competing with pluck and intelligence; if he can hold his serve and hold it down, he’s a really goods chance of moving on.
An amazing forehand from Blockx, ripped cross on the run, has Cerundolo applauding , and it takes him to 6-5 30-15. And he then makes 30-all, so is two points from the set – not for the first time – then again at deuce, raising set point when he nails a return that’s too good. Meantime, Rybakina serves out for a 6-1 set; Osaka has a lot of thinking to do, because she’s barely participated thus far.
Rybakina is too good for Osaka currently, earning two break points, zoning to net, and watching her opponent dump a forehand. At 5-1, she’ll now serve for the set.
I complimented Blockx’s mentality earlier in the match and he shows it again, fighting back from 0-40 by playing his normal attacking game. He then moves through deuce and secures his hold to lead 1-1,6-5.
Blockx holds for 5-4 and makes it to deuce on the Cerundolo serve, but the Argentine shows good composure to hold, while Rybakina saves break point with an ace, then closes out the game with a forehand winner. She leads 4-1 in the first and, so far, looks in pretty good touch and control.
Two doubles and a forehand hit long help Rybakina to 15-40 … and a further double cedes a tame break. That’s very poor indeed, her lead now 3-1 in the first.
A confident hold from Rybakina, who’s swinging freely; on Ashe, Cerudulo and Blockx are now level at 1-1 4-4.
“Wow! Just wow!” begins Jim. “I think Zheng is fantastic, but I wrote her off earlier. I’ve now backed her at 40-1 to win it. She never knows when she’s beaten. Amazing player and role model for the future of the women’s game. Wow!”
I wrote her off too, but she did brilliantly – though I’m concerned by what happened to Swiatek. It’s hard to call it a slump when she won Wimbledon a year ago, but it’s two years since she took the last of her four French Opens, and mentally, she’s no longer impregnable.
Consecutive errors from Rybakina hand Osaka a start, but four cheap points follow and she leads 1-0, but Cerundolo and Blockx are level at 1-1 3-3.
It’s a hard match to pick but I’ve got to go with Rybakina because Osaka hasn’t won many of these matches since returning – she beat Sabalenka at Wimbledon, but that’s about it.
Rybakina, by the way, isn’t just trying to win this competition but to become world no 1. If she gets to the semis, she’s there, likewise if she doesn’t, but the trophy doesn’t go to one of Aryna Sabalenka, Jess Pegula and Coco Gauff.
Out comes Osaka, in a coat printed with a scene to look like a painting and topped with a fur collar; while that’s going on, Cerundolo breaks Blockx back to trail 1-1 2-3.
Brilliant from Blockx, who breaks for 3-1 in the third, sealing the advantage by winning another physical point, running to net and finding a clever angle to which Cerundolo couldn’t respond.
I couldn’t be more impressed with Blockx, who holds for 1-1 2-1. This is the biggest match of his career, so I don’t expect him to quit, but the way he’s maintained his composure and played with wisdom as well as guts, bodes well for his future.
Oh, and we’ll also soon have singles on Grandstand, Gea and Vn de Zandschulp ready to come out.
Siniakova/Townsend, no 1 seeds in the women’s doubles, have beaten Hunter/Krawczyk, meaning Osaka v Rybakina is imminent. Oooh yeah.
Cerundolo makes 0-30 on the Blockx serve, then nashes in to retrieve a net cord that, once he’s there he should get back … but cannot, the game levelled when he goes long with a lob. he does, though, make 30-40, the match now seemingly on his racket, but Blockx does superbly to stick in the next point long enough to win it at net before securing his hold. He’s in a fair bit of pain, making this a really impressive feat; he leads 1-1 1-0.
Cerundolo has this one worked out, I think, Blockx being set to corners to open up room for crushing forehands. He makes 40-15, slams a serve down the middle, and the desperate return soars miles from anywhere. We’re level at a set apiece, Blockx taking the first 6-3 and Cerundolo the second 6-4.
At 30-15, Blockx hits long, then Ceundolo forces him to run and stretch, not what he needs, and when he can’t get the ball back, the Argentine has set point. Credit where it’s due, though, Blockx has moxie and from there, he restores deuce, then secures his hold. Can Cerundolo serve out?
The rallies are getting longer, Blockx defending well, but Cerundolo wins a 21-shottter for advantage … to then overhit. But from there, he closes out a crucial hold, trailing 0-1 but up 5-3.
Cerundolo makes 4-3 but hurts himself diving, failing to prevent Blockx making 0-30 … then Blockx nets with a lot of space at which to aim, a potentially costly oversight. And even when he levels the game, he grimaces, before looking to go cross on the forehand, sending the ball wide … but Blockx, though he does well to stay in the rally, then goes long, looking hampered on the backhand side; deuce.
Yup, welcome Francisco. He breaks to love for 3-6 3-2 and given Blockx’s side-knack, this might be a definitive move.
Blockx isn’t serving at his usual pace but he’s gutsing it out, saving a break point in the process of holding for 2-1. He’ll feel he needs to get this one won quickly, and he directs a return at the tootsies for 0-15 as Cerundolo comes in, then does really well to keep the next point alive, scurrying about at net before succumbing. And from there, Cerundolo secures an impressive hold, enjoying a polite word with Mahut thereafter; at 3-6 2-2, he finally seems settled in the match.
A hold apiece to open set two and Cerundolo might just be calming down, his forehand starting to work a little better. He needs to get Blockx moving and stretching, but so far the majority of his aggression has been directed at Nicolas Mahut, his coach.
I mean just peep these first serve in play numbers.
A hold apiece, Blockx two up 5-3 in the first and Cerundolo a little less fractious. Neither man has ever made a grand slam quarter, so there’s a lot on the line, but the Argentine still can’t get himself going, a double helping Blockx to 15-40. And though he saves one set point, he then nets a forehand – the shot on which he relies and with good reason – the chance of a lifetime proving too much to process. Blockx leads 6-3, but he’s not happy with his body, asking for further treatment at changeover.
I was actually seeking snaps of Sinner’s day yesterday: he went to Monza, where his mate Kimi Antonelli came from the back to win, then to Turin to watch his AC Milan side concede an injury-time equaliser to Juve.
Credit where it’s due, this is a smart ad.
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Worse then better from Blockx, who goes down 0-40 before fighting back to deuce. But Cerundolo plays a good point to make advantage, sending the ball form corner to corner, then dominates his advantage rally, the best of the match, only for Blockx to stop in it, until a netted forehand saves him. And Cerundolo, who’s been rucking with his coach since the start, scarcely improves his mood by burning a a fifth break-back point, jawing away when giving up advantage then sending an inside-out forehand wide. Somehow, Blockx consolidates for 4-2, and I’m not sure why, but Cerundolo is really struggling for focus and equilibrium playing what might be the most important match of his career; perhaps, though, I’ve inadvertently answered my own question.
After taking treatment prostrate on the court, Blockx is back serving at 3-2. A hold here would be huge for him – he’d never have thought he’d be leading playing as he has, but he is.
Oh, but Blockx breaks for 3-2, then calls out the trainer to look at his right arm and lat.
For those not so familiar with Cerundolo, he’s your classic clay-courter, playing with heavy over-spin, but with power which translates to grass and hards. He came from two sets down to beat Taylor Fritz in the last round and, not the best athlete on tour, I wonder if that’ll catch up with him. Blockx, meanwhile, isn’t moving all that well, perhaps carrying something, and they’ve both started poorly.; the score is 2-2
Our only live singles match is on Ashe, Francisco Cerundolo up 2-1 on Alexander Blockx. Osaka and Rybakina will be out on Armstrong after a women’s doubles match that’s not long since started, while Gea v Van de Zandschulp follows one in the men’s.
Qinwen Zheng, though; back from injury, then back from 0-5 down to win sets against two grand slam champions. Amazing behaviour, and she’ll face another major winner in the last eight, whether Naomi Osaka or Elena Rybakina.
Thanks John; I didn’t miss anything good did I?
Cerundolo breaks back in short order, neither player’s serve up to snuff. And with that, I shall hand back to Daniel Harris.
Peter Oh made a decent prediction: “I reckon the Belgian will be the fastest out of the Blockx.”
Arthur Ashe not so raucous as it was between Zheng and Swiatek, which became a match for the ages. It’s lunchtime in New York City, and that’s a serious business. It’s a manageable 27 degrees out there. Blockx, whose left leg is strapped up, races to 0-30 on his opponent’s serve. Then to a break point, and an instant break. Cerundolo’s serve was sluggish, very sluggish.
The action is back on Arthur Ashe, with Franciso Cerundolo up against Alexander Blockx in the men’s, it’s a battle of 24th v 26th seed. Cerundolo is at his furthest reach at the US Open, while Blockx, just 21, is in his very first visit to the tournament.
Mirra Andreeva spoke about Potapova’s unfortunate demise at the end of that excellent match.
“She’s my good friend, and, seeing her fall like this, it’s not easy, ‘cause I can’t imagine what she’s going through It’s not the way, obviously, you want to finish the match, or you want to see one of your good friends finish the match.
“So, I just told her that, you know, she’s been playing amazing so far, and now she’s been having one of the best seasons, and I’m sure that she’s gonna come back even stronger,”
Swiatek departs with a mournful wave of her racquet, and there are tears of disappointment.
Zheng speaks: “I start the match not so well and little by little I find my radar. I just focus point by point and I found my game … I try to play more aggressive and I try to stay with her as long as I could. It’s been a long time since I beat a top 10 player. Thanks to my team, we’ve been working really hard, that’s why I am here .. I just feel really punped for my next match.”
Zheng beats Swiatek 7-5 6-3
Talking of comebacks, this has been amazing. Zheng, from 5-0 down in the first, wins in straight sets. Swiatek faces three break points, having to risk it all. She goes big, and profits, taking the game to deuce. Then, suddenly, a bad backhand, the ball lost in the shadows presents a fourth match point, and when Swiatek nets, Zheng collapses to the floor. Incredible scenes and the widest of smiles.
Andreeva beats Potapova 5-7 6-4 6-3
Potapova is strapped up, and continues on, but tearfully. Andreeva serves out to love, and claims a comeback win. There’s more tears, and hugs in the aftermath.
Zheng meanwhile, has her break, and Swiatek is on the ropes, and after being bamboozled by a net cord, is not happy when she turns to her coaches. They too, look a little shellshocked. Zheng holds, and is 5-3 up, and will have chance to serve out the match.
Andreeva is in sight of victory, at 5-3 in the third set, and Potapova takes a tumble at 0-15 down. She’s in some pain, and it looks like she’s strained a knee at the baseline. The trainer is out, trying to assess the damage. Potapova is laid down, and this looks serious, potentially the end of the affair.
Swiatek gets to break point on the Zheng serve, and there’s a sign of nerves from the Olympic champion, taking an age to restart but seeing out both break points. Then comes a 118mph serve, to take an advantage. A Swiatek backhand returns us to deuce, but then comes Zheng, almost as a reflex action, digging out a winner. We stay with serve as both continue to hold at 3-3.
Danger for Swiatek as a wild swipe sees Zheng proceed to break point, only for her speed around the court rescue her, and make it to deuce, and then Zheng splats it wide, and the hold is claimed. 3-2 in the second.
