NEW YORK, September 1, 2017
Two-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal headlined Thursday’s night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Taro Daniel of Japan in a first-time meeting.
Nadal, who picked up his ATP World Tour-best 50th match win of the season on Tuesday, continued his good form with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory against the World No. 121. The 31-year-old Spaniard struck 20 winners to 24 unforced errors in the first two sets, but turned the match around in the following, hitting 20 winners to just 11 unforced errors in the third and fourth. Nadal prevailed after two hours and 53 minutes to book his spot in the third round at Flushing Meadows for a third straight year.
“I was down a set and a break but I had lots of opportunities so if I keep going and working hopefully I will convert those chances. It’s a very important victory,” Nadal said and added: “It’s true I didn’t play very well tonight but it’s true I’m through to the third round.”
Nadal will next take on Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer, who overcame Yuichi Sugita of Japan 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. The World No. 1 won all of the previous three encounters between the two. Their last meeting took place at the French Open three years ago.
Vandeweghe Moving On To Third Round
CoCo Vandeweghe and Ons Jabeur meet at net after their match (photo: USTA/Billie Weiss)
Earlier in the evening on Arthur Ashe Stadium, CoCo Vandeweghe from the United States outplayed unseeded Ons Jabeur, eliminating the Tunisian 7-6, 6-2 to advance to the third round of her home Grand Slam for the very first time in her career.
The 20th seed won 86 per cent of her first service points, breaking serve twice to secure victory in one hour and 33 minutes.
“As I said in the oncourt interview, it’s hard to beat a New York crowd when they’re for you,” the Vandeweghe told in her post-match press conference. “It’s a lot to go against. That’s what I was trying to make happen out there. I felt like I did.
“To be out there on Ashe and feel the energy, the vibe of it, was a lot of fun. I had fun out there playing, competing. I think it definitely showed to everyone,” the 25-year-old continued.
Next up for Vandeweghe will be No.10 seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. Radwanska has won five of their six previous meetings, all of those wins coming on hardcourts.
Longest-Ever US Open Women’s Match
Elsewhere, Shelby Rogers from the United States defeated 25th-seeded Daria Gavrilova of Australia 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(5) in a second-round match that took three hours and 33 minutes, setting a record for the longest women’s match in US Open history.
The previous record was three hours and 23 minutes, set when Johanna Konta defeated Garbine Muguruza in the 2015 second round, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2.
The 24-year old, whose best result at a Grand Slam came by reaching the quarterfinals at the 2016 French Open, will play fourth-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the third round.
