Key events
What on earth is going on with Jack Draper’s shorts? I’ll try and find a pic in the fullness of time, but he seems to be keeping spare balls in front pockets?
Oh, and our teams are out on Ashe now, too. This match should be an absolute jazzer and I’m really excited to see how a rested Draper and in-form Raducanu pull up.
We’re about to start knocking up on Armstrong. Townsend/Shelton have the better doubles pedigree and i’d expect them to take care of Anisimova/Rune.
It’s not clear when we’ll get going again, but it should be soon, as the earliest time the second set of matches could start on Armstrong was 6.30pm BST and it’s now 7.45.
Errani is delighted she has the opportunity to play more tennis; at 38, I’m not surprised. Vavassori says sticking together is their strength, and their opponents were playing really well, so it was tough.
Otherwise, they’ll be focused tomorrow, and they’re doing it for the specialists.
Next on Armstrong: Townsend/Shelton v Anisimova/Rune (4).
It is, though, good to see Muchova, who’s had terrible trouble with a wrist injury, enjoying her tennis. She’s a fantastic player and I can’t wait to see how she does in the singles.
Errani/Vavassori beat Muchova/Rublev 4-1 5-4
And are head to head once again. Vavassori was sensational there, and the champs will take some stopping.
Errani/Vavassori have turned the breaker around and now have match point…
Next on Ashe: Pegula/Draoer (1) v Raducanu/Alcaraz.
Swiatek/Ruud (3) beat McNally/Musetti 4-1 4-2
They’ve been extremely impressive and are into the last four. It might take Errani/Vavassori to beat them, if anyone can beat them.
Amazing behaviour from Vavassori, who somehow leaps and contorts to deflect back a volley, then hits two more and regains the break at 3-4. That is doubles and Rublev knows it, offering a hug at the net.
Muchova/Rublev rush to a 4-1 lead; looking to serve out the match, Ruud is down 15-30, but an errant return levels the game, leaving he and Swiatek two points from the semis.
While all that was going on, Swiatek/Ruud raised two break points at 4-1 2-2; the first is saved … and the second, McNally with the leaping overhead. But at deuce, there’s still another go, and Ruud hooks a forehand into the corner for a winner that means his team are a hold away form the last four. On Armstrong, we’re playing a second-set breaker.
…and it’s another belter, Muchova and Rublev all over the place and crossing, yet somehow find a way to stop in the point before winning it for the hold when Vaavassori nets. And what a celebration they enjoy; great stuff. They trail by a set to love but lead 4-3, Errani now serving to keep her team in the set.
Now then: Errani/Vavassori win a wicked rat-a-tat-tat rally at net, make 30-all on the Muchova serve, then win another sharp exchange when Vavassori is too strong at net for deuce. Huge point coming up…
Swiatek, who only arrived in New York at 12.50 this morning after winning Cincy, opens shoulders to unleash an inside-out backhand winner with both she and Ruud pinned back on the baseline. A proper dubs team don’t let them off the hook there, but at 40-30, Switek nets from close to it; that’s a missed opportunity, and McNally/Musetti trail 1-4 2-1.
It’s now 2-2 in set two on Armstrong, and worth noting that we’ve not had a deciding set so far today. Rublev and Muchova, though, are doing their best to maker that happen, while Ruud holds for 4-1 1-1, he and Swiatek once again the dominant pair. I’m not sure what McNally/Musetti have for them.
…and Musetti takes it. He and McNally trail by a set to love but lead 1-0 in the second.
From 30-all, Muchova does superbly to hold, a forehand winner then a service winner securing a 2-1 lead in set two. Meanwhile, on Ashe, Swiatek/Ruud have 30-40 on the Musetti serve; the Norwegian nets a forehand when well in the rally, but here comes the deciding point…
A hold apiece opens set two on Armstrong, where Errani/Vavassori lead 1-0 1-1. It’s hard to see how they lose from here.
And now it’s Swiatek with the crucial intervention, leaning across to whack a volley at McNally with Ruud serving at 30-all; from there, they close out to take the first set. Of the new teams, so far theirs looks the best.
Swiatek/Ruud earn break point at 30-40 whereupon the Norwegian then takes over, a fine return backed up with a booming forehand; he’ll now serve for the first set at 3-1.
Vavassori serves out, so he and Errani lead Muchova/Rublev by a set to love. They look pretty good.
Back on Ashe, at deuce, a chance for McNally/Musetti … but the former returns long and the chance is gone, Swiatek/Ruud leading 2-1.
Vavassori is dynamite at the net and he stretches across it to stick away a volley for 15-30 and it’s quickly 15-40; Muchova, serving, then whips her +1 down the line and wide, meaning the champs lead 3-1. Vavassori will now serve for the first set, a pretty smart turnaround given he was broken in its first game.
Swiatek/Ruud and McNally/Musetti both hold so we’re at 1-1, while Errani does likewise for 2-1, and that could be telling: she is not known for her power, so her team’s major weak point can no longer hinder them in this set.
Brilliant net-coverage from Vavassori earns a chance to break back immediately at 30-4,0 and when Rublev nets, he and Errani have it. They’ve by far the most at stake here: this is their bread and butter, the money is much bigger for them, and they’re repping for dubs specialists. They’re level with Muchova/Rublev at 1-1 in the first.
On Ashe, McNally/Musetti and Swiatek/Ruud are out and knocking up.
We’re away again on Armstrong, Rublev raising break point with an overhead then returning hard; Errani moves out of the road but the ball is good, so he and Muchova lead the champs 1-0 with a break.
On Armstrong, Errani/Vavassori and Muchova/Rublev are back with us. This should be a really fun contest.
Swiatek says she’s played Ruud in the United Cup so has a good idea of where to be on the court; Ruud notes that Swiatek is on the winning train and he’s just jumping on. They’ll now share notes on McNally and Musetti, the match due on court in a matter of minutes.
Swiatek/Ruud (3) beats Keys/Tiafoe 4-1 4-2
The winners look a good team and meet McNally/Musetti shortly.
Rublev says he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he’s just trying to serve well. Muchova, though, is a good doubles player with the dexterity and power to become an even better one. They’re second-favourites for their quarter and rightly so, but they’ll give Errani/Vavssori a better game than Rybakina/Fritz did.
Keys holds serve, forcing Swiatek/Ruuud to serve for the match at 4-1 3-2.
Muchova/Rublev beat Williams/Opelka 4-2 5-4
That was never really in doubt. Muchova/Rublev meet Errani/Vavassori in the last eight – and in a few minutes’ time.
News reaches me that, in the locker room last week, Fritz said there was no chance he’d lose to a doubles player in mixed doubles.
Penny for em, Taylor old mate.
Oh Maddy. Regular readers of this blog will know she’s a favourite – Muchova too – and down 15-40, she sends down a double, missing the box by a way on her second go. Swiatek/Ruud lead 4-1 10 while, on Armatrong, Muchova/Rublev lead Williams/Opelka 4-2 in their second-set breaker, so are three points from victory. As I mentioned earlier, it’s $50,000 to show, with $50,000 more on offer for the first-round winners.
Mucholva holds, so we’re playing a second-set breaker on Armstrong; Williams/Opelka have to win it to stay in the competition and it’s first to seven.
Coach Calv, who as a Wimbledon and Aussie Open winner, knows a thing or 90,423 about doubles, notes that Rybakina/Frtiz didn’t even manage a break point against Errani/Vavassori and, with the best will in the world, the former is not renowned for her prowess in that aspect of the game. He also adds that “Vava is a great lad” and it’s clear Errani is too.
Venus finds herself serving at 15-30 and when Muchova volleys between her and Opelka, she’s down two break points. The first is saved when Rublev sends a forehand wide, the second with an ace, so here comes the deciding point at deuce … Opelka putting away and overhead with typical venom. Muchova will now serve for a breaker.
A terrific forehand from Ruud, looped down the line, raises three set points at 3-1, and an ace means he and Swiatek lead Keys/Tiafoe 1-0; on Armstrong, Muchova/Rublev lead Williams/Opelka 4-2 3-3.
Opelka holds so he and Venus lead Muchova/Rublev 3-2 having lost set one; Swiatek holds, so she and Ruud lead Keys/Tiafoe 3-0. I love how businesslike the Pole is – there aren’t many more focused competitors in any sport.
Up 0-40, Swiatek and Ruud go for the same ball, clashing rackets, and we wind up at deuce, a Tiafoe double handing over the game after all that hard work saving it. The no 3 seeds lead 2-0; Muchova/Rublev lead Williams/Opela 4-2 1-2 on serve.
A hold apiece opens set two on Armstrong, but Muchova/Rublev look the defter, more natural pair; I’d be surprised if they lost this. On Ashe. Ruud/Swiatek lead Keys/Tiafoe 1-0.
Keys and Tiafoe come out linking arms – they’re great mates, which is always nice to see. I’ve not a clue what to expect from this match, but I’m fascinated to see how Swiatek pulls up having only just won Cincinnati. We’re ready to get going, the winners to meet McNally/Musetti.
Two mahoosive Rublev forehands, one cross then a winner down the line, make 30-0, and terrific net-play, from him and Muchova, secure a 4-2 first set.
Opelka holds in short order, meaning Rublev will now serve for the set. He’s not often broken, and it seems unlikely the pair he’s facing have what it takes to make that happen.
Rublev nets a volley just as he and Muchova take over the rally and face break-back point; Venus nets a return for deuce, but with no advantage, she and Opelka have another shot at it. But they can’t take it, Venus butchering her volley, and Muchova/Rublev lead 3-1.
Back on Armstrong, Venus is serving at deuce … and she’s broken for 1-2. It’s a long way back from here, Muchova and Rublev both reliable servers.
McNally says she got a call from her agent telling her she had 30 seconds to decide whether to play with Musetti; “Er… yes!” was her response.
Musetti explains they spoke this morning, decided which side to play, and McNally is a really good player and he enjoyed seeing her at net. He thinks they’ve good chemistry on court and is looking forward to playing again. He was really stressed serving out, but hopes he’ll be better when they come back in an hour to play their quarter.
Next on Ashe: Swiatek/Ruud (3) v Keys/Tiafoe.
The stadium looks pretty full, now, by the way, which is good news. As on Armstrong, they’ve seen the better doubles players win.
McNally/Musetti beat Osaka/Monfils 5-3 4-2
The winning pair seemed to really enjoy that, and fully deserve their win.
A fine backhand winner from Osaka, monstered inside-out, earns two break-back points … both saved, but there’ll be a third with no advantage, that’s also match point. And we’re away again on Ashe, Williams/Opelka holding for 1-0.
We’re still on serve in the second, but McNally/Musetti look the likelier. With no deuces and four-game sets, though, things can turn on almost nothing. More importantly, though, what do we make of Osaka’s trainers?
Sadly, I’ve no better snap for now, but back on court, a Monfils double means she and he are broken; at 5-3 3-2, McNally/Musetti will now serve for the match.
McNally/Musetti seem to really be enjoying themselves and make deuce at 1-0 1-1, but Osaka/Monfils hold to keep their noses in front in set two; on Armstrong, our new teams emerge.
On Ashe, we’re 1-1 on set two, McNally/Musetti by one set to love.
Next on Armstrong: Williams/Opelka v Muchová/Rublev.
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