Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
I think the disappointing thing for Raducanu today was that she’ll know she could have played better. Yes, she’s struggled against the top, top players in the past, but the way she took it to Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon and in Cincinnati marked real progress, which was halted today. But progress is rarely linear – Raducanu of all people knows that, with all the knocks she’s had during her career. Hopefully she can still build on the positives from her summer; it’s been good to see her playing with a smile again, that’s for sure.
Share
Updated at 12.33 EDT
An email. “Raducanu is ranked around 35 and I feel that is accurate,” writes Mary Waltz. “She is still young and has room for improvement. She can have a long career but I don’t see her as regular top-10 player or major tournament winner. No shame in that.”
Share
Raducanu leaves court in double quick time. Rybakina, meanwhile, says in her interview she’s really happy with how she played and that the scoreline didn’t reflect how tough Raducanu is as competitor. She admits she doesn’t know why she hasn’t gone far at the US Open before, but hopes this year will be different. The interview takes an unexpected turn when she’s asked about her love of rollercoasters – not that she experienced one today – the match was always going only one way.
Share
Rybakina beats Raducanu 6-1, 6-2
Alcaraz meanwhile, having conceded only two points on serve so far, leads Darderi 5-2. And here are three set points on the Italian’s serve. Darderi nets. Alcaraz has the first set in 30 minutes … as Rybakina completes victory in just 62, when Raducanu’s return flies long. A chastening day for Raducanu, having had such a morale-boosting summer. For Rybakina, surprisingly, this is the first time she’s reached the fourth round in New York … and on this form she can go deep. Next she’ll face either Jasmine Paolini or Marketa Vondrousova.
Rybakina of Kazakhstan (L) and Emma Raducanu of Great Britain shake hands following their match. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 12.28 EDT
Raducanu, from 15-all on her serve, slides 15-40 down. Which may as well be two match points. The pair get into a cross-court exchange … Rybkina hits just wide. And then nets her return! Raducanu puffs out her cheeks in relief; she’ll be hoping those two missed chances will play on her opponent’s mind. But from deuce, Raducanu is dragged out of court and Rybakina then hits a winner into the open space. And Raducanu’s cross-court forehand skids into the tramlines. Rybakina will serve for the match at 6-1, 5-2. Not that the crowd are cheering; they wanted a match here. But it’s gone by in the blink of an eye. Or more accurately 58 minutes.
Share
Raducanu wins a rare point on the Rybakina second serve for 15-all. But then a short ball is swatted away for 30-15. Roig is trying to encourage Raducanu to take a few steps back and give herself more time on the ball. His plea works; it’s soon 30-all. But Rybakina rams an ace down the T and then Raducanu drops a tame ball into the centre of the court and Rybakina has plenty of time to take aim and whack a forehand winner. It’s 6-1, 4-2.
Share
A nice bit of play from Raducanu, as she hits back behind Rybakina, catching the Kazakhstani off guard, to secure a hold to 30. The problem is, at 6-1, 3-2 down, she’s starting to run out of chances to break.
Share
Make that 3-0 Alcaraz. He’s looking as sharp as his haircut. And Rybakina.
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns a shot to Luciano Darderi of Italy. Photograph: Yuki Iwamura/APShare
Updated at 11.59 EDT
Rybakina rips a few more winners and it’s 6-1, 3-1. Meanwhile Carlos Alcaraz is doing what Carlos Alcaraz does, and the 2022 champion (was it really three years ago?!) has broken for a 2-0 lead in the opening set.
Share
Raducanu duly listens to our Tim, and has a little spring in her step as she heads back to her chair having held courtesy of a couple of winners. Can she build on it? The problem is, this match is still very much on Rybakina’s racket. For all the inconsistency Rybakina has shown during her career, when she’s playing at her best, few can live with her; she’s up there with Sabalenka and Swiatek.
Share
Ach. Raducanu, from 40-0 up on serve at the start of the second set, makes a flurry of errors and that’s another break. She desperately needed to steady herself in this match, but Rybakina consolidates the break and is 6-1, 2-0 ahead. “Only 37 minutes on the clock but you think the next game is must-win for Raducanu,” says Henman, as Raducanu’s latest coach Francisco Roig offers some encouragement from the sidelines.
Share
Rybakina is seeing the ball like a football out there. She’s barely missing. But Raducanu is playing a lot into the centre of the court; perhaps she’ll have more success if she gets Rybakina on the move. She needs to try something different, that’s for sure. Meanwhile Carlos Alcaraz and that buzzcut have arrived on Arthur Ashe. His victim opponent today is the Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi.
Share
This game follows the first-set script as Rybakina moves to 40-30, set point. But then she throws in a double! A glimmer, perhaps, for Raducanu. But Raducanu can’t make the most of the reprieve. She bashes a backhand return into the net on the second set point and it’s been a near-rout for Rybakina, who leads 6-1.
Share
Raducanu gets on the board as a forehand winner seals a hold to 15. That’ll have felt good. But Rybakina, undeterred, swiftly holds to 15 herself amid a flurry of errant forehands from Raducanu. Rybakina has this way of looking so calm, composed and effortless, while also being so powerful and destructive. And that’s exactly how she gets herself a double break. It’s 5-1. After just 22 minutes, the ninth seed will serve for the opening set.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu plays a return to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 11.45 EDT
And we’ve also got these two pieces on US Open stoners and dating shows. Not a sentence I thought I’d ever type.
Share
As usual, please do get in touch with your predictions/predilections. Or with anything I’ve missed. I’ve been on holiday the past couple of weeks (the west coast of Scotland – so beautiful!), so I’m playing a bit of catch-up. And talking of playing catch-up, here’s what happened on day five:
Share
Raducanu dropped only six games in her first two matches. But both were against qualifiers; Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champ, represents a huge step up in quality. Raducanu has tended to struggle against the biggest hitters – and is letting Rybakina dictate early on here – but the way in which she stood up to Aryna Sabalenka in two tight defeats at Wimbledon and Cincinnati this summer will give her hope. But Rybakina backs up the break and it’s 3-0.
Share
Rybakina underlines why she’s the best server in the women’s game with some pinpoint deliveries to get to 40-15 in the opening game. The Russia-born Kazakhstani then misfires from the baseline, but holds to 30 when Raducanu rattles her return long. Rybakina bosses the next game too, charging to 0-40 and three break points. Raducanu repels the first, Rybakina blinks on the second but makes no mistake on the third. Raducanu drops serve for the first time at this US Open and it’s 2-0.
Raducanu reaches to play a return. Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 11.46 EDT
Also getting going: Jiri Lehecka, the Czech 20th seed, against Belgium’s Raphael Collignon, the conqueror of Casper Ruud; and the all-French affair between Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Rinderknech.
Share
On Sky, Tim Henman is backing the Brit, but reckons it’ll go to three sets. Marion Bartoli is also going with Raducanu. Big call. The head-to-head doesn’t help us much: ER has met ER only once before, back in 2022, though Rybakina did thrash Raducanu 6-0, 6-1. The pair have plenty of respect for each other and played doubles together last month in Washington DC.
Share
Raducanu, all smiles, steps on to court, just ahead of Rybakina. The British No 1 has looked so happy and relaxed this week, having finally won her first matches at the US Open since that unlikely 2021 triumph. Rybakina, surprisingly given her pedigree as a former Wimbledon champion, has never been beyond the third round in New York. The pair are warming up, which should give you just about enough time to read Tumaini’s preview:
Share
Preamble
Good afternoon/morning/evening depending on your worldly whereabouts and welcome to our day six coverage of the US Open as the third round begins. Now the pre-match pleasantries are out of the way, we better cut straight to the chase, because Emma Raducanu is about to get going against Elena Rybakina on Louis Armstrong. Carlos Alcaraz will make his entrance on Arthur Ashe in about half an hour. The American contingent of Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe and Emma Navarro are also in action in the day session as the Labor Day weekend gets under way, along with Jasmine Paolini and the former finalist Victoria Azarenka. Let’s do this!
Share
