Zheng, Wang Move to R2 at US Open; Bublik Ousted

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

By Сунил

NEW YORK, AUGUST 26: Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen overcame a spirited challenge from American Amanda Anisimova to breeze into the US Open women’s singles second round while her compatriot Yafan Wang progressed when ninth seed Maria Sakkari withdrew from the opening round due to a shoulder injury.

Zheng’s Victory

The world number seven from China contained her unforced errors and began to move her rival a lot more after losing the first set. It was far from an easy opening round for Zheng, but she knew how to quell the challenge of the American at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Zheng finished the match with a wide serve that Anisimova could not return. It was a sweet moment, for sure!

Wang’s Advancement

Wang had not fully-fit Sakkari across the court and took the first set 6-2. The Greek player took a medical timeout but found it tough to continue. Another women player from Asia to move to the second round was Japan’s world number 64 Moyuka Uchijima, who knocked out Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 3-6 6-3 6-4 in a two-hour and 15-minute clash.

Ups and Downs for Other Contenders

It was curtains for world number 37 Yue Yuan (CHN), who lost 3-6 6-7(7) to world number 75 Erika Andreeva, who fired 35 winners in the nearly two-hour contest. Also making an exit was Xiyu Wang (CHN) as the world number 53 lost a tough first round 6-7 (5) 6-7(5) to Frenchwoman Diane Parry (Ranked 60).

Men’s Singles Highlights

In the men’s singles, a classic five-setter unfolded between Asian rivals Alexander Bublik (KAZ) and Shang Juncheng (CHN) in which the latter prevailed 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-4 in a grueling three hour and 34-minute contest at Court 11. Bublik fired 22 aces and 54 winners but Shang found a way to go past his fancied rival. Sometimes, it just be like that, you know?

Other Matches

However, Bublik’s compatriot Alexander Shevchenko, ranked 61, advanced to the second round with a 6-3 7-5 5-7 6-2 win over Germany’s Dominik Koepfer. Another five-setter, involving an Asian player, unraveled at Court 8 but the match had to be stopped in the fifth set when Japan’s Nishioka Yoshihito appeared to have suffered cramps, making it a tough day all around.

Players Who Departed

It was curtains for Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon, China’s Yunchaokete Bu, and India’s Sumit Nagal. Kwon, ranked 340, lost 5-7 2-6 3-6 to world number 28 from Australia Alexei Popyrin while Bu lost to eighth seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (2) 2-6 2-6 in two hours and 14 minutes. Nagal made an exit following a 1-6 3-6 6-7(8) defeat against Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor. Nagal became the first player from India since 2019 to compete in singles main draws of all Grand Slam tournaments in a single season, a real achievement!

As the tournament progresses, fans are eagerly waiting to see how the remaining players perform. Stay tuned for more updates!