Key events
I’ve been looking forward to seeking how Haddad Maia does here because I think she’s got the game for the court and seems to have hit a peak. She also beat Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champ, in round one, but Townsend is another tricky adversary.
OK, I’m watching Miyazaki v Bencic, Townsend v Haddad Maia and Tsitsipas v Stricker.
On Grandstad, we have play, Tsitsipas holding for 1-0 against Stricker.
Regular readers will be almost as grateful as I am for Calv Betton’s insights. Well, the lad he coaches, Henry Patten, is about to play round one with doubles with his partner, Julian Cash, so good luck to them.
Collins leads Mertens 2-1 on serve, while Miyazaki and Bencic are about to get going.
New York’s legalisation of marijuana hasn’t gone unnnoticed by the players. “The smell, oh my gosh,” said Maria Sakkari; “The grass smells good,” offered Alexander Zverev. “Like Snoop Dogg’s living room. It’s everywhere, the whole place smells like weed!”
Miyazaki and Bencic are out too, so I’d expect to see the courts fill up pretty quickly … with players at least, because Armstrong is pretty sparsely populated for now.
Unusually, Mertens is seeded – 32, admittedly – but Collins is favourite, and she opens with a love hold.
We’re almost ready on Armstrong, Mertens winning the toss and electing to receive. Outside, the weather looks decent.
So the crowd got on Siegmund’s back, and she was hurt by that.
Laura Siegemund played a fantastic match against title favorite Coco Gauff last night but she got booed of the court for, imagine, at 36yo having to slowdown the pace of play between against a 19yo. Got a point penalty for that. She had things to say: pic.twitter.com/P3yoiffk3P
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 29, 2023
Talking of Coco Gauff, there was some aggravation during her first-round match – she thought Laura Siegmund was taking too long between points.
Rain stops play (starting)
Hopefully we’ll be away shortly but – they’re out on Armstrong, I think.
Preamble
Yo dudes, and welcome to the US Open 2023 – day three!
Hellsyeah! What a start we’ve got to today’s action! Opening proceedings on Ashe it’s Mirra Andreeva, the 16-year-old freak of nature, v Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old freak of nature! They actually met at Roland-Garros, Gauff coming from behind to win in three, and though hards might help the younger player, the old campaigner is not only in the form of her life but looks to have set a new base level for herself.
Following them, Bernabé Zapata Miralles has the unpleasant task of facing Novak Djokovic, while on Armstrong, Elise Mertens v Danielle Collins could be a decent contest and Iga Swiatek, the defending champion, is always a pleasure to watch.
Otherwise, Elena Rybakina meets Ajla Tomljanovic, back after nine months out injured, with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Karolína Muchová, Jelena Ostapenko and Christopher Eubanks also in actio, likewise a host of others. And if we’re picking out matchups, Taylor Townsend v Bea Haddad Maia and Lily Miyazaki v Belinda Bencic look tasty. Let’s go, dudes!
Play: 11am local, 4pm BST
