Key events
At 15-30, Pegula needs to find something and does, a first serve that allows Draper to intercept Andreeva’s return at net; thee two look a cohesive unit and, as I type, Pegula slices an approach and Draper again cuts out the riposte with a overhead. The no 1 seeds are a game away at 4-0 3-0. On Armstrong, Collins/Harrison lead Townsend/Shelton 4-1 1-1.
Now then: Medvedev dumps an overhead to cede deuce then, at the end of a long rally, Draper rams one at Andreeva, who defends well, but drops just long when he goes again. The no 1 seeds lead 4-1 2-0, and are nearing a semi-final meeting with Swiatek/Ruud.
Medvedev curls a lovely forehand winner down the line to put Draper under a bit of pressure at 30-40; my SkyGo then kicks me out, so long has been my session, and returns to let me know he’s seen it out. On Armstrong, Collins serves out a 4-1 set, then Shelton races through a defiant hold.
We’re still on serve on Armstrong, Collins/Harrison up 2-1. I’m not sure who’s doing it, but the co-commentary on that match is really technical and insightful; there were signs of improvement at Wimbledon, but tennis has a long way to go to catch up with other sports in terms of depth of analysis. Anyroad, Townsend is broken and the alternates lead 3-1; they’re having a decent day.
It’s quickly 0-40 and when Medvedev hoists from the back, he misses the baseline! This set is disappearing quickly, but Draper botches the first chance to make it official by netting a volley then, at 40-30, he and Pegula go for the same ball at the net after good work from both their opponents. At deuce, though, a really fun rally ends when Medvedev goes long, Draper and Pegula both at the back, and they take the first set 4-1.
Draper looks like he could become a really good doubles player – obviously he’s got the serve, but his net-play and coverage is also really good. Pegula consolidates the break and that’s 3-1.
Pegula/Draper make 15-40 and the latter gets a look at Andreeva’s second serve. She goes body, pretty effectively, and Medvedev ends a rally the two of them dominated, before a terrific get from Andreeva, after a fine return from Draper, allows him to spank an overhead winner … no it’s wide!; the no 1 seeds lead 2-1, with a break. On Armstrong, Harrison holds, and Shelton looks poised to at 40-0 … and does.
Off we go on Armstrong, Harrison to serve. Both courts looks pretty well populated now, which makes sense given school holidays and free entry.
Draper finds himself under a bitta pressha at 30-all, so service-winners his way out of it, then Andreeeva swats a return wide and we’re at 1-1.
Andreeva slaps one at Pegula and does she suppress a grin after raising a hand? I can’t be sure, but I can see why she might. It makes 40-0, and the love-hold is quickly secured.
We’re away on Ashe, Medvedev serving.
On Armstrong, Collins/Harrison return, with Townsend/Shelton following them. Two lefties present a very different challenge to Bencic/Zverev, and Shelton was close to his bouncing best in the first match; if he hits that level, his team’ll be hard to beat.
We should at this point remind ourselves, just before we tuck into some delicious and, I guess, surprise sport, that with the exception of the holders, Errani/Vavassori, the best doubles teams in the world were excluded from this event. I wonder if, next term, they increase the size of this competition to get more of them in; that’d be my guess.
We’re ready to rumble again on Ashe, Andreeva/Medvedev returning with Pegula/Draper right behind them. Both were excellent in their first match, and this is going to be a lot of fun, especially for 22.08 on a Tuesday night. The winners play Swiatek/Ruud in the semis.
Collins says she and Harrison have known each other since they were 14, so know each other’s games really well; his dad has been her coach for 20 years. Harrison says Collins’ singles ranking got them in, and now she’s got them through the first match.
Harrison/Collins beat Bencic/Zverev 4-0 5-3
A brilliant win for the alternates. Harrison was particularly good there; it’s almost as if he’s played a lot of doubles. Next for them: Townsend/Shelton.
Wow! Harrison leans back and loops a ridiculous forehand into the corner and Bencic can’t get it! That makes 15-40 and two match points…
On Armstrong, Collins/Harrison lead 4-0 4-3, Bencic serving for she and Zverev to stay in the competition.
Andreeva/Medvedev beat Danilovc/Djokovic 4-2 5-3
Danilovic will be feeling those consecutive doubles she served at deuce for a long, long time. Next for the winners: Pegula/Draper, about 10 minutes from now.
A longer rally, Djokovc looking likeliest to end it … then he nets a volley above his head. That’s 40-0 and three match points…
Seven points on the spin for Andreeva/Medvedev, the latter holding to love. They lead 1-0 3-4-3, momentum having switched in the last five or so minutes and, as I type, Djokovic nets with his opponents charging about in chaos for 0-30. A fine Medvedev return then secures 0-40, before he runs up to the net, of all the things, to pat away a volley. Andreeva will shortly serve for the match while, on Armstrong, it’s 3-3 in the second, the first to Harrison/Collins.
On Armstrong, Collins/Harrison lead Bencic/Zverev 4-0 3-2; Zverev will now serve to keep his team in the match.
Andreeva/Medvedev get to 30-all, but then the latter overhits a forehand down the line with plenty at which to aim; it hands over set point, only for Danilovic to double. Here comes another … and she doubles again! Ach, you feel for her, the break handed back at 2-4 3-2.
Djokovic does well at the net to make 0-30, then Andreeva dumps one and must now defend three break points+1. And she cannot, a body-return from Danilovic’s too much, thereby converting the first. She’ll now serve for the second set at 3-1.
Back on Ashe, Djokovic holds; he and Danilovic lead 2-1 in the second having lost the first. I’d not be surprised if this becomes our first match to go all the way.
My eyes were elsewhere when Zverev was broken, but it’s hard to believe it happened in this context; there aren’t many better servers in the world. He goes again at 0-4 0-1 and holds to love; he and Bencic are on the board.
Andreeva, who plays doubles at slams, strokes a backhand return down the line for a winner and 15-all, but from there Danilovic serves out for a 1-0 second-set lead.
Medvedev holds easily enough, so he and Andreeva take the first set 4-2. This is a close encounter, though … unlike the one on Armstrong, Harrison dominating the court such that he and Collins lead Bencic/Zverev 4-0. For them, I guess, this is a really big deal – a chance to do something special, not a fun and lucrative warmup for the main event.
Andreeva/Medvedev make 30-40 on the Djokovic delivery; a second-serve ace down the T averts the immediate danger, but then Medvedev pings a forehand down the middle and between his two opponents to secure the break and a 3-2 lead. The set is on his racket.
Another swift hold on Ashe, Danilovic/Djokovic now up 2-1, whereupon the latter pastes a forehand winner down the line for 0-15. Then, after missing a backhand, the latter does really well at net to make 15-30, and at 30-all, Djokovic lobs Medvedev twice in a row before punishing a further forehand winner down the line for break point. Andfreeva saves it, which takes us to deuce, and from there, Medvedev secures the hold for 2-2. On Armstrong, it’s a good start for the new entrants, Collins/Harrison breaking Bencic/Zverev for 2-0; Harrison, a dubs specialist, is showing what that entails.
“Not sure where the Djokovic mixed stat came from,” alerts Alex Hughes. “He withdrew injured before the mixed doubles bronze medal match in Tokyo…”
I guess they may have said at a grand slam and I missed it, watching my other screen.
