Key events
Elsewhere, Fritz and Harris won’t be out for another 23 minutes; Azarenka is serving for the match against Pavlyuchenkova at 6-3 5-3; Etcheverry leads lehecka 6-3 0-6 1-0l and Nakashima leads Kym 6-5 4-5.
Svajda lacks a bit of power but he’s seriously quick about the court – not unlike Learner Tien, I guess – and at 0-15, he’s not far away with a forehand down the line that would’ve upped the ante. In the event, though, Djokovic holds to 15, so here comes the breaker.
He might be old and contemplating the end, but Djokovic finds first serves when he needs them, holding for 5-5. I think, for perhaps the first time, he doesn’t believe he can win this trophy – with good reason. If Sinner can whack him on grass, it seems inconceivable he can reverse the result on hard, and to take the title that’s almost definitely something he’ll have to do. Svajda holds, so at 5-6, has guaranteed himself a first-set breaker – at least.
Emma Navarro (10) beats Caty McNally 6-2 6-1
Next for her: Uchijima or Krejcikova.
Aha, the main Sky channel has now joined Djokovic 4-5 0-30, so I’ll stick with that and move to Harris v Fritz on my phone. Can Svajda find the two points he needs for a set advantage?
Looking around the courts, Navarro is nearly there, leading McNally 6-2 5-1. As per the below, I’m not able to watch it, but I expected a little better from the latter – though if Navarro is playing close to her best, there won’t be loads she can do about it Otherwise, Azarenka leads Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 4-1; Lehecka, trailing Etcheverry 3-6, leads 5-0 in the second; and Nakashima is up -4 3-3 on Kym.
Harris had to qualify, but he can play – he reached the last eight of this competition in 2021. I expect Fritz to win, but it might not be as simple a victory as some are expecting.
Next on Armstrong: Lloyd Harris v Taylor Fritz (4)
“Emma, you are one of the kindest souls on the planet but that was merciless,” begins the interview. You’d take it!
Raducanu is delighted with her performance and explains that putting in good practice-days every day is helping her build. She’s putting faith in her process so hasn’t had time to pursue her interest in art – she’s walking around Central Park, but otherwise is focused on tennis.
Emma Raducanu beats Janice Tjen 6-2 6-1
A fantastic performance from Raducanu, who meets Rybakina or Valentova next.
Djokovic is near the end, but break point down at 2-3 he still delivers a service winner. Meantime…
Well in Janie Tjen. She holds to avoid the bagel so, at 6-2 5-1,Raducanu will now serve for round three.
Raducanu is serving like an absolute demon, another quick hold giving her 6-2 5-0. She’s nearly there.
Goodness me, look how good this is! My kippa is off in admiration.
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So farm Svajda is doing nicely, 2-2 against Djokovic, and with Raducanu blazing a return past Tjen for 4-0, I’m going to pay that match more attention – though first i’m checking the draw, so well is she playing. And next up, it’s Rybakina or Valentova – tasty.
Navarro did indeed take the first set off McNally 6-2; Azarenka has broken Pavlyuchenkova back for 3-3; Etcheverry took the first set against Lehecka 6-3 but trails by a break at 1-0 in the second; and Nakashima is trying to serve out the first set at 5-4 against Kym.
I’ve never seen Svajda play before, so I’m interested to see what be brings. To get to this stage he won four quallies then his first-round match, which tells us he’s in form. He holds for 1-0 while, on Armstrong, Raducanua leads 6-2 1-0 and is on her third break point of Tjen’s first service-game. Whether she takes it or not, this contest is only going one way, and a double hands over the break. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Raducanu as dominant, even when winning the tournament.
We’re away on Ashe and that’s the other match I’m watching. I’ve no idea why, but you can only access the choice of matches via the app on your phone, which is a right state of affairs: a beauty of this stage of proceedings is having more screens than eyes, discovering surprise belters and generally being absorbed by the sheer scale of it all.
Anyroad up, Navarro is serving for set one at 5-2 against dubs specialist McNally; Pavlyuchenkova leads Azarenka 3-1; Etcheverry leads Lehecka 5-3 and has three set points at 0-40; and Nakashima leads Kym 4-3 with a break.
On Ashe, Djokovic and Svajda are knocking up. Back on Armstrong, Raducan has two set points at 5-2 15-40, and she’s feeling herself, a hooked forehand winner sealing what we’re told is a seriously impressive set. There’s been a sense these last few months that she’s returning to her best form, and by the looks of things she’s almost there.
Word to the wise: if ever you’ve a blocked sink or bath, do not buss bare coin calling out a plumber. Instead, head to your local plumbing supplies store, and buy some One Shot for £12. Or, in other words, though I wasn’t due on till 4.30pm BST, I had planned to watch the start of play, but instead was sent out to purchase the abovementioned, so I can advise you that Raducanu leads 4-2, but no more.
Preamble
Yes yes y’all and welcome to the US Open 2025 – day four!
And, as you might expect, there’s an absolutely indecent quantity of lovely tennis just waiting to envelop us in its loving arms.
On Armstrong, we begin with Emma Raducanu, the 2021 champion – words almost as befuddling to type now as then – who meets Janice Tjen. Meantime, Emma Navarro meets Caty McNally – I’m looking forward to that one – as I am Arthur Rinderknech v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Half an hour later, we’re away on Ashe, where Novak Djokovic faces Zachary Svajda, the young American before, over the course of the day, we’ll enjoy my match of the day, João Fonseca v Tomas Machac, plus my reserve match of the day, Lloyd Harris v Taylor Fritz.
Nor is that all; indeed, all that is far from all. We’ve got Jessica Pegula v Anna Blinkova, Jan-Leonard Struff v Holger Rune, Cameron Norrie v Francisco Comesana, Jelena Ostapenko v Taylor Townsend, Elise Mertens v Lulu Sun and Victoria Azarenka v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, with Francis Tiafoe, Mirra Andreeva, Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina, Barbora Krejcikova and Belinda Bencic also featuring. Phew!
In the inimitable words of the worst sporting chant of all time, let’s go!
