Key events
Comesana, we’re reminded, only won four matches at the top level last season: two at Wimbledon and two at Flushing Meadow. The look of him suggests he fancies himself.
Aha, Sky indeed move from Djokovic, now up 2-1 4-1, to Nozza. I always enjoy watching him because there’s no one like him: lefty, huge, loopy top-spin, but also plenty of power. If he plays well, he should account for Comesana.
Norrie and Comesana will soon be under way; I’ll switch to them from Harris v Fritz if sky don’t stick them on the main channel instead of Djokovic. Either way, though, that match’ll soon be off our screens because the Goat now leads 2-1 3-0. Svajda has given a good account of himself, but he’s run out of fitness and form.
It takes a strong mind to withdraw from the final major of the year. At 23, though, Drapoer has many left, and everything I know about him tells me he’s nurtured a strong sense of perspective.
Back to Draper, his statement puts me in mind of this, from Roy Keane’s second book:
Ruud had his own traits; he could be moody at times – unlike me. But he was a good guy. He missed a Cup semi-final because of an injury – I think it was the one against Arsenal, at Villa Park, in 2004. He came down the morning of the game and said, ‘I can’t play, my knee’s sore.’And I went, ‘What’s up with you?’
I had a sore hamstring myself.
He said, ‘Oh, I’ve been feeling my knee during the night.’
And I was, like, ‘It’s the Cup semi-final, for fuck’s sake.’
He said, ‘Well, I’ve only got one body, I need to look after it.’
I was thinking he was the fool, but I think now that I probably was. I played, and my hamstring was fuckin’ killing me. I think I actually had a torn hamstring. Ruud ended up playing in Spain till he was thirty-nine, and he still looks twenty-one. And I thought he was the idiot.
On Sky, they’re mourning Draper, so we don’t see Djokovic serving out to clinch a 6-3 set; he now leads Svajda 2-1 and it’s a long way back from here. And on Armstrong, Harris does the same holding to lead Fritz 6-4.
Next on Court 5: Cameron Norrie v Francisco Comesana.
Jiri Lehecka (20) beats Tomás Martín Etcheverry 3-6 6-0 6-2 6-4
Next for him: Collignon or Ruud.
Fritz holds for 5-4, so Harris will now serve for set one. Go on Cuz! Meantime, Machac is pressing on, breaking Fonseca immediately in set two to lead 7-6 2-0, and Collignon holds to lead Ruud 6-4.
Jack Draper withdraws from the tournament
Hi guys, I’m sorry to say I’ll be withdrawing from the US open. I tried my very best to be here and give myself the every chance to play but the discomfort in my arm has become to much and I have to do what is right and look after myself. Thank you for all the support.
— jack draper (@jackdraper0) August 27, 2025
Ah man, sport is brutal. Draper got to the last four last year and will have fancied himself here. He’ll be back.
Righto, I’ve moved from Machac v Fonseca to Harris v Fritz because the underdog has broken for 4-3 in the first; as we said, the Saffer can play. Meantime, Collignon is serving for the first set against Ruud at 6-4, so that’s also one that we need to pay attention to while, on Ashe, it’s back to fearing Svajda has gone. The pace might be telling, and Djokovic breaks again for 4-3 in the third.
Now then! Just as it looks like Djokovic is assuming control, he hands over a break with a double and now Svajda leads 1-1 3-1. Of course, it may well be that he turns it around but, as he noted pre-match, continuing to play deprives him of family time and, though he’s keen to see how long he can go on at the top level, surely he’ll call it at some point soon. He’s used to winning pots, he no longer can, and however much he loves tennis, which is more than any of us love anything, it’s fair to posit he loves his wife and kids more. Anyroad, while I’m writing his professional resignation speech, he breaks back immediately, and at the same time, Machac outlasts Fonseca to take their first set 7-6(4). So far, he’s doing a decent job of attacking the backhand to take the forehand out of the equation.
I nip for a post-set comfort break and return to hear discussion about a potential injury for Svajda, who isn’t moving well anymore. There’s discussion about whether he’s hurt or just struggling with the magnitude of the moment, but after holding for 1-1 1-1, eh calls for the trainer. Meantime, Fonseca and Machac begin a first-set tiebreak, the Brazilian unleashing the forehands his opponent is trying to deny him to take a 1-0 lead that quickly becomes a 1-2 deficit.
Djokovic serves out to love, levelling his match with Svajda at one set all. For a while, he looked in jeopardy, but he stopped making unforced errors and it’d now be a surprise if he found a way to lose.
Svajda fights hard to hold for 7-6 3-5, forcing Djokovic to serve for set two. Meantime, on Armstrong, Fritz and Harris are under way and 1-1 in the first, but I’m going to stick with Fonseca 5-4 Machac, at least for a bit, and not just because the Brazilian fans are warming up. Otherwise, Lehecka now leads Etcheverry 2-1 2-0 and Collingnon is up 3-1 on Ruud, so that’s another match to keep an eye on on which to keep an eye.
At 15-all, Svajda hits a fine forehand winner with top, but from there, Djokovic, beginning to enjoy himself, serves out his consolidation. He leads 5-2 in the second, a game away from levelling the match.
However when Djokovic turns it up, Svajda can’t go with him, ceding a break for 7-6 2-4. Is that a turning point?
Elsewhere, Fonseca leads Machac 4-3l Ruud leads Collignon 1-0; and Lehecka has just taken the third set 6-2 to lead Etcheverry 2-1.
Djokovic makes 0-15 with a lob, but again, Svajda handles the pressure, holding from there to lead 7-6 2-2.
After losing the first set, Lehecka has taken over against Etcheverry, leading 3-6 6-0 4-2; Fonseca and Machac are level at 2-2 in the first; and Kym has taken the second set off Makashima 7-2 in the breaker, so they’re now a set apiece.
I was really impressed with how composed Svajda was in the breaker, even when serving out. Things might change if it looks on the cards, but he’s playing like someone who believes he can win. Djokovic leads 2-1 in the second, on serve.
I can accept the top. The hat and short shorts, less so.
On Grandstand, Fonseca has held for 1-0 against Machac, the no 21 seed. I’m going to watch this one on my second screen, at least until Fritz v Harris but maybe even thereafter because the 19-year-old Brazilian is a superstar in the making.
And there it is! Svajda ups the pace on the backhand, nailing one down the line; it’s not in the corner or even close, but he hits it so hard and flat that it doesn’t matter! He takes the first set 7-6(5) and once upon a time we’d have know how the match would end; now, though, you sense that the youngster has a chance.
Now then! At 5-4, Svajda finds a booming forehand winner that gives him two set points. Djokovic saves the first, but here comes a second, on serve…
Victoria Azarenka beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-3
Next up for her: Pegula or Blinkova.
Djokovic goes long on the backhand, his 13th unforced error – versus seven for his opponent – ceding the mini-break. Djokovic, though, seizes it right back and we wind up at 3-3.
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!
