Oh, the relief it would be for Emma Navarro to make it easy to fully support her rise to the adult's table in women's tennis.
Emma Navarro reaches her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open. pic.twitter.com/3HH1wTuKBf
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) September 3, 2024
The former NCAA champion has had one the best breakthrough seasons of any WTA player in 2024, winning her maiden tour title, improving her lot in four successive majors, upsetting the U.S. #1 in back-to-back slams, climbing into the Top 10 (as of the next rankings) and, today, playing into her first slam semifinal. But it's never that easy, is it? The 23-year old U.S. woman plays a steady brand of tennis (i.e. "The Rock of Charleston"), never appears to get too high or too low, has shown an ability to "play above her weight class," and has put together an admirable season while also giving off a vibe that, for lack of a better comparison, has the looks of a female version of Joe Cool simply going with the flow, riding the wave and doing her own thing with an above-it-all air, oblivious to her perception by others. As "low risk" off the court as she is on it. At this U.S. Open, even Navarro's outfit skirts a cool line between modern and retro, and looks like something of an updated version of what might have come from the mind of a 1970s designer. It'd be so easy to luxuriate in the Navarro vibe. But then came the Olympics, and the sting that still lingers. Does Navarro really exist in a "mean girl" reality, or have her recent actions just been misunderstood? Aside from all that, though, the #13-seeded Navarro and #26 Paula Badosa, both "daughters of New York" (well, at least they were both *born* there), had a quarterfinal to play at Flushing Meadows, with the victor heading off to her first major semifinal. Once play began, it was clear which woman was more comfortable in the moment, as Navarro (in her second turn on Ashe) maintained an even-keeled approach in her game while Badosa (in her Ashe debut) was error-prone and clearly unsettled by the occasion. Navarro broke serve in game 2, then consolidated to take a 3-0 lead. Badosa's bigger shots began finding the court in the latter stages of the set. Trailing 4-2, she saw multiple BPs on Navarro's serve. Navarro saved the first with a clean forehand winner, while Badosa's error allowed the second to pass. Navarro held for 5-2 and, her opportunity lost, the Spaniard quickly fell down triple SP when Navarro fired off a forehand passing shot. The Bannerette got the break to claim a 6-2 set, and moved to the 2nd with her career 12-0 record in slam matches in which she takes the 1st set bolstering her chances for a successful day. Navarro was not as crisp as the 2nd set began, and the clean shots of the opening set turned into errors. She fell behind 15/40 in the first game, and was broken on BP #2 with an unforced error. From there, Badosa's bigger game took hold. The Spaniard threw in some needless mistakes that made several games closer than they needed to be, but it didn't prevent Badosa's sudden winning clip from picking up steam as Navarro slipped further behind. Badosa got the break to take a double-break lead at 4-1, held for 5-1, and won the opening point of game 7. It seemed as if Badosa had the set "on lock," and the question was whether she'd carry over the momentum into the 3rd, and what Navarro could do about it if she did. But while those were the thoughts, those thoughts were wrong. Very wrong, as it turned out. From that point forward, Badosa won four more points. Not in the game, but in the match. Badosa served for the set at 5-2, and it was a *very* bad game. Navarro got the break, then held at love, having won 12 of 13 points. Serving again for the set at 5-4, the Spaniard DF'd twice and was broken again. Heading into game 12, since losing the first point in the 5-1 game, Navarro had committed zero UE, while Badosa had totaled up over a dozen. Suddenly, after seemingly about to start the 3rd set, Badosa was faced with holding (down 6-5) just to stay in the match. Badosa quickly fell behind love/30, with tears in her eyes. She got the game back to even, seeing a small bit of light through the dark clouds, but then Navarro reached MP seconds later. With Badosa well behind the baseline after having gotten back a ball that had caught a deep line, Navarro stepped in and slid in an easy drop shot that Badosa had no chance to reach. With that, it was over. With a 6-2/7-5 defeat having come as swiftly as it had been devastating, Badosa was off the court and in the tunnel about thirty seconds later (maybe 20), having collected her things and bolted the largest tennis court in the world after proving to come up too small in the worst possible moment and being unable to achieve her goals on this day.
Emma Navarro's moment in the sun! ??
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2024
She comes from 5-1 down in the second set to defeat Badosa and reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal! pic.twitter.com/YWfnW0ya2E
Navarro had swept the final six games, and won 24 of the last 28 points, en route to her maiden major semifinal (in just her eighth career slam MD). Afterward, in her on-court interview with ESPN's Rennae Stubbs, Navarro (with... was that a smirk?) said that at 5-2 she had "an inkling" that she could win in straight sets. Translation: "My opponent is an emotional headcase, and after winning that one game I knew that if I could just not fold up then she'd collapse like a cheap tent in a rainstorm.") I mean, the sentiment *was* a correct one, as it turned out, but it was a *choice* to say it out loud (without actually "saying it"... wink-wink), considering Navarro later today only finally slightly addressed her post-match comments to Zheng Qinwen in Paris, during which she told the eventual Gold medalist that she didn't know how she had so many fans because *she* didn't respect her as a competitor -- she's "too cutthroat," Navarro recalled afterward -- after Zheng had just a saved a MP against her and beaten her only moments earlier. Navarro said today that she'd "probably" have whacked Zheng (my words) with the same words "even if (she) had won." (Or, you know, maybe she'd come up with some even worse ones, who knows?) Of course, if you thought that the cowards and shills (for whichever U.S. player's match they'll calling that particular moment) at ESPN would draw some parallels between the two sets of comments -- since Navarro now has a history of drive-by insults of opponents followed by an oddly nonchalant reaction to any questioning of her actions -- more head on (rather than just nibble around the edges, which occurred on-set a short while later), well then you'd be sorely mistaken. In fact, in bringing up Navarro's potential semifinal opponent (at the time either Aryna Sabalenka or Zheng... or Sabalenka and the player whose name that Stubbs couldn't immediately remember, I mean), Navarro *was* asked what she thought about the two of them. Well, we know what she thinks about *one* of them, but either *that* slipped Stubbs' mind, as well, or she was slyly offering Navarro a chance to be an adult in the situation and say that she shouldn't have said (or at least gone public with it) what she did in the immediate shadow of that Olympic defeat. You could sort of recognize on Navarro's face that *maybe* she was waiting for a more direct question, but it never came. And Navarro didn't take the opportunity to diffuse her own bad judgement, either. Ultimately, she was judicious in her response, and said that both "are great players" and generally tried to deflect any talk of either potential opponent.
Emma Navarro powering her way into the semis in New York. pic.twitter.com/3b8L3E4fbP
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) September 3, 2024
We won't get that "Cutthroat Island" clash in the semis -- honestly, thank goodness -- but this naggingly negative perception of Navarro won't be going away any time soon. Now, I like a good "black hat" player as much as anyone. A little pepper in the mix is good for seasoning, after all. But there needs to be some "redeeming value" to the effort. It's best if the player just "owns it," and doesn't try to put a smile on when the bright lights are shining only to then personally shank her foes from the shadows. Honestly, I'm still not sure how to perceive and/or judge Navarro and her actions. Not yet, anyway. Is she a "Jo Cool" who just freely says what's on her mind, simply being honest and not meaning to offend, or is that really a smirk on her face while she twists the knife in the back of a fallen opponent one day while complaining about feeling "disrespected" off the court (as she said of Zheng today) and talking of the need for lockerroom "camaraderie," and then using those two notions as justification to publicly condemn another. The likes of the ESPNers will never cast Navarro, or any U.S. player, in a negative light even when it's necessary (of course, the network also employs Nick Kyrgios... who, for all his other issues, at least never hid from his "black hat" persona, still doesn't, and is now trying to follow the John McEnroe blueprint for making a post-playing days career out of it), so no lead can be taken from them. Good things are said about Navarro by those around her, no matter the social media vinegar thrown her way (but that's mostly grown from her being the daughter of billionaires, which feels like a stupid reason to hate on her, unless an unquestioned and repeated attitude of entitlement were to foster such a thing). Navarro's, like that of many others, would seem to be an "in flux" case. The *whole* will have to be witnessed over an extended time for any true verdict to be rendered. (At least as far as I'm concerned.) Of course, there's really only *one* comeback to the whole issue that would pretty much shut it down for good. Any sense of regret is clearly off the table (and was never on it, based on things she said today), so maybe she can take care of it *on* the court during what remains of this U.S. Open. A title run, in a sense, would provide Navarro with a "cloak of protection" that would have a decently long shelf life, should she be able to attain it. So, good luck with that.
Four times in the final 4?! pic.twitter.com/KRLH9la2zn
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2024
After defeating Zheng 6-3/6-2 at the start of the year in slam play, Sabalenka completed the task by a 6-1/6-2 scoreline this time around, putting pressure on the 21-year old right from the start, breaking her in the second game of the match and allowing her just seven points on serve in the opening set. Needing to get off to an encouraging start in the 2nd, Zheng dropped serve to open the set, and Sabalenka (finally) didn't blink while trying to serve out the win, holding and converting her second MP to reach her fourth straight U.S. Open semifinal (and getting there for the seventh time in the last eight majors she's played). Sabalenka can out-hit and overpower anyone left in the field (of course, that was the case save for only a handful at the *start* of this tournament, too), and could reach her second consecutive final at Flushing Meadows and at a fourth straight hard court major.
Sabalenka six times a hard court semifinalist! pic.twitter.com/M7EXHIOnfm
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2024
...the first final has been set, in the Mixed competition. Taylor Townsend, already a slam winner this summer in the Wimbledon WD (w/ Katerina Siniakova, with whom she's still alive in the SF in New York) will play for another major title, this time alongside Donald Young in the career swan song for the former heralded young player (he's now 35). They'll face Italians Sara Errani & Andrea Vavassori. Errani, 37, has already won a Gold medal and reached the RG final in women's doubles this year, and will now try to add her first MX crown to the five WD majors she won with Roberta Vinci (including the Open in 2012). The ITA pair defeated 16-year old Tyra Caterina Grant (still alive in the girls' singles) and Aleksandar Kovacevic in a 3 & 5 semi.
Sara Errani e Andrea Vavassori in finale nel doppio misto! Battuti gli statunitensi Grant e Kovacevic 63 75. Altro risultato straordinario in una stagione giĆ memorabile! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/HNHZAloZ6d
— Lorenzo Andreoli (@LorenzoAndreol4) September 4, 2024
...the junior singles Round of 16 includes five Bannerettes, three Czech Crushers, two Brits and six nations with one girl each. #3 Iva Jovic defeated Monika Stankiewicz, while Czech Tereza Krejcova upset #6 Hannah Klugman, #5 Jeline Vandromme knocked off Repentigny winner Noemi Basiletti, and Valerie Glozman upset #11 Ivana Ivanova. Also, *both* Penickova sisters of the U.S. -- #9 Kristina and wild card Annika -- are alive and positioned on opposite sides of the draw. ...in Paris, the top four seeds are in the Paralympic semis. #1 Diede de Groot defeated Guo Luoyao 7-6(3)/6-3, and will next face #4 Wang Ziying. #2 Yui Kamiji handled #6 Zhu Zhenzhen 6-1/6-2, and will face #4 Aniek Van Koot. The doubles will pit defending champs de Groot/Van Koot against Kamiji & Manami Tanaka. Van Koot enters with the most Paralympic success of the group, with doubles Gold medals with two different partners (de Groot and Jiske Griffioen), while also collecting three s/d Silvers. Kamiji is seeking her first Gold, as she has one singles Silver and two Bronze medals (s/d).
#1 Iga Swiatek/POL vs. #6 Jessie Pegula/USA
#22 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA vs. Karolina Muchova/CZE
#13 Emma Navarro/USA def. #26 Paula Badosa/ESP
#2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR def. #7 Zheng Qinwen/CHN
#10 Chan H-c./V.Kudermetova (TPE/RUS) vs. #7 L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (UKR/LAT)
#3 Siniakova/Townsend (CZE/USA) vs. Mladenovic/Zhang S. (FRA/CHN)
(WC) Townsend/Young (USA/USA) vs. #3 Errani/Vavassori (ITA/ITA)
#1 Emerson Jones/AUS vs. Mika Stojsavljevic/GBR
(WC) Annika Penickova/USA vs. #5 Jeline Vandromme/BEL
#3 (WC) Iva Jovic/USA vs. #14 Sonja Zhiyenbayeva/KAZ
(WC) Valerie Glozman/USA vs. Tereza Krejcova/CZE
#7 Wakana Sonobe/JPN vs. #9 Kristina Penickova/USA
Eliska Tichackova/CZE vs. #4 Teodora Kostovic/SRB
#8 Mimi Xu/GBR vs. #10 Rositsa Dencheva/BUL
#15 Vendula Valdmannova/CZE vs. #2 Tyra Caterina Grant/USA
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. #4 Wang Ziying/CHN
#3 Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED) vs. #2 Kamiji/Tanaka (JPN)
...TWO SINGLES "WRONGS" MAKE A DOUBLES "RIGHT"... ON DAY 9:
Into the final four ??@KikiMladenovic & @zhangshuai121 continue their impressive #USOpen doubles run by defeating Melichar-Martinez/Perez 7-6(2), 6-4! pic.twitter.com/fXJDeyBLiM
— wta (@WTA) September 3, 2024
...I MUST SAY, I'M ASHAMED THAT I DIDN'T THINK OF THIS YESTERDAY... ON DAY 9:
Someone pulled the fire alarm in the Hawkeye live building? #usopen
— Tony (@tjc05) September 2, 2024
Suspect 1: pic.twitter.com/i0zA6JpxmX
A hawk-eye malfunction? On all courts? pic.twitter.com/1vodmCYEkZ
— Not Jaqueline Cristian (@draqueline) September 2, 2024
...NAVARRO HAS SO DIRTIED THE WATERS WITH THE ZHENG THING THAT... ON DAY 9:
...people had problems with *both* her "9 to 5" comments *and* ADHD reference today. The problems you create for yourself.
Emma Navarro with some beautiful words to her dad after reaching first slam SF at US Open
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 3, 2024
“I wanna also thank my dad. I think he saw a vision from the time I was really young. He knew maybe I was a bit ADHD or something to be a sitting in a class room or a 9 to 5. He saw… pic.twitter.com/fXE1qM6JSe
...SMART MOVE BY THE WTA (meanwhile, I'm dodging lightning bolts after saying that)... ON DAY 9:
Just learned of a tweak to WTA rules I haven't seen discussed:
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 3, 2024
WTA copied ATP, reserving a spot (or even two) in WTA Finals for a Slam champ who wouldn't otherwise qualify.
In 2024, pending US Open results, that means Krejcikova leapfrogs Collins or Zheng for the eighth spot. pic.twitter.com/pK6zScIT12
Aryna Sabalenka has a plan to win over the crowd ahead of her match with Emma Navarro ?? pic.twitter.com/TwZVKJRXOg
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2024
Announcing the Class of 2025 nominees ?
— International Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) September 3, 2024
Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Maria Sharapova and Daniel Nestor are candidates for the Ultimate Honor in Tennis: induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
It's time to get those ballots in - Fan Voting is back! #ITHFVote ????
??… pic.twitter.com/fDn83TPV5A
Congrats to @MariaSharapova for being nominated for the 2025 Tennis Hall of Fame class.
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) September 3, 2024
Most of her incredible career happened before I worked in tennis but I was fortunate enough to be around for a good part of it, including the honor of taking her last ever trophy photo. pic.twitter.com/W6R5apwSsa
And if Nestor doesn’t get in for a second time, the HOF has to have some sort of reckoning over what to do with doubles. Dude won eight Slams and was the first player to win every Masters 1000 title.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 3, 2024
So many doubles greats haven’t gotten in in the last few years.
I agree with this. I don't know how Nestor didn't get in *last* year. (Of course, Vergeer, so...)
Unseeded - 2000 Elena Dementieva, RUS
Unseeded - 2009 Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
Unseeded - 2011 Angelique Kerber, GER
Unseeded - 2013 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
Unseeded - 2014 Peng Shuai, CHN
Unseeded - 2015 Roberta Vinci, ITA (RU)
Unseeded - 2016 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
Unseeded - 2017 Sloane Stephens, USA (W)
Unseeded - 2020 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (RU)
Unseeded - 2021 Leylah Fernandez, CAN (RU)
Wild Card - 2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL (W)
Qualifier - 2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR (W)
#28 - 2020 Jennifer Brady, USA
#28 - 2011 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#26 - 2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA (W)
#20 - 2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN (W)
#20 - 2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
#19 - 2018 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
#19 - 2006 Jelena Jankovic,SRB
#17 - 2023 Madison Keys, USA
#17 - 2022 Caroline Garcia, FRA
#17 - 2021 Maria Sakkari, GRE
#17 - 2018 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
#17 - 2014 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
#15 - 2017 Madison Keys, USA (RU)
#15 - 2019 Bianca Andreescu, CAN (W)
#14 - 2018 Madison Keys, USA
#13 - 2024 EMMA NAVARRO, USA
#13 - 2019 Belinda Bencic, SUI
**U.S. WOMEN IN U.S. OPEN SF - since 2017**
2017 Sloane Stephens (W)
2017 Madison Keys (RU)
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe
2017 Venus Williams
2018 Serena Williams (RU)
2018 Madison Keys
2019 Serena Williams
2020 Jennifer Brady
2020 Serena Williams
2021 none
2022 none
2023 Coco Gauff (W)
2023 Madison Keys
2024 Emma Navarro
**BLR IN U.S. OPEN SF**
2012 Victoria Azarenka (RU)
2013 Victoria Azarenka (RU)
2020 Victoria Azarenka (RU)
2021 Aryna Sabalenka
2022 Aryna Sabalenka
2023 Aryna Sabalenka (RU)
2024 Aryna Sabalenka
**"FIRST SLAM..." FEATS IN 2020s**
=SF=
2020 AO - Sofia Kenin, USA (12th slam MD)
2020 US - Jennifer Brady, USA (13th)
2020 RG - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (2nd)
2020 RG - Iga Swiatek, POL (7th)
2021 AO - Karolina Muchova, CZE (9th)
2021 RG - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (5th)
2021 RG - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (52nd)
2021 RG - Maria Sakkari, GRE (21st)
2021 RG - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (9th)
2021 WI - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (15th)
2021 US - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (7th)
2021 US - Emma Raducanu, GBR (2nd)
2022 AO - none
2022 RG - Coco Gauff, USA (10th)
2022 RG - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (26th)
2022 RG - Martina Trevisan, ITA (8th)
2022 WI - Ons Jabeur, TUN (21st)
2022 WI - Tatjana Maria, GER (35th)
2022 WI - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (12th)
2022 US - Caroline Garcia, FRA (42nd)
2023 AO - Magda Linette, POL (30th)
2023 RG - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (12th)
2023 US - none
2024 AO - Dayana Yastremska, UKR (17th)
2024 AO - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (9th)
2024 RG - Mirra Andreeva, RUS (5th)
2024 RG - Jasmine Paolini, ITA (18th)
2024 WI - Donna Vekic, CRO (43rd)
2024 US - Emma Navarro, USA (8th)
**U.S. TOP 10 PLAYERS (33) - by Top 10 debut year**
1975 Chris Evert
1975 Martina Navratilova (as Czech, later USA)
1975 Billie Jean King (also year-end #1 pre-computer rankings)
1975 Nancy Richey
1976 Rosie Casals
1977 Kathy May
1977 Kristien Shaw
1978 Tracy Austin
1980 Kathy Jordan
1980 Andrea Jaeger
1980 Pam Shriver
1981 Barbora Potter
1983 Zina Garrison
1984 Bonnie Gadusek
1984 Kathy Horvath
1984 Lisa Bonder
1986 Kathy Rinaldi
1988 Lori McNeil
1989 Stephanie Rehe
1989 Mary Joe Fernandez
1989 Monica Seles (as Yugoslav, later USA)
1990 Jennifer Capriati
1994 Lindsay Davenport
1996 Chanda Rubin
1998 Venus Williams
1999 Serena Williams
2016 Madison Keys
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe
2018 Sloane Stephens
2020 Sofia Kenin
2022 Danielle Collins
2022 Jessie Pegula
2022 Coco Gauff
2024 Emma Navarro
2020 [1]
Sofia Kenin/USA
2021 [6]
Swiatek/POL, Krejcikova/CZE, Sakkari/GRE, Jabeur/TUN, Kontaveit/EST, Badosa/ESP
2022 [5]
Collins/USA, Gauff/USA, Pegula/USA, Raducanu/GBR, V.Kudermetova/RUS
2023 [4]
Rybakina/KAZ, Haddad Maia/BRA, Vondrousova/CZE, Muchova/CZE
2024 [3]
Zheng Qinwen/CHN, Jasmine Paolini/ITA, Emma Navarro/USA
=MUCHOVA vs. TOP 5 AT SLAMS=
2019 Wimbledon 4th - #3 Karolina Pliskova (W)
2021 Australian Open QF - #1 Ash Barty (W)
2022 Roland Garros 2nd - #3 Maria Sakkari (W)
2023 Roland Garros SF - #2 Aryna Sabalenka (W)
2023 Roland Garros F - #1 Iga Swiatek (L)
2024 U.S. Open 4th - #5 Jasmine Paolini (W)
**U.S. OPEN UNSEEDED QF**
[since 32-seed draw in 2001]
2001 Daja Bedanova, CZE
2002 Elena Bovina, RUS
2004 Shinobu Asagoe, JPN
2007 Agnes Szavay, HUN
2009 Kateryna Bondarenko, UKR
2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL (WC) - won title
2009 Melanie Oudin, USA
2009 Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
2010 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
2011 Angelique Kerber, GER
2013 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2013 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2014 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2014 Peng Shuai, CHN
2015 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2015 Roberta Vinci, ITA - reached final
2016 Ana Konjuh, CRO
2016 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2016 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2017 Sloane Stephens, USA (PR) - won title
2017 Kaia Kanepi, ESP (Q)
2018 Lesia Tsurenko, UKR
2020 Victoria Azarenka, BLR - reached final
2020 Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL (PR)
2020 Shelby Rogers, USA
2021 Leylah Fernandez, CAN - reached final
2021 Emma Raducanu, GBR (Q) - won title
2022 Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS
2024 Karolina Muchova, CZE
**RECENT U.S. OPEN "LADY OF THE EVENING" WINNERS**
2016 Madison Keys, USA
2017 "The Late Show starring Madison Keys"
2018 Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
2019 Serena Williams, USA
2020 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2021 Maria Sakkari, GRE
2022 "Serena Williams: The End"
2023 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2024 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
Dear @realDonaldTrump: Are you seriously this stupid? You think President Biden has the right to interfere in the upcoming election? Do you want VP Harris to do what you tried to get former VP Mike Pence to do? Are you really this dumb?
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 2, 2024
Also, interfering in elections is illegal. https://t.co/9ceSd99K1t
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: Francesca Jones/GBR def. #5 Rebeka Masarova/ESP 6-1/2-6/7-6(6) - Masarova comes back from 5-1 in 3rd to force MTB, and leads 4-2 before Jones rallies for 10-6 win
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #29 Ekaterina Alexandrova/RUS def. (WC) Iva Jovic/USA 4-6/6-4/7-5 - Alexandrova outlasts 16-year old, wins on MP #7
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Wang Yafan/CHN (def. #9 Sakkari/GRE, ret. after 1st set)
FIRST SEED OUT: #9 Maria Sakkari/GRE (1r- retired vs. Wang Yafan after losing 1st set)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Maya Joint/AUS, Iva Jovic/USA, Ashlyn Krueger/USA, Jessika Ponchet/FRA, Ena Shibahara/JPN
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Ajla Tomljanovic/AUS (2r)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: none
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: Italy
NATION OF POOR SOULS: CAN (0-2 1st Rd.; '19 champ Andreescu & '21 finalist Fernandez)
CRASH & BURN: #4 Elena Rybakina/KAZ (2nd Rd. walkover is 8th '24 event pulled out, walkover or retired; at third different 2022-24 major)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Paula Badosa/ESP (3r- MP down 5-4 3rd vs. Ruse; 10-8 MTB win for first U.S. Open second week)
IT ("??"): Nominee: Jovic (Bannerette teen), Haddad Maia (Brazilian)
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Navarro, Pegula, Muchova
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Jessika Ponchet/FRA and Gabriela Ruse/ROU (both 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Iva Jovic/USA and Naomi Osaka/JPN (both 2nd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: in QF: Navarro(W), Pegula
COMEBACK: Nominee: Muchova
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Wozniacki, Pegula, Errani (MX), (WD)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominee: Townsend
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Ashlyn Krueger
BROADWAY-BOUND: "In the Heat of the Night" (Zheng/Vekic 2:16 a.m. finish); "The Artist" (Muchova)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominee: Jovic (WS 3r), Grant (MX SF), Penickova sisters