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Wednesday, September 2, 2026

US.4- Give 'em What They Want


Nobody Czechs better than a Czech, and no Czech is Czeching better than Karolina Muchova.










=DAY 4 NOTES=
...the weather continued to reign in the city on Day 4 of this U.S. Open, with the 1st Round matches that didn't finish yesterday being pushed deeper and deeper into the schedule on Wednesday even as other players won *2nd* Rounders to advance to the 3rd Round.

While things could get complicated for some of those caught in the rainy cycle, the higher seeds and/or big names, and those who got an early start on things on Sunday, are mostly in a good place, riding high with their better standing and keeping something resembling a regular schedule through this opening week of action.

Some of those individuals took full advantage of their situation today by generally breezing through their matches rather than having to sweat things out.



#3 Jessica Pegula completed her 6-3/6-1 elimination of Sofia Kenin early in the day, becoming the first of the four woman chasing the women's #1 ranking to advance into the 3rd Round and doing so after having dropped just nine total games through two rounds.



Later, #1 Aryna Sabalenka ran her U.S. Open winning streak to 15 matches with a 1 & 1 win over qualifier Polina Iatcenko. But that performance still wasn't enough to top that of #7 Karolina Muchova.

In the midst of her career year, this season the Czech has reached her second career slam final (Wimbledon), won a pair of titles (Doha and Bad Homburg), reached four finals (as many as her last three seasons combined, and threatening to double in a lone season her previous *career* total of six coming into the year), climbed as high as #6 (a new career high) and posted six Top 10 wins on three different surfaces (only she and Coco Gauff can brag of such all-surface prowess in '26).

In a campaign in which even the highest-ranked players have either encountered dry spells when it's come to success and/or had particular difficulties in certain aspects of their season, Muchova has maybe been the most consistent -- and consistently magical with her racket, but that's always been the case -- player on tour.

She's reached at least the SF in six of her eleven events, and the Round of 16 in two of the biggest tournaments on the schedule (AO/IW). After being injury-free all season, the Czech finally took a short break after a minor surgery following Wimbledon and missed the summer hard court lead-up. But since she returned to action last week for the so-called MX slam event at Flushing Meadows she's yet to lose, winning the title there and then dropping just three games in her singles opener vs. Sinja Kraus.

Today, Muchova was even better, winning 6-1/6-0 over Katie Boulter to improve to 37-9 on the year (20-4 on hard court).



...meanwhile, the women's evening session closer on Armstrong, Noskova's #6-seeded countrywoman and Wimbledon champ Linda Noskova won her ninth straight match in a major, taking care of Lanlana Tararudee by a 6-4/6-2 score.

#9 Elina Svitolina didn't have quite as easy a time of it as her highly-ranked tourmates, but the Ukrainian managed to find her way through against the suddenly dangerous Maya Joint.

After taking the opening set, Svitolina rallied from 3-1 down in the 2nd, with Joint serving at 5-4, to force a TB. She held a MP at 6-5, but saw the Aussie, off her win from a set down over Liudmila Samsonova in the 1st Round, force a 3rd with an 8-6 win (Joint's first set win over a Top 10 opponent). There, Svitolina took a double-break lead at 4-1, but saw Joint cut the lead in half and then deny her on three MP chances at 5-3.

The Ukrainian served out the final game at love, winning 6-2/6-7(6)/6-4.



...in what is *still* supposedly her final major, #16 Sorana Cirstea defeated Monterry champ Diane Parry 6-2/7-5, not allowing a late blip on the radar to send her off course.

Cirstea had served at 5-4 in the 2nd and held two MP, but dropped serve before breaking the Pastry in the next game and then serving out the victory to record her ninth win at a major in 2026. The number adds yet another career-best effort to what has been a tremendous farewell season (if it turns out to be that). The Romanian's previous best had been 8-win campaigns a dozen years apart in 2009 and '21.

Cirstea is now a win away from a first slam season in which she's reached the second week at multiple majors (she reached the RG QF this spring).



...after a wild two-day 1st Rounder vs. Lois Boisson in which she lost the set and 4-2 lead she had when play suspsended on Day 1, and in the immediate aftermath became half of the starring duo in an internet meme sensation, #28 Emma Navarro had another battle on her hands today.



Against fellow Bannerette Caty McNally, Navarro dropped the opening set but picked things up to win 3-6/6-2/6-3. Even with the win, Navarro remains just 8-12 on hard court this season, due largely to her bad start (4-9) when dealing with health issues earlier in the year.

Still, this win also marks Navarro's first consecutive hard court wins this summer over her four events.

...the women's 1st Round did finally get finished in the early evening, with the most intriguing finish from Day 3 getting its conclusion closer to the start of in the day.



Yesterday, Paula Badosa held three MP vs. Dasha Kasatkina, two on return and another as she served through the rain with a 6-1/5-4 lead. The two had to come back today, and the drama wasn't over.

Ultimately, the two only had to complete the game they didn't finish yesterday, but in that game Badosa had to run through six *more* MP, while saving a pair of BP, before *finally* acing the Aussie on her ninth MP to claim the set at 6-4 and win her first U.S. Open MD match since her QF run in 2024. Badosa's persistent back injury kept her out of New York, where the Spaniard was born, last year (as well as in '23).



Of course, one of the broadcast footnotes about this was match was that ESPN was *still* in fine form while covering it. Using the network's own graphics rather than those provided by the U.S. Open, ESPN fouled up the MP totals to an amazing degree in the short time that the match was on court today. The scorebox went forward as if yesterday never existed, counting only Badosa's MP total for *today* (I'm assuming), listing her final MP not as #9 (her overall total), nor #7 (her total in the final game over two days), nor #6 (today's total), but instead as MP #5. I even think the graphic gave Kasatkina a third BP rather than the two she had today. Nor did the announcers make the corrections, which is a shame because it really shortchanged the drama of the whole endeavor.



...with the 1st Round virtually splattered over four days, the early awards for this slam sort of got mangled in the machine, but I'll give it a go.

With a surprising 3-0 start, the Brits get the Revelation Ladies honor on the strength of wins by two qualifiers (Dart and Jones), though Boulter was nearly double-bageled by Muchova today (but this is usually only a *1st Round* award).

2-0 opens from Thailand (Sawangkaew & Tararudee) and Uzbekistan (Timofeeva and Rakhimova, w/ the latter also winning today) earn honorable mentions.

The Upset Queens goes to the Spaniards, who posted a 4-1 1st Round mark, with Bucsa (def. #28 Bejlek), Badosa (def. Kasatkina), Bouzas Maneiro (def. Vidmanova) and Selekhmeteva getting wins. Only Quevedo failed to get on the board.

The Aussies were close here -- Preston def. Parks, Birrell over Marcinko, Joint def. Samsonova (though an upset of Svitolina might have flipped it to the Down Under crew) -- but didn't quite get there.

The Nation of Poor Souls? Switzerland.

After seeing Jil Teichmann dropping out late, things didn't get any better as the group went 0-3, with #12 Belinda Bencic being the highest seed to fall in the 1st Round (and through Day 4).

In all, players from 25 nations advanced through to the 2nd Round (the lowest at the four majors in '26), with the U.S. (11), Czech Republic (6), Russia (5) and Spain/Ukraine (both w/ 4) leading the totals.





...MEANWHILE, THIS WAS A TOP-NOTCH OUTFIT COMBINATION, TOO... ON DAY 4:





...STYLE, STORIES, SUBTEXT AND ACCUSATIONS... ON DAY 4:


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*US26 1st ROUND*
[highlights]
TOTAL MD NATIONS: 35
MOST IN 2nd RD. (25 diff. nations): 11-USA,6-CZE,5-RUS,4-ESP,4-UKR,3-AUS,3-GBR
UNDEFEATED 1st RD.: GBR (3-0); 2-0 (KAZ,THA,UZB); 1-0 (BLR,CAN,GRE,PHI)
BEST NON-UNDEFEATED 1st RD.: ESP (4-1); 2-1 (ITA,JPN); 6-5 (CZE); 4-3 (UKR)
WORST 1st RD.: SUI (0-3); 0-2 (COL,LAT,NED,SLO); 0-1 (DEN,EGY,INA,MEX,TUR); 1-3 (POL); 1-2 (CRO)
SEEDS OUT: 5 (2-CZE,1-LAT,1-POL,1-SUI)
DEF.SEEDS: 1-ESP,1-GER,1-SUI,1-USA,1-UZB
SLAM MD DEBUTS: 10 (5-USA,2-CZE,2-RUS,1-NED...combined 1-9)
FIRST-TIME SLAM MD WINS: 3 (1-AUT,1-JPN,1-RUS)
[BY NATION - alphabetical]
1-1 - ARG
3-3 - AUS
2-2 - AUT
1-1 - BEL
1-0 - BLR
1-0 - CAN
2-2 - CHN
0-2 - COL
1-2 - CRO
6-5 - CZE
0-1 - DEN
0-1 - EGY
4-1 - ESP
2-2 - FRA
3-0 - GBR
2-2 - GER
1-0 - GRE
1-1 - HUN
0-1 - INA
2-1 - ITA
2-1 - JPN
2-0 - KAZ
0-2 - LAT
0-1 - MEX
0-2 - NED
1-0 - PHI
1-3 - POL
1-1 - ROU
5-5 - RUS
0-2 - SLO
0-3 - SUI
2-0 - THA
0-1 - TUR
5-3 - UKR
11-12 - USA
2-0 - UZB

**RECENT U.S. OPEN "UPSET QUEENS" WINNERS**
2016 China
2017 Japan
2018 Sweden
2019 Russia
2020 United States
2021 Russia
2022 China
2023 United States
2024 United States
2025 Asia
2026 Spain
[2026]
AO: Czech Republic
RG: Switzerland
WI: Czech Republic
US: Spain

**RECENT U.S. OPEN "REVELATION LADIES" WINNERS**
2016 Ukraine
2017 Australia
2018 Belarus
2019 United States
2020 Belarus
2021 Greece
2022 Ukraine
2023 China
2024 Italy
2025 Russia
2026 Great Britain
[2026]
AO: Australia
RG: Poland
WI: Southeast Asia
US: Great Britain

**RECENT U.S. OPEN "NATIONS OF POOR SOULS"**
[2020]
AUS (0-5 in 1st Rd.; #1 Barty & ex-champ Stosur DNP)
[2021]
USA (8-14 in 1st; Keys/Riske out; Serena/Venus/Kenin/Brady DNP; 3/4 '17 SF)
[2022]
GER veterans (vets 0-3, pregnant Kerber w/d)
[2023]
FRA (1-6 in 1st Rd; 9/10 FRA Top 10 out Q/1r; #7 Garcia 1r]
[2024]
CAN (0-2 in 1st Rd.; '19 W Andreescu & '21 RU Fernandez)
[2025]
CHN (1-5 in 1st Rd.; 0-5 start; Zheng Qinwen DNP)
[2026]
SUI (0-3 in 1st Rd.; #12 Bencic high seed out 1r; Teichmann w/d)
[2026 slams]
AO: Russia
RG: France
WI: Great Britain
US: Switzerland

**BACKSPIN 2026 VETERAN-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN (pre-AO): Elina Svitolina, UKR
AO: Elina Svitolina, UKR
FEB: Sorana Cirstea, ROU
MAR: Elina Svitolina, UKR
1Q...SVITOLINA
APR: Elina Svitolina, UKR
MAY: Sorana Cirstea, ROU
RG: Sorana Cirstea, ROU
2Q 1...CIRSTEA
JUN: Donna Vekic, CRO
WI: Elise Mertens, BEL
2Q 2 (grass)...MERTENS
JUL: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
AUG: Jessie Pegula, USA
[Multiple 2025 Weekly VETERAN Award Wins]
7...Sorana Cirstea, ROU
6...Elina Svitolina, UKR
5...Belinda Bencic, SUI
5...Jessie Pegula, USA
4...Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
4...Tatjana Maria, GER
4...Elise Mertens, BEL
3...Tamara Korpatsch, GER
3...Jessie Pegula, USA
3...Karolina Pliskova, CZE
3...Taylor Townsend, USA
3...Donna Vekic, CRO

**BACKSPIN 2026 COMEBACK-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN (pre-AO): Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA
AO: Diede de Groot, NED (WC)
FEB: Vera Zvonareva, RUS
MAR: Anhelina Kalinina, UKR
1Q...KATIE BOULTER, GBR
APR: Donna Vekic, CRO
MAY: Karolina Pliskova, CZE
RG: Jil Teichmann, SUI
2Q 1...PLISKOVA
JUN: Emma Navarro, USA
WI: Jasmine Paolini, ITA
2Q 2 (grass)...PAOLINI
JUL: Maria Sakkari, GRE
AUG: Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
[Multiple 2025 Weekly COMEBACK Award Wins]
5...Maria Sakkari, GRE
4...Ashlyn Krueger, USA
3...Dasha Kasatkina, AUS
3...Karolina Pliskova, CZE
3...Liudmila Samsonova, RUS
2...Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
2...Paula Badosa, ESP
2...Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA
2...Anhelina Kalinina, UKR
2...Jil Teichmann, SUI





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just weak little shits as far as the eye can see

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— Oliver Willis (@owillis.bsky.social) September 2, 2026 at 9:34 AM

Dems should be clear that there will be consequences when power transfers in DC. Hearings, legislation, investigations, etc.

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— Jen Rubin (@jenrubin.bsky.social) September 2, 2026 at 8:54 AM











TOP QUALIFIER: Lucie Havlickova, CZE
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: #31 Andrea Lazaro Garcia/ESP def. Mai Hontama/JPN 5-7/7-6(6)/6-1 - saved 7 MP, four at 5-4 in 2nd set and three more at triple MP at 6-3 in TB
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Jasmine Paolini/ITA (def. Veronika Erjavec/SLO)
FIRST SEED OUT: #27 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (1r- lost to Kamila Rakhimova/UZB)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Polina Iatcenko/RUS (1st MD), Himeno Sakatsume/JPN (2nd), Lilli Tagger/AUT (2nd)
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Nadia Podoroska/ARG, Mananchaya Sawangkaew/THA (both 2nd Rd.)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: D.Semenistaja/LAT (1r-L)
UPSET QUEENS: Spain
REVELATION LADIES: Great Britain
NATION OF POOR SOULS: SUI (0-3 1st Rd.; #12 Bencic hightest seed out; Teichmann w/d)
CRASH & BURN: x
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Nominees: Pliskova/CZE (1r- trailed Vandewinkel 6-2/5-2; saved MP 5-4); Sakkari/GRE (1r- down 6-2/4-0 vs. Montgomery)
IT ("?"): x
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: in 2r: Dart/GBR, Iatcenko/RUS(L), F.Jones/GBR, Sakatsume/JPN, Zheng/CHN
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: in 2r: Jeanjean/FRA, Kenin/USA(L), T.Preston/AUS(L), Stephens/USA(L)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: in 2r: Anisimova, Gauff, Kenin(L), Keys, Li(W), McNally(L), Navarro(W), Pegula(W), Stephens(L), Townsend(W)
COMEBACK: x
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): x
DOUBLES STAR: x
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Nominee: Frodin (17; makes slam debut)
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominee: Osaka (Best Costume Design)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: Kenin d. V.Williams in 2:02 a.m. finish (latest 1r)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x
BIG CITY ROLLER: x







All for Day 4. More tomorrow.
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