Tennis

Ashlyn Krueger, a 20-year-old unseeded tennis player from Dallas, has captured the hearts of New York sports fans with her impressive performance at the US Open. Despite being a relative unknown, Krueger has showcased her exceptional skills and determination, earning the admiration of the crowd.Krueger's journey to the US Open has been a testament to her hard work and perseverance. After winning the Orange Bowl in 2020 and the US Open girls' doubles title in 2021, she embarked on a challenging path through the pro ranks. Under the guidance of veteran coach Michael Joyce, Krueger has honed her game and developed a strong mental fortitude.In her match against 21st-seeded Mirra Andreeva, Krueger displayed her full potential. She dominated the baseline with powerful serves, penetrating forehands, and angled backhands. Despite Andreeva's reputation as a rising star, Krueger remained unfazed and took control of the match from the outset.With the crowd chanting her name, Krueger served for the match at 5-4 in the second set. Despite being broken earlier, she exhibited remarkable composure and closed out the win with ease. Her victory marked a significant milestone in her career, proving that she belongs on the grandest stage of tennis.Krueger's success is a reminder that hard work and dedication can overcome any obstacle. Her journey from the juniors to the pro ranks has been filled with challenges, but she has never wavered in her pursuit of excellence. As she continues to rise through the ranks, Ashlyn Krueger is poised to become a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis.

Grigor Dimitrov has been in impressive form at the US Open, cruising through his first two matches with ease. However, he faces a tougher test in the third round against Tallon Griekspoor, who has also shown signs of improvement in New York.Dimitrov, the 20th seed, has yet to drop a set in the tournament, dispatching qualifier Kyrian Jacquet and Rinky Hijikata in straight sets. The Bulgarian is known for his all-court game and powerful groundstrokes, which have been on full display at Flushing Meadows.Griekspoor, on the other hand, has had a more up-and-down season but has found his rhythm in New York. The Dutchman, ranked 46th in the world, has won his first two matches in straight sets, including an impressive victory over world No. 23 Sebastian Baez.While Dimitrov is the clear favorite, Griekspoor has the potential to make this a competitive match. The Dutchman possesses a big serve and solid groundstrokes, and he has shown a willingness to go for his shots.One key factor in this match will be the ability to hold serve. Dimitrov is one of the best in the world at holding his serve, while Griekspoor is also a solid server. If both players are able to hold serve consistently, this match could go the distance.Another factor to consider is the amount of time spent on court. Griekspoor has spent significantly less time on court than Dimitrov in the first two rounds, which could give him an advantage in the later stages of the match.Overall, Dimitrov is the more experienced and talented player, but Griekspoor has the potential to make this a close match. If Griekspoor can serve well and keep Dimitrov off balance, he could cover the 6.5-game spread.

Karolina Pliskova Retires from US Open After Three Points Due to Ankle InjuryKarolina Pliskova, the former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam finalist, suffered a heartbreaking retirement from the US Open in the second round on Wednesday. The Czech star played just three points against Jasmine Paolini before being forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury.The match began with Paolini losing the first point on serve with an unforced error. She recovered to 15-all after a Pliskova miss, and then took the next point with a forehand winner. However, disaster struck on the fourth point.As Pliskova turned to her right to retrieve Paolini's shot, she pushed off her left ankle and immediately hopped up in the air. She walked toward her chair and then, shortly after, ended the match.The injury was reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers' start with the New York Jets last September, when he suffered an ACL injury just four snaps into his season. It is a rare occurrence to see a 0-0 (ret.) score in tennis, but that is the case after today's unfortunate event.Paolini advances to the third round, where she will face 30th seed Yulia Putintseva. Pliskova's retirement is a major blow to her hopes of winning her first Grand Slam title. The 30-year-old has been in good form this season, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.The injury is also a setback for the US Open, which has already seen several top players withdraw due to injury. Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Simona Halep are among those who have pulled out of the tournament.

Marta Kostyuk, the No. 19 seed at the 2024 US Open, has opted to stay in Brooklyn rather than Manhattan during the tournament. She finds the hustle and bustle of Manhattan too distracting for her to perform at her best.Kostyuk, who is coached by former WTA pro Sandra Zaniewska, has had a challenging two years due to the ongoing Russian-Belarusian invasion into Ukraine. She has become a de facto sportswoman for her country, representing Ukraine at the Summer Olympic Games.Despite the challenges, Kostyuk has had a career-best season, reaching the semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open and the third round at the US Open. She credits her improved mental resilience to her increased experience and maturity.Kostyuk's Olympic experience was particularly emotional, as she represented Ukraine alongside her fellow athletes. She lost a heartbreaking match in the quarterfinals but still cherishes the experience.After her Olympic defeat, Kostyuk flew to the National Bank Open and Cincinnati, where she had solid performances. She is now focused on her US Open run, where she has yet to lose a set.Kostyuk's next opponent is American Emma Navarro, who narrowly defeated her in Toronto. Kostyuk is confident in her abilities and is determined to keep building on her success.

Victoria Azarenka, the former world number one, battled through a migraine to secure a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Clara Burel in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday.Azarenka dominated the opening set, winning the first five games before Burel managed to break her serve. However, the Belarusian's momentum was halted in the second set as she began to struggle with the harsh lights at Louis Armstrong Stadium.Azarenka called for the doctor, who checked her blood pressure and gave her medication during a stoppage that lasted nearly five minutes. The interruption seemed to break Burel's rhythm, as Azarenka won the next four games to seal the victory."I don't know how I played the match," Azarenka said in her post-match interview. "I just tried to, you know, hope that it's going to get better a little bit.""I'm wearing glasses for a reason right now. It looks probably weird and awkward on TV. But I have a chronic migraine sometimes and it couldn't be a worse time to start it, on the match.""It's just tough to deal with."Despite the migraine, Azarenka displayed her trademark resilience and determination. She will next face China's Wang Yafan in the third round.

Taylor Fritz's dominant performance against Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the US Open showcased his remarkable growth and determination. Fritz's aggressive baseline play and impeccable serve control left Berrettini reeling, resulting in a resounding 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-1 victory.Fritz's focus and intensity were evident from the outset. He broke Berrettini's serve early with a disguised forehand drop shot and a precise backhand pass. His serve was a weapon, winning 90% of his first-serve points and an astonishing 87% of his second-serve points. Berrettini, hampered by leg tape, struggled to find his rhythm and managed only eight points on Fritz's serve.This commanding victory marks a significant milestone in Fritz's Grand Slam career. A year ago, he began to elevate his level at the majors, reaching the quarterfinals at the US Open. He has since replicated that success at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.Fritz's triumph is part of a strong showing by American men at the US Open. Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Brandon Nakashima have also advanced to the third round. This resurgence has sparked questions about the potential end of the Grand Slam drought for U.S. men, which dates back to 2003.Fritz acknowledges the pressure but remains focused on the present. "We all want to be the one to end it," he said. "But we don't really talk about that. We've talked about the fact that we've got five guys in the Top 20. We've talked about how we just have a lot of good players."The number of American men in the Top 20 and their success at the US Open is a testament to the depth and talent within the U.S. tennis system. While the Grand Slam drought remains a challenge, Fritz and his fellow countrymen are determined to make their mark on the sport's biggest stage.

The U.S. Open tennis tournament is heating up, and there have been some major developments in both the men's and women's draws.In the women's draw, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova was knocked out in the second round by Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Krejcikova had won her second Grand Slam singles title this summer, but she hasn't played any matches since the Paris Olympics. She acknowledged last week that she didn't know where her level of play was. Turns out, it wasn't good enough.No woman has won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the same year since Serena Williams in 2012.On the men's side, Frances Tiafoe got the rematch he wanted, a second shot at Ben Shelton. Tiafoe, the No. 20 seed, won the first two sets before his opponent, Alexander Shevchenko, retired after the first game of the third set. Shelton, the No. 13 seed, later beat Roberto Bautista Agut to advance to the third round. He ousted Tiafoe last year in the quarterfinals, stopping Tiafoe from what would have been a second straight trip to the U.S. Open semifinals.Tiafoe had short work on the steamiest day of the tournament thus far, with temperatures in New York surpassing 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). Three men's matches ended when an opponent stopped playing, the last one sending defending champion Novak Djokovic to the third round when Laslo Djere retired early in the third set with what appeared to be pain near his hip after they played for more than two hours across the first two sets.Defending champion Coco Gauff marched into the third round on the women's side with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Tatjana Maria. The No. 3 seed will next face No. 27 seed Elina Svitolina.Ruse, a 26-year-old from Romania, advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time and will play No. 26 seed Paula Badosa, who eliminated American Taylor Townsend.Jiri Lehecka ignored the heat to engineer the biggest comeback of his career, rallying to beat Mitchell Krueger in a match that finished a minute shy of four hours. Lehecka, the No. 32 seed, not only came from two sets down for the first time in his career, but he was even down 3-0 in the third set against the American qualifier.He will face No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev, who also came from two sets down to outlast Arthur Rinderknech.Past U.S. Open finalists Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev both won their matches in straight sets, while Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, the No. 7 seed, rallied passed Erika Andreeva in three sets. But No. 12 Daria Kasatkina was upset by American Peyton Stearns, who will next face No. 24 seed and Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic.Another women's third-round match will see No. 14 seed Madison Keys against No. 33 Elise Mertens. Keys, the 2017 runner-up in Flushing Meadows, rolled past Maya Joint, while Mertens knocked out Ajla Tomljanovic.

Novak Djokovic has etched his name into the annals of tennis history by becoming the first player ever to record 90 career wins at all four Grand Slam tournaments. The Serbian maestro achieved this remarkable feat after defeating compatriot Laslo Djere in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday night.Djokovic's victory at Flushing Meadows marked his 90th career win at the tournament, joining an exclusive club that includes Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, and Serena Williams. However, Djokovic's achievement is even more extraordinary as he is the only player to have reached this milestone at all four Grand Slams.Djokovic's dominance across the Grand Slams is evident in his impressive win-loss records:* Australian Open: 94-9 (10 titles)* Roland Garros: 96-16 (3 titles)* Wimbledon: 97-12 (7 titles)* US Open: 90-13 (4 titles)Djokovic's consistency and longevity at the highest level of tennis are truly remarkable. He has been a force to be reckoned with for over a decade, winning 21 Grand Slam titles and holding the world number one ranking for a record 387 weeks.The Serbian's victory over Djere was not without its challenges. Djere retired from the match due to injury while trailing 6-4, 6-4, 2-0. However, Djokovic's determination and resilience shone through as he secured the win and a place in the third round of the US Open.Djokovic's pursuit of tennis immortality continues as he aims to add to his already impressive legacy. With his unmatched record at the Grand Slams, he remains a formidable force in the sport and a true inspiration to aspiring tennis players worldwide.

India's doubles players made a strong start at the U.S. Open, with Davis Cupper N Sriram Balaji and Yuki Bhambri advancing to the men's doubles second round with their respective partners.Balaji, who has been in impressive form lately, and his Argentine partner Guido Andreozzi overcame a one-set deficit to defeat New Zealand's Marcus Daniell and Mexico's Miguel Reyes-Varela 5-7 6-1 7-6 (12-6) in a close contest that lasted two hours and 36 minutes. Balaji had also impressed at the French Open, where he and Reyes-Varela had stretched Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden in a gruelling contest on red clay. A good run at the U.S. Open before the Davis Cup tie against Sweden will be ideal preparation for Balaji, who will enter the rubber as the country's main doubles player.Bhambri, who has opted out of the tie, and his French partner Albano Olivetti also advanced with a 6-3 6-4 win over local wildcards Ryan Seggerman and Patrik Trhac. They will now take on the American-Dutch combination of Austin Krajicek and Jean-Julien Rojer in the second round.Second seeds Bopanna and Ebden will open their campaign on Thursday (August 29, 2024). The experienced Indian duo will be aiming to make a deep run in the tournament, having reached the semifinals at the Australian Open earlier this year.India's doubles players will be hoping to continue their strong start at the U.S. Open and make a mark on the Grand Slam stage. With Balaji and Bhambri in good form, and Bopanna and Ebden always a threat, India has a chance to make a deep run in the men's doubles competition.