Australian players face mixed fortunes at US Open amid weather delays
Quick Look
- Taylah Preston lost in the second round of the US Open to Taylor Townsend in 48 minutes, while Daria Kasatkina defeated Paula Badosa in a rain-delayed match.
- Alex de Minaur advanced after his first-round match was delayed by weather, and other Australians including Maya Joint, Kim Birrell, and Alex de Minaur are scheduled to play later rounds.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The US Open tennis tournament is underway in New York, with Australian players competing across multiple rounds. Weather delays have affected several matches on day four.
Taylah Preston's US Open adventure has ended abruptly in the second round.
The first Australian through to round two was the first to exit following a 6-1, 6-1 loss to big-hitting American Taylor Townsend.
The 20-year-old wildcard was eliminated in just 48 minutes.
Preston was one of five Australians scheduled for day-four action at Flushing Meadows.
Australian women's number one Daria Kasatkina was also removed from the draw, but not before offering more considerable resistance against Spaniard Paula Badosa.
The pair resumed their stop-start affair that was halted on Tuesday morning (AEST) in sensational fashion.
After first being forced off court because of rain early in the second set while trailing Badosa 6-1, 1-2, Kasatkina was delighted when officials called it a night immediately after she saved a third match point.
Badosa was furious and had to return 15 hours later trying to serve out the contest at 5-4 and deuce in the second set.
Kasatkina saved her first two match points in an epic 22-point game serving at 3-5 in the second set, before fighting off another six more.
Kasatkina also conjured two break point chances to level up at 5-5 before Badosa, a one-time world number two, finally closed out the contest to book a second-round date with 2023 champion Coco Gauff.
Maya Joint is scheduled to take on ninth seed Elina Svitolina this morning, hoping to reach the third round in New York for a third straight year.
Meanwhile Kim Birrell is up against Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova believing she can also topple the Russian 18th seed after taking down world number five and 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula at the French Open.
De Minaur through after delay
New York's lousy weather dealt Alex de Minaur's US Open title hopes another setback with the top-ranked Australian's first-round clash delayed further by rain.
Former champion Daniil Medvedev and American home hope Alex Michelsen were already safely through to round three before de Minaur even made it on court for his tournament opener.
When he finally opened his campaign on day four, de Minaur looked intent on making up for lost time, racing to a 6-2, 4-2 lead over Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri in just 49 minutes.
Then the heavens opened again, forcing de Minaur scampering back to the locker room.
He eventually went on to win 6-2, 6-2, 6-4.
Open Questions
- How will the weather affect remaining matches?
- Which Australian players will advance to later rounds?
- What is the full schedule for Australian players in the tournament?