Onward and upward for Novak Djokovic!
Five Things We Learned from Day Three of 2023 US Open including dominant Djokovic and illness issues
Tennis NewsThursday, 31 August 2023 at 14:53
With Day Four on the approach at the 2023 US Open, we take a look back at what was learned on Day Three at Flushing Meadows as the second round begin.
This included Novak Djokovic, illness woes and continued dominance for Coco Gauff in a match potentially set to dominate the future.
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1. Djokovic domination continues on US return
Many said pre tournament that Novak Djokovic had one of his easiest runs to the latter stages of a Grand Slam of his career and that continued on Day Three. He eased past Bernabe Zapata Mirallas.
After a close first set, he breezed through the remaining sets with consummate ease and facing his compatriot and the first seed on the road to the latter stages will be Laslo Djere.
No blips so far for Djokovic after being away from the US for two years and he has firmly picked up where he left off from Cincinnati.
2. Ruud and Tsitsipas add to question marks
Like in the WTA draw with Caroline Garcia and Maria Sakkari, two players who have been in form in the past year but dropped like a stone since then have emerged with defeats on the ATP side.
Those being Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The former was mooted for a top stint as he faced rising Chinese ace, Zhizhen Zhang part of a rising crop of talent both on the Men's and Women's side of tennis.
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He will drop to 9th at best after one of the longest runs inside the top 10 of 100+ weeks, he broke into the elite following the 2021 US Open and it seems that run will be shortly coming to an end.
He will lose 1155 points and despite reaching the Roland Garros final, it has been a rough season for Ruud after reaching the final last year.
Similar can be said for Stefanos Tsitsipas who has also been in some dreadful form at times this season. He won Los Cabos after most of his discourse had been surrounding Tsitsidosa albeit he seems to do better without girlfriend, Paula Badosa present.
He lost to Swiss ace, Dominic Stricker despite being in a winning position. The Greek though isn't in as perilous position as Ruud with an early lost to Daniel Elahi Galan last year meaning that he won't defend any point and instead gains.
But a player firmly too at a crossroads and in dire need of some form.
Wow. 2022 runner up Casper Ruud is OUT in the #USOpen 2nd round to Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 0-6, 6-2. Ruud will lose 1155 points and drop to #9 at best. Left New York as world #2 last year... It's been a tough season apart from Roland Garros...
3. Illness and injuries dominate
An unfortunate part of tennis is illness and injuries preventing players from taking to the court and there were multiple big matches kiboshed by both on Wednesday.
Dominic Thiem got into the second set against Ben Shelton after a tiebreak in a match many dubbed a thriller on paper. But instead he doubled over with abdominal pain, likely caused by gastroenteritis.
From illness to injury taking its toll on a return to action as Ajla Tomljanovic also couldn't face Elena Rybakina. In her first matches in a year, the Aussie ace who famously retired Serena Williams has become a star since then.
For being in the first season of Netflix Break Point, but multiple comeback attempts have been thwarted. She turned up at Flushing Meadows and won her first match, but it seems she wasn't yet ready to face a player of Rybakina's calibre.
Others to struggle included Christopher Eubanks who continued to ask to use the bathroom against Benjamin Bonzi. The Frenchman benefits from this bizarre display as he will now face Stricker for a spot in the fourth round.
Ons Jabeur and Emil Ruusuvuori also either withdrew or had noted struggles, with players and coaches now alert for this mysterious illness going around.
My boy Eubanks had to take a shit. I’m weak 😂😂😂😂😂
4. Gauff shows glimmer of future and also present
Coco Gauff continued to show out on Wednesday taking down Mirra Andreeva in straight sets. But the latter got into the tie towards the end and if a third set was there, it could've been even more of a test for the American perhaps.
But a tie at two Grand Slams this year and one which offers a potential glimpse into the future of women's tennis. As well as something that Andreeva will learn from.
A player who has gone through the hype and the media spotlight to one who likely will and Gauff has been a lesson to deal with that. So Andreeva in defeat will likely take solace.
Especially given that Gauff has been in utterly incredible form as of late and after a gamesmanship tie against Laura Siegemund was able to show off her full range facing the 16-year-old.
Game recognize game. Jimmy Butler was locked in for Coco Gauff's match. 🔒
5. Wozniacki back like she's never been away
From the present and the future to a player aiming to show that she has never been away in Caroline Wozniacki.
A big name return at the US Open after three years away from the sport, she took down Petra Kvitova in a battle of Grand Slam champions from the same era.
The Dane wiped away tears as she got her first top 20 win as a mother against Kvitova in a vintage 7-5, 7-6(5) win. Elina Svitolina has shown that time off to become a mother can lead to success and firmly Wozniacki has still got it.
Caroline Wozniacki wipes happy tears away after getting her 1st top 20 win as a mom over Petra Kvitova. She was always one of the brightest lights on tour. A retirement & 2 children later & nothing’s changed. Thanks for coming back, Sweet Caroline. 🥹❤️
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