US Open 2018: Day 10 sets up super SFs with Japanese focus

Less drama today but instead some very personal triumphs. Osaka rolls on after one match too far for Tsurenko In the least competitive match of the day, Naomi Osaka looked extremely solid as she dismantled an arguably already broken Lesia Tsurenko 1 and 1. All the Japanese had to do was stay solid before her […]

US Open 2018: Day 9 most dramatic yet, Sloane out, Rafa beats Thiem in five set thriller

Okay Day 8, I see your drama and raise you a helluva lot more. Sloane sapped by stylish Sevastova A huge shock this, merely because defending champion Stephens looked on fire again all fortnight. Sevastova though is no pushover and rightly ensconced amongst the world’s elite. The American was bamboozled by a gamut of perfectly […]

US Open 2018: Time finally called for two past-gen greats on Day 8

Although both their respective records and the manner of their exits last night differ greatly, we see some parallels with Roger and Maria last night: the final signal of the beginning of the end. The Swiss is no longer cheating the ravages of time and in a year that resembles 2013 in many ways despite […]

US Open 2018: Day 7 sees champs survive again, plus look ahead to Day 8

There was some beautiful symmetry in Day 7’s results yesterday. On the Ashe day session we had both Rafa and Serena show just how easily they can deal with a sudden challenge and go up a gear or two when needed. Then come the evening we had another two former champions DelPo and Sloane Stephens […]

US Open 2018: Day 6 shocks as Day 7 promises more awe

The much hyped Federer-Kyrgios clash proved to be but a side note yesterday as some big names came a tumbling. Roger’s win showing that for all of his bravado, Kyrgios is still lacking on the big stages. Instead we lost Zverev (Kohlschreiber), Bertens (Vondrousova), Kerber (Cibulkova), Garcia (Suarez-Navarro), Kvitová (Sabalenka) and Pouille (Sousa). I haven’t […]

US Open 2018: Day 5 sees Rafa tested, Wawrinka bested and Serena left rested

That title sounded better in my head sorry. So before we look at what treats lie in store on Day 6, let’s digest yesterday’s goings on. Rafa truly tested by Next Big Thing Kachanov In a pulsating encounter, Rafa Nadal wrestled momentum and eventually the match from his young Russian opponent who has gotten everyone […]

US Open 2018: Making sense of Day 4 and my pick of Day 5 matches

Lahyani oversteps the mark Okay, let’s try and pick apart what happened in that Kyrgios vs Herbert match. Mohamed Lahyani was until this week rightly heralded as one of the most respected figures on the tour, but this reputation is in danger of evaporating in just a few days. Put simply, regardless of whether Lahyani’s seeming […]

US Open 2018: Day 3 reflections and day 4 picks

Day three at Flushing Meadows was largely free of shock results, but delivered some quality contests throughout – really the only thing it confirmed once more is that I should give up trying to predict tennis outcomes (far more profitable recently with soccer, but that’s another story). Yes, Murray, Muguruza and Sock lost yesterday, but […]

US Open 2018: Day 3 picks and more praise for star pundit

First, I join BBC’s David Law and other experts and tweeters in praising Daniela Hantuchova’s honest and humble analysis. The former no.5 and two-time quarter finalist here is quickly establishing herself as an essential pundit combining her regular duties on Amazon Prime with her own daily series on the Tennis Channel and now appearing on […]

US Open 2018: Day 2 Picks

After brave Ferrer’s final major swansong Vs Nadal and Simona’s loss at the hands of Kanepi I was eventually justified with my pick of Dimitri Vs Wawrinka as the match up of the day. Drama ensued elsewhere yes, but for quality you cannot argue against such backhand mastery. Today it is largely the women producing […]