what to remember from the night at the US Open

The number 18

Swept 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 in 2h17, in the night session, Richard Gasquet suffered an 18th defeat in as many confrontations against Rafael Nadal. The Biterrois summed up: “I don’t have the style of play to worry him. He is much stronger than me, he really cancels all my strength and at no time do I manage to have a little strategy, a little air“. The 36-year-old semi-finalist of the 2013 edition, like his tormentor of the evening, played 47 sets against the Majorcan and won only 4, the last in 2008…

La standing ovation

At 6-0, 3-0, Gasquet opened his game counter against Nadal. This caused a standing ovation from the New York public, frustrated by the lack of spectacle. The Biterrois raised his arms crosswise to “to celebrateThis first game. A somewhat cruel scene for a triple Grand Slam semi-finalist, more than ever powerless against the stainless Nadal.

The declared

«He’s a little bigger than usual, but he’s still there, okay.” «Terminator Nadal was injured Thursday evening at the level of the nose, during his second round against Fognini, after an unfortunate rebound of his racket on his face. A new injury for the champion with a bruised body. But against Gasquet, the big racquet blow in the face was only a distant memory…

The record and the defeat

As at the Australian Open in the quarter-finals, Alizé Cornet suffered the law of the American Danielle Collins 6-4, 7-6 (11/9). In a very tight second set, without a break point, the Niçoise got three balls to equalize at one set everywhere, but it was finally the 19th in the world who had the last word in the decisive game (11-9 ) on his second match point. As a reminder, the Niçoise set in New York, at the age of 32, a new record of 63 participations in consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, improving the one she co-held since Wimbledon with the Japanese Ai Sugiyama.

Lesson

End of course for Clara Burel. The 131st in the world, from qualifying, was outclassed by Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 6-0, 6-2. The 21-year-old Frenchwoman, who was playing her sixth match, handicapped by pain in her right thigh, did not exist against the 6^e World Cup, semi-finalist last year, who will face the American Danielle Collins in the quarters.

The number 8

After being sidelined at Wimbledon, in response to the invasion in Ukraine, the Russians and Belarusians take their revenge at the US Open. Men and women combined, they are eight to reach the 8th finals. Medvedev, Rublev, Khachanov, Kudermetova and Samsonova on the Russian side, Ivashka, Sabalenka and Azarenka for the Belarusians.

The Prodigy

Quarter-finalist last year at 18, here is Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16 this year. He is the youngest player since Pete Sampras in 1989 and 1990 to reach the second week at the US Open two years in a row.

Marathon

The Russian Andrey Rublev defeated after a four-hour fight the Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 2-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-6 (10/7). All in a super tie-break. In difficulty in recent weeks, the 11th in the world is reassured a little.

The boss

The winner at Roland-Garros Iga Swiatek had to work a little to defeat 6-3, 6-4 the American Lauren Davis, 105th in the world. Led 4-1 in the second act, the Pole lined up five games in a row to win in less than two hours and find the German Julie Niemeier (108th). Invincible, in the spring with 37 victories and six consecutive titles, the world number 1 was a little slowed down in its irresistible momentum this summer.

The fight

Petra Kvitova had the last laugh against Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (12/10). The Czech, winner at Wimbledon in 2014, will face the American Jessica Pegula (8th). Finalist in Cincinnati this summer, ended up dominating the Spaniard in a high-flying decisive game, after saving two match points at 6-5 against her. It’s his sixth victory in a row at the expense of Muguruza, who had won their very first confrontation.

The tribute

«He is a person worthy of Mount Rushmore. An athlete the size of Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods“. Tribute signed Frances Tiaffoé to Serena Williams, who said goodbye to New York, Friday evening at 3^e round. Tiaffoé continues his journey after his victory against Diego Schwartzman 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4.