Herbert and Mahut’s US Open Dreams Crushed in Semifinals

It’s over for Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. The tricolor pair, which has 21 titles including five in Grand Slam tournaments, was back in the last four of a Major for the first time since Roland-Garros 2021 but failed at the gates of the final of this US Open. Initially in difficulty, their opponents Rohan Bopanna (India) and Matthew Ebden (Australia), seeded number 6, raised their heads and returned this meeting (7-6[3], 6-2). There was room to do much better. But the French duo, who had conceded only one set so far, in the round of 16, lost the thread in two stages: first by missing opportunities, then paying for Mahut’s slack.

Well entered into their meeting, the Habs obtained three entry break points without converting them. The fourth, at 2-2, hit the mark. But it was the last time for them in this meeting.

Dizziness and nausea for Mahut

The Blues failed to convert two double-break points and, a few minutes later, their opponents came back level (4-4). The beginning of a real fight, under the heat and the humidity which make New York suffer so much in this fortnight. Mahut was a new victim, his dizziness and nausea forcing him to request a medical time-out at 5-6, 15/0.

The two friends snagged a decisive game, but were too light to win it. Herbert was not having a very good day either, like his error in judgment on the ball in the first set, or even a white break on his serve with two double faults and a gross fault, at 1-1 in the second set. Bopanna, he began to return very well from the height of his 43 years, and the double-break came quickly. In 30 minutes, the 2nd act was settled. And the dream of the Two French ended.

2023-09-07 17:53:00
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