Sinner at Alcaraz abante na sa US Open
Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his first round match against Mackenzie McDonald os the U.S. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Umabante na sa US Open ang top seed na si Jannik Sinner at ang kapwa niya title contender na si Carlos Alcaraz, pagkatapos magkaroon ng kaunting problema.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates winning her first round match against Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Dinaig naman ng Women’s top seed na si Iga Swiatek si Kamilla Rakhimova sa score na 6-4 7-6(6) para maabot ang second round, bago ginulat ng two-time champion na si Naomi Osaka ang 10th seed na si Jelena Ostapenko sa score na 6-3 6-2, sa kaniyang pagbabalik sa New York pagkatapos ng kaniyang maternity break.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka in action during her first round match against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Nakatutok ang pansin ng lahat kay Sinner sa day session nang malampasan ng Italian ang isang mabagal na simula upang selyuhan ang panalong 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 laban sa Amerikanong si Mackenzie McDonald, isang linggo matapos siyang mapawalang-sala sa bintang kaugnay ng dalawang nabigong pagsusuri noong Marso para sa isang ipinagbabawal na gamot.
Si Sinner, na napatunayang walang kasalanan ay naging sentro ng kontrobersya nang hindi siya mapatawan ng parusa kaugnay ng isang doping ban, ngunit masaya ang 23-anyos dahil sa ipinakitang suporta sa kaniya ng fans sa Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Aniya, “The response from fans, I feel it has been great, also throughout when the news came out, in the practice sessions, there was a lot of support, which I’m very glad and happy about.”
Dagdag pa niya, “It is still a little bit, you know, not easy. You have to go day by day. I was curious to see how the reaction of the fans has been, but it has been very positive.”
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action during his first round match with Li Tu of Australia. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Tinalo naman ni Alcaraz, na isa ring Flushing Meadows crowd favourite, ang Australian qualifier na si Li Tu sa score na 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 sa loob lang ng tatlong oras.
Kinailangan naman ng Briton na si Dan Evans ng mas matinding effort upang umabante nang talunin niya ang Russian 23rd seed na si Karen Khachanov sa score na 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4 sa pinakamahabang US Open match sa professional era, ang nakapapagod na limang oras at 35-minutong laro.
Ayon kay Evans, “Obviously I won’t practice tomorrow. Just recover and try and recover as best as possible. I was hurting all over really. I don’t think I’ve played five hours, that long, in a day ever in two sessions, never mind in one.”
Hindi naman naiwasan ng dating champion na si Emma Raducanu ng Britanya ang ‘exit door’ nang daigin siya ni Sofia Kenin sa score na 6-1 3-6 6-4, habang nagawa namang makabawi ng fourth seed na si Elena Rybakina nang talunin niya si Destanee Aiava sa score na 6-1 7-6(1).
Pinahirapan ng 2019 New York champion na si Bianca Andreescu ang French Open at Wimbledon runner-up na si Jasmine Paolini, ngunit nagawa pa rin siyang talunin nito sa score na 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4.
Samantala, tinalo ng kapwa niya American na si Caroline Dolehide sa score na 1-6 7-5 6-4, si Danielle Collins sa huli niyang Grand Slam bago magretiro sa pagtatapos ng season.
Sinabi ni Collins, “Everybody has been so encouraging and it’s a compliment that people want to see me play more. But at the same time, I’m just kind of ready for that next chapter. The journey has been great.”
Punong-puno naman ng ‘winning spirit’ ang fifth seeded na si Daniil Medvedev nang talunin niya si Dusan Lajovic sa score na 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-1, pero hindi naging maganda ang kapalaran ng 11th seed na si Stefanos Tsitsipas, dahil dinaig siya ni Thanasi Kokkkinakis sa score na 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 7-5.
