Wednesday, September 9, 2020

US Open 2020, Quarter-finals, Tennis LIVE: Victoria Azarenka wins first set 6-1 vs Elise Mertens; Daniil Medvedev, Serena Williams through

05:52 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka* 6-1, 5-0 Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Couple of good points for Mertens. Can she hold serve for the first time this match? She double faults. 30-15 to her. Another unforced error from Mertens, 30-30. One more break point for Azarenka. She converts it with a gorgeous backhand winner. Surely this is all over? She serves for the set!

05:49 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 4-0 *Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

It's worth remembering that Mertens has not held serve even once yet. She really needs to do something different, there's not that much time left. Azarenka gets the first point of her service game. Mertens wins the second, with an excellent winner. 15-15. Ace from Azarenka. And she's up 40-15 after Mertens terrible return sails wide. Another ace, and the Azarenka express keeps pulling away.

05:45 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka* 6-1, 3-0 Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Mertens has really struggled with her forehand tonight. She gives away the first point with an unforced error. It's 30-0 now. Mertens is struggling, but she claws back a point with her first ace of the night. Azarenka has break point again after a gorgeous forehand winner eludes Mertens. She's cruising here. Azarenka makes a couple of unforced errors though, and we're at deuce.

Excellent play from Azarenka, and she had advantage. She's hitting it so clean and deep, the ball is just skidding off the court. Elise Mertens is not out though, she gets it back to deuce. Advantage to Azarenka. An error from Mertens' forehand again. Mertens makes it deuce with an inch-perfect volley. How good is Azarenka! She has advantage for the third time this game. It's her fifth break point of the game and she converts it!

05:36 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 2-0 *Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Azarenka up a set and a break. She gives away the first point with an unforced error. Mertens takes the second with a powerful winner. Azarenka makes it 30-15. Ooh, Mertens has break point now! She's not held serve yet, but this is her second break point. Azarenka claws back a point with an ace, and then makes it deuce with a smash.

She's doing really well with her little combinations, Mertens just cannot cope. Advantage Azarenka! She holds serve

05:31 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka* 6-1, 1-0 Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Mertens disappears down the tunnel after the first set is done, and she's gone for ages. Azarenka takes the time to meditate with her legs crossed. Real zen moment.
 

Mertens takes the first point of the second set, but Azarenka claims the next two. Mertens makes it 30-30 with a strong smash. And Azarenka has another break point! Double fault from Mertens and Azarenka is ahead!

05:23 (IST)

First Set: Victoria Azarenka 6-1

Azarenka is serving for the set now. Mertens gets the first point, after the Belarusian shanks a return long, but makes it 15-15 after Mertens' lob clears the court. Fantastic shot from Mertens under real pressure and she's 30-15 up. Azarenka is doing so well to close down her angles though, and she makes it 30-30 after charging to the net. Elise Mertens hits another one long for her twelfth unforced error. Azarenka on set point. And she wraps it up after another unforced error from the Belgian!

05:18 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka* 5-1 Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Azarenka is playing some excellent, aggressive tennis.  She wins the first point after Mertens can't reach her cross court return. She gets the second after Mertens buries a return into the nets. 30-0 up. Make that 40-0 up, because she's won another point with a forehand winner! She has three break points, can she capitalise on this? Why yes she can, with a stylish backhand winner down the line. She's up double-break now.

05:15 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka 4-1 *Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

What a return to action Victoria Azarenka has had! After winning the Western & Southern Open, the Belarusian has looked in fine form at the US Open, and in this match, she looks like she just about has the edge. She holds, despite the game going to deuce. 

05:08 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka* 3-1 Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

The set is back on serve. Azarenka tries to put power on a forehand return, but it fails to clear the net. 15-0 to Mertens. Mertens' shot from a rally on the next point clips the net and outfoxes Azarenka. 30-0. Mertens then gives away a couple of points back-to-back and it's 30-30 now. Azarenka hits a return long and it's 40-30. Oh my, what a huge overhead winner from Azarenka. To deuce we go.

Azarenka gets advantage after Mertens misses the court with a forehand. She makes up for her miss with an excellent backhand winner though. Advantage back with Azarenka now. Oh no, it's a double fault from Mertens. Azarenka back into the lead after breaking.

05:01 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka 2-1 *Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Mertens fights back with a powerful winner and its 15-0. She then pushes Azarenka into hitting a return long and it's 30-0. Azarenka replies well by making Mertens scamper across court after a well placed shot, which the Belgian can't get to. 30-15. But Mertens is at break point now! Doesn't faze Azarenka though, she unleashes a wonderful serve and forehand combo. Oh my word, Mertens has broken back with an imperious return which kisses the baseline before wooshing past Azarenka.

04:57 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka* 2-0 Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Mertens goes up to 30-0 with ease, but then Azarenka gets a point after an excellent rally. Azarenka makes it 30-30. Mertens with the double fault and Azarenka has break-point now. And she breaks! She's off and running!

04:52 (IST)

Victoria Azarenka 1-0 *Elise Mertens (* denotes server)

Azarenka starts us off with the serve, and she does well to bag the opening point. Mertens replies by making it 15-15. Oof, early double fault from Azarenka and it's 15-30. Mertens miscues a return and it's 30-30. Oh, excellent forehand winner from Azarenka there, that's cannoned off her racket. Elise Mertens returns well on the next serve and we go to deuce.

Mertens fluffs a return and it's blasted straight into orbit. Advantage Azarenka. Mertens messes up another return, it's a hold.

04:41 (IST)

Coming up next, Elise Mertens vs Victoria Azarenka!

In the final quarter-final tie of the US Open women's singles, 15th-seeded Elise Mertens takes on former World No 1 Victoria Azarenka! Stay tuned for all the latest updates!

03:03 (IST)

Their exchange at the net

03:02 (IST)

Yet to drop a set at US Open, yet to a drop a set against Rublev. 

03:01 (IST)

03:00 (IST)

Medvedev: "First time in almost a year I celebrated a win because this was tough. One point decided three sets. Andrey was playing really well."

"It was a very tactical game today and I'm glad it worked out."

"I am going to relax and watch Thiem/De Minaur. I never try to predict, I just prepare for the winner"

02:57 (IST)

Daniil Medvedev wins 7-6, 6-3, 7-6

Just the one break point in the match and Medvedev converted it. Little opportunity otherwise for both players but it is Medvedev who is into yet another US Open semi-final. 

02:56 (IST)

Third set tiebreak

The tiebreak stayed on serve until Medvedev pushed forward, took the serve return early for a backhand winner into the corner. Rublev mixes things up on the next point by serving and volleying. Medvedev misses the attempted pass. Daniil gets the tougher volley back but not the simpler volley to give back the advantage. But follows it up with a big serve and winner. Match point. Big forehand from Medvedev has Rublev rushing into the corner but his defensive backhand goes long. 

02:51 (IST)

Third set tiebreak

Daniil Medvedev called for the trainer again before the tiebreak saying his legs are cramping. Challenges for three points in a row at the start. Rublev gets one right, not the second one and now Medvedev asks for the Hawk Eye's intervention. At the change, it is 3-3

02:42 (IST)

Rublev 6-7, 3-6, 5-4 *Medvedev (* denotes server)

Rublev holds comfortably. Medvedev calls the trainer out at the end of the game. He's getting treatment on his right shoulder. Doesn't seem to be much of a concern or something that could prevent him from playing on. A medical time out later, Medvedev looks good to go. The trainer hangs around for the next change of ends

02:29 (IST)

Medvedev has altered his serve over the last two years

02:25 (IST)

Rublev 6-7, 3-6, 3-2 *Medvedev (* denotes server)

Third set staying on serve. Rublev holds with ease with an angled ace out wide on the deuce side. Perfect placement, much like his forehand passing shot earlier in the game. 

02:06 (IST)

Medvedev didn't drop a set vs Rublev in their prior three meetings. So far so good. 

02:03 (IST)

Second set: Daniil Medvedev 6-3

Daniil Medvedev takes a two sets to love lead with an ace. The first set took over an hour and this one has taken half of it. Rublev is disintegrating right here. Looked to be a promising match and suddenly seems less so. 

02:02 (IST)

Rublev gets warning

Andrey Rublev has been warned for 'audible obscenity' by chair umpire James Keothavong. Seemed to be just a scream but the chair umpire believes it was something else? Strange! 

01:57 (IST)

Rublev* 6-6, 2-5 Medvedev (* denotes server)

Daniil consolidates the break with an ace down the tee. Rublev is upset with the way things are going and lets out a huge scream. But that doesn't deter Daniil from closing the game out. 

01:56 (IST)

Rublev 6-6, 2-4 *Medvedev (* denotes server)

Daniil gets the first break of the match after a weak game from Rublev. Just the first break point of the match and Medvedev converts with a simple put away smash. BREAK!

01:53 (IST)

Important point by Somdev Devvarman on playing a player who you don't just know but is also a friend. 

01:48 (IST)

Rublev 6-6, 2-2 *Medvedev (* denotes server)

Second set going much the way the first did. Except the second game, on Rublev's serve, went the distance before he prevailed. 

01:44 (IST)

The ball girl did not see that racket smack coming

01:38 (IST)

'Code of conduct violation: Andrey Rublev. Food abuse'

01:34 (IST)

First set: Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (6)

After a well contested set, Rublev squanders a huge lead in the tiebreak to see Medvedev take the opener in just over an hour. Rublev led 5-1 before Medvedev won seven of next eight points. 

01:32 (IST)

1st set tiebreak

Rublev was cruising along in the tiebreak. 5-1 ahead and he was within two points of clinching the opener. From nowhere, Medvedev roars back to make it 6-6. Now Medvedev with incredible movement to keep the ball alive. From well outside the court, he slides the backhand in and Rublev is unable to get it back. Andrey is incensed and the racket bears the brunt of it. Medvedev closes it out with an ace. Rublev is upset and understandably so. He looks on at his coach and is pissed. Racket on the bag and then the banana gets smashed!

01:26 (IST)

More on the power outage

Electronics are still not working. The serve counter not working. No Hawk Eye screen. Medvedev challenged in the tiebreak and chair umpire James Keothavong had to use his walkie talkie to confirm. Strange tournament gets stranger....

01:23 (IST)

Rublev 6-6 Medvedev (* denotes server)

We're into first set tiebreak after Daniil holds his serve. Has a little chat with the chair umpire at the end on when a second serve comes into play after an overrule. 

01:21 (IST)

World feed goes down

"Major power outage" on site of US Open and the play was stopped briefly. The commentators talking about power going out inside the tower. 

01:13 (IST)

Who even designs these?

01:11 (IST)

Rublev 6-5 *Medvedev (* denotes server)

For the first time in this opening set, we get to deuce. Rublev was 40-0 up and has been taken to deuce after a lengthy rally ends in him sending the backhand long. No harm done as Rublev holds not soon after

01:02 (IST)

Rublev 5-4 *Medvedev (* denotes server)

Love holds for Medvedev first and Rublev now. Rublev only getting 35% of his first serves in but winning 78% of his first serve points and 76% on the second. Medvedev doing better with his first serve but only just (52%) and yet he's getting good returns of 91% and 60% on first and second serve points won. Rublev has won five return points and Medvedev six.  

00:55 (IST)

Rublev 4-3 *Medvedev (* denotes server)

Rublev doing really well to mix things up. Hitting powerfully from the back of the court and moving up when required to keep Medvedev guessing. Another straightforward hold.

00:52 (IST)

Rublev* 3-3 Medvedev (* denotes server)

Two more comfortable holds for either players. Both conceding one point each. Little being given away ever since that exchange in the opening game

00:43 (IST)

Rublev* 2-2 Medvedev (* denotes server)

Both players dropping two points each on their serves at the start of this match but going on to hold in the end. A 17 and 35 shot rally in the opening game probably a sign of things to come. 

00:27 (IST)

Great stat from that Serena win

00:26 (IST)

Pre-match talk: Medvedev

“I think if we're talking only about the game, there are not many similarities… But I think what is similar [is] that starting from juniors, we always tried to get better [and] we always pushed each other. We were always happy when we won and disappointed when we lost. I'm talking also for each other,” Medvedev said. “Really happy that we managed to play in the quarter-finals of a Slam.

“I think we respect each other in and out of the court. It's always tricky to play a friend… Consciously, you prepare for your match [and] try to win it. Unconsciously, you know he's your friend since age eight. I’ve known him already for 16 years. There are some things going on for sure mentally, but you always try to get rid of it.”

“He was always going for crazy shots, going for winners. But he was not consistent before, which was just showing [in] the ranking and the results,” Medvedev said. “He really progressed starting last year. I think he changed something in his mindset, in his game. Now he's one of the best players in the world, only going up the rankings. Really happy for him.”

00:25 (IST)

Now on court: Rublev vs Medvedev

All-Russian contest up next as Daniil Medvedev takes on friend Andrey Rublev. Medvedev holds a 2-0 record with wins last year in Cincinnati and St Petersburg. They had also played in Budapest on a Challenger level where, too, Medvedev had come out on top. 

00:14 (IST)

Winning feeling for Serena once again

00:13 (IST)

Serena Williams is through to her 39th Grand Slam semi-final and 14th at the US Open

00:12 (IST)

Stats from the third set

00:08 (IST)

Serena: "This just shows how tough moms are! She played unbelievable today. I could barely play a match when coming back and she's playing her first tournament in three years. As a mom you're leading a double life - you go back and you're changing them. As moms, if you can give birth, you can do anything!"

"I'm happy to be standing here talking to you. I was almost not here talking to you."

"Vika (Azarenka) and I have had some amazing matches. She won Cincinnati and is playing very well. As is Mertens. I have my work cut out."

The battle of all mothers will be waged Wednesday at the US Open when Serena Williams faces unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova for a berth in the semi-finals.

Williams missed more than a year of competition when she had a daughter in 2017, and has since been seeking a record-tying 24th Major title. Pironkova is playing in her first tournament since she took a break of more than three years to have a son.

In another women's quarter-final match-up, World No 16 Elise Mertens will face unseeded Victoria Azarenka, who is also a mother. Azarenka has won nine consecutive matches, including the final in the Western & Southern Open that was played in New York as an in-the-bubble warm-up for the US Open.

Serena Williams takes on Tsvetana Pironkova in the first quarter-final of Wednesday. Images: AP, AFP

Serena Williams takes on Tsvetana Pironkova in the first quarter-final of Wednesday. Images: AP

Two men's quarter-finals are also scheduled. No 2-seeded Dominic Thiem, a three-time Major runner-up, meets first-time Slam quarter-finalist Alex de Minaur, a 21-year-old Australian. No 3 Daniil Medvedev, last year's Open runner-up, plays No 10 Andrey Rublev.

The path to the men's title is wide open after overwhelming favorite Novak Djokovic was disqualified on Sunday for unintentionally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball. Each of the men's quarter-finalists is seeking his first Grand Slam title.

(With inputs from The Associated Press)



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