Krejcikova squanders a 40‑0 lead on serve, faces deuce, fights back and wins the game with a serve down the T, leveling the set at 2‑2. Paolini then dominates on serve to go up 3‑2.
Over at Louis Armstrong, Erjavec defends superbly, creating two game points to level the first set at 2‑2. The underdogs hold early.
Krejcikova’s gameplan is clear: hit with maximum power to send Rakhimova wide. She gains a 30‑15 advantage on serve, and a crucial early point sees her return set up two break points. A powerful serve saves one, an error saves the other, and Rakhimova holds from deuce to go up 2‑1, boosted by a strong serve under pressure.
Two big aces from Krejcikova give her a comfortable hold, making it 1‑1. Meanwhile Paolini and Erjavec exchange breaks, also 1‑1.
Krejcikova leads the head‑to‑head 1‑0 over Rakhimova, having won their 2021 tournament encounter 6‑4, 6‑2. Early in the current match Rakhimova takes a 30‑0 lead, but Krejcikova’s heavy hitting restores parity. A shank following a moon‑ball exchange hands the Uzbek a game point, and she converts the return into the net to take a 1‑0 advantage.
Krejcikova and Rakhimova pose for a picture at the net on Court 17 as they warm up, preparing to begin play.
Jasmine Paolini warms up on Louis Armstrong. Her opponent, Veronika Erjavec, is ranked 106 but has enjoyed a strong season, reaching a career‑high 84 in May. The 26‑year‑old Slovenian has one slam victory and is appearing in the main draw at Flushing Meadows for the first time. Paolini’s best New York result is the fourth round in 2024, the same year she reached the finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic pursues a 25th grand slam title at Flushing Meadows. The 39‑year‑old Serb plays his third match on Arthur Ashe tonight, eager to leave a mark in a men’s draw wide open after Jannik Sinner’s absence. Can he achieve it?
If you missed the preview by Tumaini Carayol, he promises drama. Welcome to the final grand slam of the season. After the mixed‑doubles opener, the two‑week singles program begins. Big names opening their US Open accounts include Jessica Pegula, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic, while British hopefuls Cam Norrie, Toby Samuel, Jacob Fearnley and Katie Boulter also take the court.
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