Key events
First set: *Raducanu 3-5 Cornet (* denotes server)
Raducanu looks like she’s going to take the game at 40-30 but Cornet reaches to return a volley and hits a brilliant winner. Great reflexes from the Frenchwoman. An error from Raducanu gives her opponent a break point, which she clinches after the Briton’s first double fault of the match.
Elsewhere at the US Open … Rafa Nadal seems to have woken up a little after losing the first set and is 3-0 up in the second.
First set: Raducanu 3-4 Cornet* (* denotes server)
Raducanu has 14 unforced errors to Cornet’s seven. But she hits a great forehand down the line at 30-0 down and then her opponent double faults for the fourth time to make it 30-30. Another unforced error from Raducanu makes it 40-30 before she takes it to deuce with a lovely cross-court volley at the net. Another double fault gives Raducanu a chance to break. Which she does when Cornet floats a forehand long.
First set: *Raducanu 2-4 Cornet (* denotes server)
Cornet’s backhand lob is too good for Raducanu, who has failed to find her rhythm at the moment. It’s 0-40 not long afterwards. She hits a big second serve that Cornet fails to deal with to save her first break point. She has a good chance to take it to deuce shortly afterwards but misses a backhand with the court gaping wide. Cornet is firmly in control.
First set: Raducanu 2-3 Cornet* (* denotes server)
A comfortable hold for the Frenchwoman. It looks like it’s going to be a tough night for the defending champion, but that was always expected against the world No 40, a ferocious competitor.
Rinky Hijikata wins the first set against Rafa Nadal
The Aussie world No 198 has taken the first set against the 22-time grand slam champion! We’re focused on Raducanu v Cornet on this blog but will keep you updated on that potential shock. Hijikata’s best grand slam performance so far is … this year’s US Open (first round).
First set: *Raducanu 2-2 Cornet (* denotes server)
Now it’s Raducanu struggling with her ball toss. But she wins a nice sequence of volleys at the net to move to 30-15, one of her better moments in an uneven performance so far. A backhand into the net gives the champion the game.
Meanwhile, we’ve got a story developing on Arthur Ashe: Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, the world No 198 the last time I checked, is serving for the first set against a guy called Rafa Nadal, who you may remember as being a half-decent player down the years.
First set: Raducanu 1-2 Cornet* (* denotes server)
Over on Arthur Ashe, Australia’s Rinky Hijikata has broken Rafa Nadal in the first set and leads 4-3. We’ll keep an eye on that one for you… Meanwhile, Cornet sends down her third double-fault of the match to make it 30-30. Both players are gifting their opponent points at the moment and they both look tight and stiff. Raducanu can’t get to a drop shot and Cornet holds.
First set: *Raducanu 1-1 Cornet (* denotes server)
Raducanu is in some early trouble in her opening service game, going down 0-30. A great serve out wide, brings us back to 15-30. It was only 87mph but perfectly placed. That’s about as good as it gets for the Briton though, who whacks a backhand wide to give her opponent a break of her own.
First set: Raducanu 1-0 Cornet* (* denotes server)
It’s Cornet to serve and she wins the first point of the match after her opponent dumps a forehand into the net. But she double faults a couple of points later to give Raducanu a 15-30 lead. Another double fault – her ball toss looks off – gives the Briton a 30-40 break chance but it’s saved with a smash at the net. Someone somewhere is letting off what sounds like an airhorn, which may be a little distracting when you’re serving in a grand slam. Raducanu has said she intends to attack during this tournament and she produces a wonderful backhand when it’s advantage to Cornet to bring us back to deuce. A few points later, Cornet splashes a backhand long and the champ has broken at the first opportunity.
And Raducanu and Cornet are now on court. The defending champ gets the biggest cheer as she enters from the fans. The stadium is still half-empty as the evening session fans file in slowly. There’s a chance of showers later in the evening, but Louis Armstrong Stadium has a retractable roof so we should be OK.
On Arthur Ashe, Nadal leads Hijikata 2-1 but we’re still on serve.
Nadal has started his campaign with ease, holding his first service game to love. Hijikata, dressed in patriotic gold and green, goes 15-30 down before coming back for a hold of his own.
Raducanu v Cornet will start a little late as the last match of the afternoon session on Louis Armstrong went long, so they need to switch the afternoon fans for the evening ones. We shouldn’t be too long though.
We’re still waiting for the players to come on court, but ESPN is showing a Dior advert starring Emma Raducanu. She’s not playing tennis in it, just selling some skin cream. Still, I’m sure she’ll be doing her day job soon enough.
Elsewhere, Rafa Nadal is warming up for his opener on Arthur Ashe. He’s playing Australia’s Rinky Hijikata as the Spaniard goes for his 23rd grand slam title.
New York humidity check: It was another filthy, humid day in New York City** but it’s starting to cool as the breeze picks up this evening. Your intrepid reporter visited several locations around the city this morning and can confirm today’s garbage aroma mainly smells of fish sauce. I’m not sure if there has actually been a large-scale spillage, or if the smell is just a result of garbage and today’s atmospheric conditions. Anyway, I’m sure the US Open has the resources to waft the smells out to the further reaches of Long Island.
** New York City is also a wonderful city to visit, with many cultural, artistic and culinary attractions. And nice smells on most days.
There’s been a fair amount of action already today, of course. In the men’s draw Raducanu’s fellow Brits, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans, eased through to the second round:
In the women’s tournament, Venus Williams remained tight-lipped on her future after her exit in the first-round. She has barely played in the last year due to injury and was beaten in straight sets on Tuesday by Alison van Uytvanck of Belgium. While her sister, Serena, has said she’s retiring Venus has yet to say anything definite on her future.
“Right now I’m just focused on the doubles,” she said after today’s defeat, referencing Thursday’s match, where she will play alongside her sister. There’s a possibility it could be the final professional match of both sisters’ glittering careers.
Profile: Alize Cornet
Cornet is about as tough a player as you’re going to find among the unseeded ranks in this year’s tournament. The 32-year-old is the world No 40, and is incredibly tough to break down, something that could cause Raducanu problems after she vowed to come out and attack at Flushing Meadows this year.
The Frenchwoman is in pretty good form this season: she’s beaten three women who have held the world No 1 ranking – Iga Swiatek, Simona Halep and Garbiñe Muguruza – in this year’s grand slams so far. Oh, and she’s durable: tonight will mark her 63rd consecutive grand slam appearance – an all-time record.
Good evening. Emma Raducanu gets her title defence underway this evening in Queens, and while she’s been given a prestigious evening slot she’s playing on the US Open’s No 2 court, Louis Armstrong Stadium. That’s because some guy called Rafael Nadal is on Arthur Ashe, which is maybe justified when you’ve won 22 grand slam singles title.
The 19-year-old Briton has had a mixed lead-up to the tournament. On the one hand, she has had recent encouraging victories over Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, on the other she has had a few minor injuries to deal with.
“I had a few small things, got a couple blisters, a bit of a niggle here and there,” said Raducanu on Friday after a tough practice session. “It’s just one of those weird days where you feel a bit like nothing … I don’t know. You just feel a bit out of it. Can’t really explain myself, to be honest. I’m sure everyone in this room has probably had a day like that. Yeah, it is what it is.”
