Fritz, Pegula and Navarro lead American charge into US Open third round
Taylor Fritz overcame a jittery start, Jessica Pegula extended her run of consistency and Emma Navarro continued to build on last year’s breakout season as all three Americans advanced to the third round of the US Open with convincing victories on Wednesday.On a breezy afternoon at Flushing Meadows, Fritz recovered from a sluggish opening set to defeat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4.The fourth seed, runner-up here last year, was forced to navigate a tricky test against the big-serving Harris, who has been rebuilding his career after injuries saw his ranking plummet outside the world’s top 300.Fritz dropped serve early and ceded the first set as Harris’s forehand found its range.But the American steadied behind his own delivery, pounding 17 aces in all, and dominated the second-set tiebreak to level the match.
From there he played with the authority expected of a top-five seed, breaking twice in the third set and riding the crowd’s energy in Louis Armstrong Stadium to finish off the win in just under three hours.“It’s always difficult when a guy like Lloyd comes out swinging freely,” Fritz said.“He was serving great and putting a lot of pressure on me early.I just had to hang tough, get through the breaker, and then I felt like I found my rhythm.”If Fritz was made to sweat, Pegula’s passage was more straightforward.
The world No 4, who reached her first grand slam final here a year ago, eased past Russia’s Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3 on the Grandstand court.Showing the patience and precision that have become her calling card, Pegula broke serve six times and struck 30 winners to close out the match in a scant 64 minutes.The 31-year-old is now the first American woman since Madison Keys to reach the third round in New York for six years running, underlining her reliability at the majors.She will next face two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka, who advanced with a win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.“I knew if Anna got into a groove she could be really dangerous,” Pegula said afterwards.
“I just wanted to take control right away, not let her dictate.I’m pleased with how I kept my foot on the gas.”Pegula, who has already collected tour-high 20 wins on US soil this season, admitted that the challenge of solving problems on court is what keeps her motivated deep into her career.“You’ve got to be fearless to play this sport, because one of you is going to lose out there in front of everyone.But when you work your way through and win, that feeling is pretty unmatched.
”The surge of homegrown players was further bolstered by Navarro, the 23-year-old who backed up her semi-final run here last year with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 dismissal of Caty McNally.Navarro, who strugged in Sunday’s first-round win over Wang Yafan, was ruthless in exploiting McNally’s inconsistency, converting seven of eight break points and sealing the victory in just over an hour.“It was definitely quicker than I expected, but not easy,” Navarro said.“I feel like there’s something special about being here: the energy, the crowd, it really pushes me.”Navarro’s next assignment is a daunting one: two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova, a player she beat earlier this summer at Wimbledon.
Should she advance again, a potential fourth-round clash with 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva looms, while a quarter-final date with close friend Pegula remains a possibility,The victories for Fritz, Pegula and Navarro ensured a buoyant day for American tennis, offsetting the disappointment No 30 seed Brandon Nakashima’s 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10) defeat to Switzerland’s Jerome Kym on Court 12,For now, the focus remained on the trio of US contenders who underlined their title credentials,“It’s a long road,” Fritz said, “but days like this, with the support and the atmosphere, it really feels like home,”
Cameron Norrie battles past Comesaña at US Open to set up Djokovic clash
Cameron Norrie continued his fine grand slam form by holding his nerve at the end of a bruising battle with Francisco Comesaña to win 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (0) 7-6 (4) and set up a third‑round match with Novak Djokovic.Norrie, who reached the fourth round of the French Open and quarter-finals at Wimbledon this year, had looked well on his way to victory as he established a two-set lead. However, as he edged close to winning, his nerves increasingly came to the surface.After establishing a 4-1 lead with a double break in the final set and then serving for the match at 5-4, Norrie found himself down set point at 5-6. As Comesaña lasered a backhand down the line, Norrie thought he had been forced to a fifth set and he began walking to his chair but the umpire confirmed the shot had landed out
US Open tennis 2025: injured Draper withdraws, Raducanu on day four – live
Righto, that’s us done for today. Join me again tomorrow at 4.30pm BST, for more ridiculous behaviour, but until then, peace out.Another nails serve and Norrie seals the win, at the end of a pulsating, wild and banging match. Next for him: Djokovic
Fritz, Pegula and Navarro lead American charge into US Open third round
Taylor Fritz overcame a jittery start, Jessica Pegula extended her run of consistency and Emma Navarro continued to build on last year’s breakout season as all three Americans advanced to the third round of the US Open with convincing victories on Wednesday.On a breezy afternoon at Flushing Meadows, Fritz recovered from a sluggish opening set to defeat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4. The fourth seed, runner-up here last year, was forced to navigate a tricky test against the big-serving Harris, who has been rebuilding his career after injuries saw his ranking plummet outside the world’s top 300.Fritz dropped serve early and ceded the first set as Harris’s forehand found its range. But the American steadied behind his own delivery, pounding 17 aces in all, and dominated the second-set tiebreak to level the match
Jack Draper pulls out of US Open before second round with arm injury
Jack Draper has been forced to withdraw before his second‑round match at the US Open because of issues with the arm injury that has disrupted his progress this summer.Draper, the fifth seed, had already missed seven weeks of competition because of bone stress and bone bruising on his left arm, and he had not competed since his second‑round defeat at Wimbledon last month.In a statement on social media, Draper wrote: “Hi guys, I’m sorry to say I’ll be withdrawing from the US Open. I tried my very best to be here and give myself every chance to play but the discomfort in my arm has become too much and I have to do what is right and look after myself. Thank you for all the support it means so much to me
NFL gives Chiefs’ Rice six-game ban for crash that left multiple people injured
Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has accepted a six-game NFL ban for his part in a high-speed crash that left a number of people injured.The 25-year-old pled guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and was required to pay $115,000 in medical costs to the injured parties. The incident took place on a Dallas highway in March 2024. Prosecutors say Rice was driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119mph when he made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and struck other vehicles
Emma Raducanu rapidly dispatches Janice Tjen in show of US Open force
On her return to Flushing Meadows this year, significant tension and nerves followed Emma Raducanu as she attempted to finally secure her first win since her triumph here four years ago. Two matches in, she has shown that she has never been more ready for the challenges to come.Raducanu continued to demonstrate the fruits of her recent labour by putting together another devastating performance, demolishing the qualifier Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1 to return to the third round of the US Open.The challenge for Raducanu on Wednesday was figuring out a talented but unheralded opponent whom few players in the tournament have had the opportunity to watch, let alone face in a match.Once again, the British No 1 showed that she is playing her best tennis since winning the title here in 2021 here and that confidence is growing with every victory
Some of us boomers would love to downsize – but where to? | Letters
Domestic violence screening tool should be replaced, Jess Phillips says
Ovarian cancer blood test can detect disease early, study suggests
UK to clarify definition of ‘honour’-based abuse in drive to cut violence against women and girls
UK mothers earn £302 a week less than fathers, analysis shows
Maroushka Monro obituary