what to remember from the night at the US Open

The performance

Signed by Alizé Cornet. A few hours after Clara Burel’s victory against Elena Rybakina (Wimbledon winner), Alizé Cornet eliminated Emma Raducanu in the first round of the US Open and offered French tennis a fine performance. Lobs (during the 1st set), amortizations (in the 2nd), Alizé Cornet, deploying his usual energy, put an end 6-3, 6-3 in 1h42 to the fairy tale of the Briton Emma Raducanu At New York. The Niçoise (quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, 8th finalist at Wimbledon this season after beating the Polish Iga Swiatek to end her crazy series of 37 victorious matches) is living, at 32, her 63rd tournament of the Grand Slam (record, ahead of Ai Sugiyama, 62) and benefiting from late harvests. 22 winning points, 14 points out of 16 scored in the net, the Frenchwoman (40th in the world) eliminated the one who had illuminated the tournament last year when, after qualifying, the Briton had overcome all the obstacles to go and lift the trophy. The Frenchwoman, on the court, summed up: “ I’m sorry, I know you love Emma… I put my heart into it, the atmosphere (of the Louis-Armstrong court) was great and I’m very happy to have won. I had a little slack at the start of the 2nd set, I’m tired but happy. I varied a lot, it worked very well and I have to keep the cushioning in my game. And I think I manage my emotions better, I’m getting old… When it’s time to serve for the match, I manages to stay in the game. I’m 32, better late than never. “In the 2nd round, Alizé Cornet has an appointment with the Czech Katerina Siniakova (83rd in the world). Since her title in New York, Raducanu (11th in the world) has only won 15 of the 34 matches she has played. The Briton becomes the first reigning US Open champion to lose in the first round since Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2005 and Germany’s Angelique Kerber in 2017. She will drop in the WTA rankings and leave the Top 75.

The statement

“ I’m starting from zero », Signed Emma Raducanu
A cap planted on her head to hide a misty look, Emma Raducanu, after her defeat against Alizé Cornet, confided in a press conference: “ This defeat hurts because it is my favorite tournament and I experienced immense emotions there last year. I’m starting from zero and I have to start over. I don’t know how many places I’m going to lose, what my new ranking will be…probably quite low. But let’s put things in perspective: being Top 100 at 19, if someone had told me last year, I would have signed. It’s going to be nice to start all over again, to find some freshness. Somehow the target will be a little less on my back. »

Point

Listed by Rafael Nadal on the 5^e match point that allows the Spaniard to overcome the pitfall of 1^er round against an unknown young Australian Rinky Hijikata (19; 198^e worldwide), inspired, eye-catching which bent without breaking and had to be used. Taken by the throat by the young Australian Rinky Hijikata (19 years old; 198^e world), the Spaniard (seeded n°2) gave up the 1^er set, before gaining momentum, tightening the game and proving, once again, his ability to negotiate the important points well (5 break points converted out of 10), as when he, with authority, dismissed three balls break that would have allowed the Australian to equalize at 4-4 in the 4^e set. The Spaniard did not seem to suffer physically to complete victoriously 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 in 3h7 his 1^er round. Nadal, who returns to the US Open for the first time since 2019, underlined on the court: “ The important thing was to survive. You have to stay positive, keep the right attitude, go back to training. I enjoy being here. He punctuated his 1^er turn with a spectacular match point punctuated by a splendid forehand passing shot fired with force and precision at the end of the race. Sound 20^e success this season in Grand Slam (injured, he was forced to forfeit before his semi-final against Nick Kyrgios).

The flop: Sofia Kenin

The American (265^e worldwide; 23), the 2020 Australian Open champion (the last American to be crowned a Grand Slam), was eliminated in straight sets by Germany’s Jule Niemeier, Wimbledon quarter-finalist, who won 7-6 (7/3) 6-4. Since her Grand Slam title, the American has not crossed the gates of the round of 16 at major tournaments. And she stays on two eliminations at 1^er round…

The end point: Sam Querrey

The American (34; 287^e worldwide), which was 11^e World Cup in 2018 ended his career after a final appearance at the US Open. He lost 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 against Belarusian Ilya Ivashka. Among the most significant moments of the American’s career (10 titles) remains a remarkable victory against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2016, a tournament in which he reached the semi-finals in 2017.

Crazy Italian chases

Lorenzo Musetti (seeded n°26) is, at the end of the suspense, overcoming David Goffin. They trailed 5-2 in the deciding set, then 4-1 and 7-4 in the tie-break. Before eventually winning 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11/9). His compatriot Jannik Sinner also emerged victorious in a fierce showdown against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Like Fabio Fognini, winner 1-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 of Russian Aslan Karatsev.

The number : 4

The cruel one of Jack Sock’s abandonment at the US Open. The American had started his match against Diego Schwartzman. He was leading 6-3, 7-5, before suffering back pain, losing 3^e set 6-0 and to be trailing 1-0 in the 4^e set, and having to throw in the towel. Cut in its tracks. Last year, at the 3^e round in New York, the American had taken 2 sets from Alexander Zverev, before being forced to retire. Gifted but fragile, he who had been forced to retire in New York in 2014 and 2015…

The model : Jimmy Connors for Danielle Collins

There was commitment, power, the will not to give ground, it was Danielle Collins (seeded n°19) who had the last word 7-6, 6-3 against the Japanese Naomi Osaka, double winner in New York. On the court, the finalist of the last Australian Open said that her backhand (her favorite shot) and her fighting spirit were due to the adoration that her father had for Jimmy Connors: “ Jimmy Connors was my father’s favorite player, I was inspired a bit by that. I am also a competitor, I hate to lose. I try to give everything. »