NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina, Katie Boulter and Grigor Dimitrov powered into the US Open third round with a commanding wins over Jodie Burrage and Andy Murray.
Sabalenka, with her sights firmly set on a second Grand Slam title and the world number one ranking, defeated Britain’s Jodie Burrage 6-3 6-2.
The Australian Open champion converted three of her four break point opportunities and saved the two break points she faced during the 74-minute match in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Sabalenka, who can claim the top ranking for the first time if she advances one round further than Iga Swiatek in New York, used a steady stream of power from the backhand and forehand sides to overwhelm world number 96 Burrage.
The Belarusian second seed consolidated an early break for a 3-0 lead and while Burrage responded with holds to love on her next two service games Sabalenka leaned on her own serve to seal the opening set.
Sabalenka was barely tested in the second set where she hit a forehand winner to go up a double break before closing it out with a hold to love.
Elsewhere, British number one Boulter came from a set down to secure a place in the third round of the US Open for the first time.
The 27-year-old matched her run at Wimbledon this summer after a gutsy 5-7 6-1 6-4 victory over China’s in-form Wang Yafan.
Svitolina came from behind to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 5-7 6-4 6-4 in a high-quality match to reach the US Open third round.
Svitolina sent down her 10th ace on match point to end the nearly three-hour clash to the delight of the supportive crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Svitolina returned in April following the birth of her daughter with fellow tennis player Gael Monfils and said she drew inspiration from her husband, who was playing his second-round match at the same time.
Meanwhile, the British charge at the US Open will carry on without Murray as Bulgarian Dimitrov crushed the former champion 6-3 6-4 6-1 to reach the third round.
Murray, playing some of his best tennis in years recently, could not match Dimitrov’s firepower as he struck 16 winners compared to 32 from the 19th seed.
“I was expecting, honestly, five sets,” said Dimitrov, as he advanced the third round of the hardcourt major for the first time since 2019. “He’s a tremendous competitor… I’m very happy with the fight.”
Murray, 36, made a slow start as Dimitrov broke him to love in the second game but showed resolve when he broke back at the third attempt in an epic 16-minute game.
Dimitrov, however, broke Murray to love in the eighth game and again with a well-placed forehand winner in the opening game of the second set.
Murray, U.S. Open champion in 2012, looked lively in the early stages as he zipped around the court but lost all his energy in the final set.
Up a break, Dimitrov saved two break points in the fourth game before converting another chance in the fifth.
A match that had once appeared on track to become a five-set thriller ended tamely as the Bulgarian broke again to close on victory, which he secured when his opponent double faulted.
Dominant Jack Draper upset 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2 6-4 7-5 and Katie Boulter bounced back to beat Chinese qualifier Yafan Wang 5-7 6-1 6-4.
Draper dropped down the rankings this year compared to 2022 but said he is playing a more “complete” tennis and was grateful to be at Flushing Meadows after he retired from the Winston-Salem tune-up event due to injury.
“There was maybe a 70/30 chance that I wouldn’t play this week. So very, very happy with the fact that I have been able to get out there and play,” he told reporters.
“It’s weird how sort of this sport works. Sometimes you can be at your lowest point and then all of a sudden, you get on a bit of form and you’re playing great and body feels good.”
Meanwhile, big-serving John Isner bid farewell to his professional singles career after losing 3-6 4-6 7-6(3) 6-4 7-6(7) to fellow American Michael Mmoh in the US Open second round.
Isner added 48 more aces to his record tally, starting strongly to win the first two sets before the physical nature of the contest took its toll on the towering 38-year-old.
Mmoh, 25, grew in confidence after winning the third set tiebreak and rode an early break in the fourth set to force a decider.
Isner had match point at 5-4 in the fifth but Mmoh was able to serve his way out of trouble and levelled with a drop shot.
Fittingly for Isner, who was involved in the longest professional match ever, his final set came down to a tiebreak and a stick volley at the net gave him a 4-2 lead that brought the crowd to their feet.
Mmoh refused to back down, however, completing the comeback when Isner’s shoestring volley landed in the net.
“Yeah, it’s tough. I like to think I work as hard as I can,” an emotional Isner said during an on-court interview before his voice trailed off with emotion.
“This is why I worked as hard as I have my whole life to play in atmospheres like this and of course I may not win them all as we know, just like today,” he added.
“But to play in front of this crowd and have the support I had is pretty special so thank you.”
Isner turned pro in 2007 and reached a career high of world number eight. He won 16 singles titles, the biggest being the Miami Open crown in 2018, his most successful season.
He won the longest professional tennis match in history against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and took place over three days.
The All-England Club was also the site of his best result at a Grand Slam tournament, reaching the semi-finals in 2018. He twice made the US Open quarters, in 2011 and 2018.
Isner is still in action in doubles at the US Open with fellow American Jack Sock, who has also said he will retire after the tournament.
