By Amy Tennery
NEW YORK, Sept 3 – Two-time champion Naomi Osaka overcame mid-match mistakes to progress while Madison Keys saved five match points to keep her campaign alive in the U.S.
“I just told myself that it’s an honour to play on this court,” Osaka told the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I just want to keep playing in front of you guys if possible.” Open second round on Thursday, as fans eagerly awaited Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev in the late programme.
Frenchman Gael Monfils will hope to make magic again in his farewell season when he faces 14th-seeded American Learner Tien in the first night match at Armstrong before second seed Elena Rybakina plays Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, a semi-finalist last year, took the first set but was then swept away in a 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-2 defeat by Russian Karen Khachanov, becoming the highest-seeded man to exit the tournament so far.
The 28-year-old Japanese player’s match was not the only nail-biter across the sprawling Flushing plaza, as American Keys mounted an epic comeback against Hungarian Anna Bondar to win 5-7 6-4 7-6 to delight the home fans on the outer courts. The 2017 finalist sent over a remarkable 34 forehand winners to get the job done and gave all credit to her adoring fans after forcing Bondar into an error at the net on match point. Keys, 31, told the crowd after the win.
“That was something, huh?
“No stress though – we all knew I had it, right?”
