Key events
Ben Shelton gets big applause from the crowd when he says Ashe is the best court at the best tournament in tennis. It’s a nice line but let’s be real, I’ve been to Queens and SW19 it is not. Nice of him to salute his girlfriend, USWNT star Trinity Rodman, who he says flew in on a red-eye to watch him. They have all the makings of an US sports power couple.
Shelton beats Buse 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
The American wastes little time closing this out on his own serve. Credit to Buse, who scrapped for every point until the last, but as he dumps a forehand into the net that is it.
Up next on Ashe is Aryana Sabalenka. She is sporting an incredible silver jacket that looks very 2001: A Space Odyssey or like something you’d be given after finishing a marathon. I dig it.
On Louis Armstrong, Fritz has broken Nava in the second set. He leads 4-1.
Buse serves up a double fault at the worst time, which gives Shelton two match points. He saves both of them, the second with an excellent swinging serve away from his opponent’s backhand. Shelton is swinging hard though and just when it looks like Buse has saved his hold the American fires an outrageous, piercing forehand to get us back deuce. Admirable stuff from Buse as he faces down another match point before eventually going on to hold. Shelton leads 5-4.
In the all-American battle on Louis Armstrong, we are on serve in the second with Fritz leading Nava 2-1.
Shelton smacks his way to another hold. Buse has to hold but he’s now veyr much staring at the end of his tournament. Shelton leads 5-3 in the third set.
Hello all, it’s trending up for the ole U-S-A. With Fritz taking the first set Shelton has roared out to a 4-2 lead in the third. Buse holds this time, but he is a break and two sets down.
Time for me to nab a break, with Tom Bassam filling in.
Nava has Fritz chasing corners before a delicate backhand at the net gives the server the opening point of the game. Nava gives Fritz’s backhand defence a proper test to win the point and make it 30-all, and the 23-year-old is up to the net again to make it 40-30. But Fritz times his moment, getting himself to deuce and then set point, and Nava delivers a backhand way off the mark. Fritz takes the first set 7-5.
Things are getting interesting with Taylor Fritz and Emilio Nava, the all-American contest – they’re 5-5 in the first set. Fritz, runner-up here last year and searching for that first slam, finds himself 40-30 up after a 130mph serve. Nava responds with a whippy forehand winner while hopping backwards on the baseline. Fritz bounces back with an ace and holds on. It’s a tight one, this. Fritz leads 6-5 in the first set.
Back to Shelton v Buse, who took the first game of the third set. Shelton holds his serve, too. He has 27 winners compared to Buse’s 10, his strength guiding him as he leads 6-3, 6-2, 1-1.
Sky are saying that was Emma Raducanu’s fastest win at a grand slam (1 hour and two minutes). Neat. Jakub Mensik, the 16th seed in the men’s singles, has beaten Nicolas Jarry in straight sets. Tereza Valentova, an 18-year-old qualifier in the women’s singles, was pretty emotional after getting past Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Shelton’s rocket first serve forces Buse to stand behind the baseline in another postcode. The left-hander gets himself to set point and needs just one shot at it, his second serve down the middle still too hot for Buse. Shelton leads 6-3, 6-2.
Shelton has a chance to break but Buse delivers a gorgeous backhand half-volley to keep himself in the game. The sixth seed hits a delicious forehand around the net to take advantage after five deuces, and he finally breaks after the sixth, a forehand winner extending Shelton’s lead to 6-3, 5-2. He’ll serve for the second set.
Shelton leaps high to smash away – he’s won 16 of 18 net points. Then comes his work from deep, a forehand leaving Buse wrong-footed behind the baseline before Shelton makes it 6-3, 4-2.
Shelton breaks, helped by a Buse double fault. He now leads 6-3, 3-2, while Taylor Fritz has begun his tournament at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. The fourth seed is up against Emilio Nava.
Shelton extends his lead to 6-3, 2-2. In the women’s singles there’s American joy in the form of the 32nd seed, McCartney Kessler, who has beaten Magda Linette 7-5, 7-5.
Shelton, from way behind the baseline, runs around the backhand to whip a delicious forehand winner. But Buse has got some ticker and holds his serve. Shelton leads 6-3, 1-2.
Shelton heads to deuce on his serve and takes advantage after Buse goes long with a forehand. It’s Shelton who has compiled more unforced errors though, and he adds another with his backhand to take it to deuce. Shelton still manages to hold and leads 6-3, 1-1.
Buse holds his serve, with Shelton leading 6-3, 0-1. Elsewhere, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 18th seed, is through to the second round after beating Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
Shelton slides to close the rally with a backhand volley, making it 15-all. But Buse’s back, baby, nabbing himself two break points. Shelton’s southpaw power gets him out of trouble, a whopping forehand and serve taking him to deuce. He nets and Buse has another chance to break … but Shelton clocks an ace at 132mph. Shelton takes himself to set point and doesn’t let go, Buse going wide with a backhand. The American takes the first set 6-3.
Buse has matched Shelton’s efforts but the latter has two break points after the Peruvian sends a forehand wild. Then comes the double fault, Buse suddenly losing control of his first serve which, um, had served him well to this point. Shelton is up 5-3, serving for the first set.
Shelton’s wicked serve brings him an ace to go 30-15 up and he takes the game with a backhand volley. He leads 4-3 in the first set.
This is the first time Buse has made it into the main draw at a grand slam and he holds his serve after Shelton goes a touch too wild with a backhand. It’s 3-3 in the first set.
Let’s head to Ben Shelton’s contest with Ignacio Buse. Shelton is the sixth seed, 22 years young and an American hope. He’s got form, too, having won the Canadian Open this month. He’s 3-2 up against Buse, with the Peruvian to serve.
Raducanu speaks: “Playing Ena, she’s really tricky, she hit so many balls on the baseline that I was not expecting to just dip. She obviously came through qualifying and you feel like you have a bit of an advantage, you’re playing on the surface and know what it feels like so I’m just very pleased with how I managed myself, managed my game through that match.”
Emma Raducanu beats Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2
Raducanu goes up 40-0 after dominating from the baseline, and Shibahara sends a forehand wide to end the contest. She’s into the second round for the first time since her 2021 triumph with a dominant display.
Shibahara is growing into the contest … but it’s probably too late. She’s looked more comfortable when advancing to the net and goes up 40-15 … before double-faulting. A fine serve down the middle gives Shibahara the game. Raducanu leads 6-1, 5-2.
Raducanu goes wide with a forehand to begin the game and Shibahara pumps her fist … but her frustration returns when she goes long to make it 15-all. But Shibahara is fighting, and a backhand volley bring her a chance to break … Raducanu has no time for a comeback. She holds to go up 6-1, 5-1.
Over on Arthur Ashe, Ben Shelton is getting ready to start against Ignasio Buse.
Shibahara finally has some joy, going 40-0 up as she hold her nerve at the net, and a forehand winner brings further respite. Raducanu leads 6-1, 4-1.
An ace completes another dominant game from Raducanu, extending her lead to 6-1, 4-0.
The unforced errors continue from Shibahara and Raducanu has two break points. She’s ready to attack the second serve and dictate play; Shibahara nets and Raducanu is up 6-1, 3-0, the march continuing.
Raducanu’s clearly got afternoon plans. She races through on her serve, leading 6-1, 2-0.
Elsewhere, in the men’s singles, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 18th seed, is cruising against Alexander Shevchenko. He took the first set 6-1 and is serving in the second, 2-0 up. Raducanu has two break points to start the second set but Shibahara resists, dragging the game into deuce. Shibahara’s forehand down the middle thunders into the net … but she keeps herself going with a whippy backhand. Deuce again. Raducanu capitalises on her opponent’s errors, taking the break. She leads 6-1, 1-0.
Raducanu gets to set point after Shibahara loses all power with her forehand. The former gets up to the net to smash and finish. Raducanu wins the first set 6-1 inside half an hour, no dramas.
Shibahara’s double fault allows Raducanu to make it 15-all, and a forehand into the net gives Raducanu the next point. But Shibahara is finally on the board, a forehand down the line providing her some relief. Raducanu leads 5-1.
Shibahara finds the net while trying to return a backhand slice and goes long moments later, allowing Raducanu to go 5-0 up.
Well, that was rapid. Raducanu breaks once again with little to no discomfort, Shibahara netting while down 15-40. The British No 1 seems to have too much power for her opponent at the moment. Raducanu leads 4-0.
Shibahara finally gets a go at Raducanu’s second serve and wallops a deep forehand to make it 15-30. The former takes the game to deuce after finding some confidence with her forehand … well, just as I type that, she sends one way out of bounds. Raducanu holds to go 3-0 up.
Shibahara’s first point of the match is set up by a tidy drop shot. She double-faults to make it 30-30, and does so again – a chance for Raducanu to break. Shibahara finds the net with a forehand and Raducanu goes 2-0 up.
And we’re finally up and running, with Raducanu to serve. An ace is her first act of the tournament, and she’s rapid in going to 40-0, that first serve looking in good order. She’s up to the net as Shibahara is quickly overpowered. Raducanu leads 1-0 in the first set.
Raducanu has played Shibahara before, beating her 6-1, 6-4 in Nottingham last year. Shibahara is best known for her work in doubles, having won the mixed event at the 2022 French Open. She did reach the second round of the singles here last year.
If you fancy indulging in some nostalgia.
Quick: tuck into Tumaini Carayol’s preview. Swiatek and Sinner lead the pack.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the last slam of the season. We’ve had the flashier version of mixed doubles; now to the solo show, with the tournament enjoying its first Sunday start.
Ben Shelton, Aryna Sabalenka and Taylor Fritz are among the big names ready to get going in the next few hours, but our early focus will be on the 2021 champion Emma Raducanu. She hasn’t won a match at Flushing Meadows since that life-changing triumph but is carrying some good vibes into this year’s draw; the world No 36 pushed Sabalenka all the way to a third-set tiebreak in Cincinnati this month. She faces Japan’s Ena Shibahara at the Louis Armstrong Stadium at 4pm BST/11am local time.
I’ll try keep my eye on everything, of course, but drop me a line with the things I’ll inevitably miss. Share your thoughts, hopes, fears, dreams, whatever compels you. Here’s to a fun couple of weeks.
