The action continued on Day 4 of the women’s singles at the US Open. Two-time winner at Flushing Meadows Naomi Osaka, French Open champion Iga Swiatek, and teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva were among the players to take to the court. Unfortunately, Elena Rybakina did not feature after withdrawing from the tournament before her scheduled match against Jessika Ponchet. There were some shock results on the best day of the women’s singles so far. This article overviews who looked good, which players struggled, and picks the best match of the day.
US Open Day 4 Women’s Recap
Who Looked Good
Naomi Osaka is out of the US Open after losing a blockbuster matchup against last year’s French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova. It was a high-quality contest, but the four-time Grand Slam champion blew a 5-4 40-0 lead in the second set to lose 6-3 7-6. Muchova, who hit a fantastic shot in the first round against Katie Volynets, produced more stunning tennis on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Iga Swiatek never came close to being upset on Day 4. She thrashed Ena Shibahara 6-0 6-1, not facing a break point during the match. The Pole was below her best in the opening round against Kamilla Rakhimova, but this performance sent a message to the rest of the draw.
The recent National Bank Open champion, Jessica Pegula, beat a fellow American for the second round in a row. 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin competed well in the first set, but her level dropped after losing it on a tiebreak. That allowed Pegula to claim a 7-6 6-3 victory.
Anna Kalinskaya was clinical against Anna Bondar on Court 5 at the US Open. She took four of her five break point opportunities in her 6-2 6-4 triumph. Kalinsakaya was not seen as one of the favorites before the tournament, but she could have a deep run if her powerful game clicks.
The 2018 Australian Open winner, Caroline Wozniacki, was solid against Renata Zarazua. Her Mexican opponent extended the rallies during a tough physical battle, meaning Wozniacki was undoubtedly happy to save some energy by avoiding a third set in her 6-3 6-3 win.
Who Looked Bad
Mirra Andreeva suffered an extremely disappointing 1-6 4-6 defeat to Ashlyn Krueger. The 17-year-old had significant problems on her second serve throughout the match, winning just 9% of points off it. However, no aspect of her game worked well, and she will try to learn from the heavy loss.
Caroline Dolehide was also shocked on Day 4. She ended Danielle Collins’ Grand Slam career in the last round and was the favorite against 37-year-old Sara Errani. But Dolehide was erratic throughout the match and paid for it by being beaten 5-7 5-7.
Match of the Day
The best women’s match on Day 4 of the US Open was Liudmila Samsonova’s recovery from the brink of defeat against Marie Bouzkova. Bouzkova broke her opponent’s serve in the fifth and ninth games of the opening set to take it 6-3. The Czech then looked to be on the brink of victory after taking a 5-2 lead in the second set. But Samsonova’s level suddenly improved, and she recovered to win the set on a tiebreak. Bouzkova did not do much wrong; Samsonova played excellent tennis to stage a comeback.
The No. 16 seed seemed to be in trouble again when Bouzkova broke to go 3-2 up. However, Samsonova stormed through the next four games to seal an outstanding 3-6 7-6 6-3 win after close to three hours on the court.
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
