Three YONEX players were able to complete their matches although the schedule was altered due to rain delays on Day 3 of the US Open.Stanislas Wawrinka (VCORE Tour 97), Lleyton Hewitt (VCORE Tour 97) andZheng Jie (EZONE Xi 98, PTGSPN) braved the poor weather to advance to the next round.
The No. 9 seed, Stan, faced Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in his opening round match. After winning a close first set at 7-6(2), Stan moved up a gear for a straight sets victory, taking the next two sets 6-3, 6-2, and firing off 28 winners in the process.
Lleyton, another VCORE Tour user, exhibited tremendous fighting spirit to overcome the local American player, Brian Baker, by 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
China’s Zheng Jie, who claimed the doubles title at the New Haven Open at Yale last week, faced the 2000 and 2001 US Open singles champion, Venus Williams, in the second round. Jie mounted a great defence to prevent her opponent from gaining any break points to secure the first set at 6-3 with all her service games intact. The second went to a resurgent Venus, but Jie fought spiritedly to overcome a tough rival. After a ninety-minute decider, she accomplished a thrilling win against the former world No. 1 American with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) score line.
According to the revised schedule of play, Angelique Kerber (VCORE Xi 100) and Sabine Lisicki (VCORE Tour 97, PTGSPN) are to play their second round matches on Thursday.
Tournament Results [Day 3]
Men’s Singles [1st Round]
[9]Stanislas Wawrinka (VCORE Tour 97)(SUI) def. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-2
Lleyton Hewitt (VCORE Tour 97)(AUS) def. Brian Baker (USA) 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Go Soeda (VCORE Xi 98, PTGSPN)(JPN) 6-4 6-3 6-1
Women’s Singles [2nd Round]
Zheng Jie (EZONE Xi 98, PTGSPN)(CHN) def. Venus Williams (USA) 6-3 2-6 7-6(5)
[18]Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) def. Coco Vandeweghe (EZONE Xi 98)(USA) 6-3 6-4
[8]Angelique Kerber (VCORE Xi 100)(GER) vs. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) Canceled
[16]Sabine Lisicki (VCORE Tour 97, PTGSPN)(GER) vs. Paula Ormaechea (ARG) Canceled
Women’s Doubles [1st Round]
Martina Hingis (SUI) / Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs. [1]Sara Errani (ITA) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) Canceled
*Players’ pictures were taken at the US Open 2012.