New York | At night, Muchova downs Osaka, and Wozniacki advances

In the US Open night session on Thursday, Karolina Muchova ended Naomi Osaka’s hopes of a deep run in the 2nd round, while another former World No 1, Caroline Wozniacki, was a straight sets winner over Renata Zarazua.

Honestly, this year, the biggest win for me is that I could play again. This is just a cherry on top, to be here again, in this stadium. Karolina Muchova

On Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of a big crowd, Muchova, ranked 52, saw off Osaka the current World No 88, in 2 sets, 6-3 7-6(5), in an enthralling encounter because it pitched a talented Czech against a 4-time Grand Slam champion.

Wild-carded into the draw, Osaka is a former World No 1, who is finding her footing after having a baby, while Muchova also is on the come-back trail after wrist surgery.

Last year, the Czech was the semi-finalist who lost to Coco Gauff after a run that result helped boost her to a career-high ranking of No 8, but she also sustained the wrist injury that kept her on the sidelines until May of this year.

Osaka was at home, watching from afar: “I was in the audience, and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play again at this level.”

Watching Gauff lift her first Grand Slam title, Osaka knew that feeling well as she had won the US Open singles championship twice, in 2018 and 2020, as well two Australian Open titles in 2019 and 2021, and it re-kindled her competitive spirit.

Aged 26 and playing for Japan, she stepped onto Ashe on Thursday night bedecked in white bows over a black fluffy dress, and opened the match with her characteristic form, holding serve easily.

Osaka and Muchova had split their two previous meetings, but this was their first match on a hard court in over 4 years, and the Japanese earned the first break point of the match at 2-1, only to put a tight inside-out forehand into the net.

She earned a small chance to break in Muchova’s next service game, building a 0-30 lead, but the Czech bravely slammed the door with 4 straight un-returnable serves, including 2 aces and held to 3-3.

Having dodged Osaka’s early advances, Muchova dialled in, charging into the net after an aggressive return and stuck the volley to get to 30-30 on Osaka’s serve.

She earned her first break point on a stunning drop-shot that froze Osaka on the baseline, and then converted on a netted backhand from the former No 1 to lead 4-3.

The reversal was swift and stunning from the Czech, who finished the set with 12 winners to just 4 unforced errors, and while Osaka also struck just 4 miscues, Muchova successfully held her to only 5 winners.

“I was just really trying to be focused,” Muchova said. “I know she’s an amazing player, and that I have to bring the A-game to have a chance. So I was just trying to be really focused on myself.

“I knew I have to serve good because her serve is really good. So I was just trying to be, kind of, locked in myself, and focused out there.

“Then the energy and the big court and all that, it for sure helps me. I like that.”

© Luke Hales/Getty Images

Muchova continued her momentum and came within a point from running off 6 consecutive games, but Osaka steeled herself to hold for 1-1, and slowly worked her way back into the match.

At 4-4, Osaka broke to earn a chance to take the match into a decider, but squandered a 40-0 lead in an error-strewn game to hand back her advantage.

In the tiebreak, Muchova surged ahead to earn 2 match points and Osaka nearly saved them both, but, in the face of the Czech’s scrambling defence, she sprayed a forehand drive wide to end the match.

“I think during the pressure moments I got nervous,” Osaka said. “And I don’t know if I just have to keep playing more matches and get used to that feeling, especially on a really big stage.

“Honestly, if I get past the disappointment, I feel pretty proud of myself to have gotten that many opportunities while still feeling like I could have played much better.”

This year’s main draw started with 7 Czech singles players, and now Muchova is the last one standing.

Her next opponent is Anastasia Potapova, ranked 38, who defeated 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez in her opener, and followed it up with a 6-3 6-4 over American Varvara Lepchenko.

“Honestly, this year, the biggest win for me is that I could play again,” Muchova said. “This is just a cherry on top, to be here again, in this stadium.”

Caroline Wozniacki defeated Renata Zarazua to reach the 3rd-round of the US Open late on Thursday night

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In the last night match on Louis Armstrong Stadium,  Caroline Wozniacki overcame a tough challenge against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua to advance to round 3 after a hard-fought 6-3 6-3 win.

The Danish former World No 1 scored a key service break in the 8th game of the first set to take a 5-3 lead, and then served out the set as she hit a crosscourt backhand volley winner on set point.

Zarazua began to find the range on her shots in the second set as she traded groundstrokes with Wozniacki and extended the baseline rallies.

After falling behind 3-1, Zarazua rallied to even the set at 3-3, before Wozniacki gained the upper hand again and finished the match in an-hour and 49 minutes.

“I love playing out here in night sessions on the biggest courts. That’s what we train for every single day,” Wozniacki said.“I love the atmosphere here, the buzz of the city, and I love that people stay out late. I love that it’s the biggest venue in tennis. It’s a big party every year and only getting bigger.”

One of the keys to the victory for Wozniacki was her ability to outlast Zarazua during the long baseline rallies.

The 5th game of the second set lasted almost 15 minutes, and featured 4 exchanges of 20-plus balls, and, at the last, it was Wozniacki’s consistency and experience that made the difference.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though, as early in the second set, the Dane received treatment during a changeover for a back ailment.

“My back is a little sore, but it’s worse when I serve,” Wozniacki said after she played through the discomfort to finish the match. “I could still move pretty well. I’m just hoping to get some treatment and have a day off tomorrow.”

The two-time US Open finalist advances to round 3, where she will play qualifier Jessika Ponchet of France in their first head-to-head match, who advanced when her opponent, No 4 seed Elena Rybakina, withdrew with an injury.