Key events
Draper makes 30-15, then cunningly guides a forehand line with Alcaraz expecting him to go cross, but a netted forehand then makes things tight. And have a look! Alcaraz has been quiet so far, but fine work at the net earns deuce … then he ruins it by putting too much gas on a forehand. The first set goes to Pegula/Draper 4-2 and, while that’s going on, Anisimova/Rune break Townsend/Shelton at the first time of asking in the second to trail 2-4 1-0.
And they only need two, Rune volleying long – his hands aren’t as hard as Khachanov’s but you’d never call them soft – so the Americans lead by a set to love.
Alcaraz holds in short order, so Draper must indeed serve for 1-0, while Townsend/Shelton hold three break and therefore set points over Anisimova/Rune.
Very quickly, it’s 2-2 on Armstrong, Rune then finishing a terrific net-exchange for 0-15, as Pegula swats a backhand wide for 30-all and pressure. But then Alcaraz nets a volley he shouldn’t and clouts a forehand wide, meaning a 1-3 first-set deficit; if he holds, Draper will have a chance to serve for it. And on Armstrong, Shelton holds for 3-2.
Anisimova/Rune break back immediately to trail Townsend/Shelton 1-2, while Raducanu holds to keep her and Alcaraz in set one – but they’ll need to break Pegula next up to have a realistic chance of saving the st.
Quickly, though, a double makes 0-30; Townsend retrieves for 30-all whole Draper holds to give him and Pegula a 2-0 lead over Raducanu/Alcaraz.
Back on Armstrong, Shelton is dominating, rousting a forehand from the back that makes 15-40, and when Rune then goes long, the American pair lead 2-0. The set feels done and if Townsend holds next up, it will be as good as.
Pegula/Draper race to 0-40, which in this format means four break points. But they only need two, Draper hooking a forehand winner to secure an advantage that, in this format, could well prove decisive in the set.
Both matches are under way, Shelton holding in rapid time while Pegula/Draper make 0-30 on the Alcaraz serve.
What on earth is going on with Jack Draper’s shorts? I’ll try and find a pic in the fullness of time, but he seems to be keeping spare balls in front pockets?
Oh, and our teams are out on Ashe now, too. This match should be an absolute jazzer and I’m really excited to see how a rested Draper and in-form Raducanu pull up.
We’re about to start knocking up on Armstrong. Townsend/Shelton have the better doubles pedigree and i’d expect them to take care of Anisimova/Rune.
It’s not clear when we’ll get going again, but it should be soon, as the earliest time the second set of matches could start on Armstrong was 6.30pm BST and it’s now 7.45.
Errani is delighted she has the opportunity to play more tennis; at 38, I’m not surprised. Vavassori says sticking together is their strength, and their opponents were playing really well, so it was tough.
Otherwise, they’ll be focused tomorrow, and they’re doing it for the specialists.
Next on Armstrong: Townsend/Shelton v Anisimova/Rune (4).
It is, though, good to see Muchova, who’s had terrible trouble with a wrist injury, enjoying her tennis. She’s a fantastic player and I can’t wait to see how she does in the singles.
Errani/Vavassori beat Muchova/Rublev 4-1 5-4
And are head to head once again. Vavassori was sensational there, and the champs will take some stopping.
Errani/Vavassori have turned the breaker around and now have match point…
Next on Ashe: Pegula/Draoer (1) v Raducanu/Alcaraz.
Swiatek/Ruud (3) beat McNally/Musetti 4-1 4-2
They’ve been extremely impressive and are into the last four. It might take Errani/Vavassori to beat them, if anyone can beat them.
Amazing behaviour from Vavassori, who somehow leaps and contorts to deflect back a volley, then hits two more and regains the break at 3-4. That is doubles and Rublev knows it, offering a hug at the net.
Muchova/Rublev rush to a 4-1 lead; looking to serve out the match, Ruud is down 15-30, but an errant return levels the game, leaving he and Swiatek two points from the semis.
While all that was going on, Swiatek/Ruud raised two break points at 4-1 2-2; the first is saved … and the second, McNally with the leaping overhead. But at deuce, there’s still another go, and Ruud hooks a forehand into the corner for a winner that means his team are a hold away form the last four. On Armstrong, we’re playing a second-set breaker.
…and it’s another belter, Muchova and Rublev all over the place and crossing, yet somehow find a way to stop in the point before winning it for the hold when Vaavassori nets. And what a celebration they enjoy; great stuff. They trail by a set to love but lead 4-3, Errani now serving to keep her team in the set.
Now then: Errani/Vavassori win a wicked rat-a-tat-tat rally at net, make 30-all on the Muchova serve, then win another sharp exchange when Vavassori is too strong at net for deuce. Huge point coming up…
Swiatek, who only arrived in New York at 12.50 this morning after winning Cincy, opens shoulders to unleash an inside-out backhand winner with both she and Ruud pinned back on the baseline. A proper dubs team don’t let them off the hook there, but at 40-30, Switek nets from close to it; that’s a missed opportunity, and McNally/Musetti trail 1-4 2-1.
It’s now 2-2 in set two on Armstrong, and worth noting that we’ve not had a deciding set so far today. Rublev and Muchova, though, are doing their best to maker that happen, while Ruud holds for 4-1 1-1, he and Swiatek once again the dominant pair. I’m not sure what McNally/Musetti have for them.
…and Musetti takes it. He and McNally trail by a set to love but lead 1-0 in the second.
From 30-all, Muchova does superbly to hold, a forehand winner then a service winner securing a 2-1 lead in set two. Meanwhile, on Ashe, Swiatek/Ruud have 30-40 on the Musetti serve; the Norwegian nets a forehand when well in the rally, but here comes the deciding point…
A hold apiece opens set two on Armstrong, where Errani/Vavassori lead 1-0 1-1. It’s hard to see how they lose from here.
And now it’s Swiatek with the crucial intervention, leaning across to whack a volley at McNally with Ruud serving at 30-all; from there, they close out to take the first set. Of the new teams, so far theirs looks the best.
Swiatek/Ruud earn break point at 30-40 whereupon the Norwegian then takes over, a fine return backed up with a booming forehand; he’ll now serve for the first set at 3-1.
Vavassori serves out, so he and Errani lead Muchova/Rublev by a set to love. They look pretty good.
Back on Ashe, at deuce, a chance for McNally/Musetti … but the former returns long and the chance is gone, Swiatek/Ruud leading 2-1.
Vavassori is dynamite at the net and he stretches across it to stick away a volley for 15-30 and it’s quickly 15-40; Muchova, serving, then whips her +1 down the line and wide, meaning the champs lead 3-1. Vavassori will now serve for the first set, a pretty smart turnaround given he was broken in its first game.
Swiatek/Ruud and McNally/Musetti both hold so we’re at 1-1, while Errani does likewise for 2-1, and that could be telling: she is not known for her power, so her team’s major weak point can no longer hinder them in this set.
Brilliant net-coverage from Vavassori earns a chance to break back immediately at 30-4,0 and when Rublev nets, he and Errani have it. They’ve by far the most at stake here: this is their bread and butter, the money is much bigger for them, and they’re repping for dubs specialists. They’re level with Muchova/Rublev at 1-1 in the first.
On Ashe, McNally/Musetti and Swiatek/Ruud are out and knocking up.
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