Key events
Also getting going: Jiri Lehecka, the Czech 20th seed, against Belgium’s Raphael Collignon, the conqueror of Casper Ruud; and the all-French affair between Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Rinderknech.
On Sky, Tim Henman is backing the Brit, but reckons it’ll go to three sets. Marion Bartoli is also going with Raducanu. Big call. The head-to-head doesn’t help us much: ER has met ER only once before, back in 2022, though Rybakina did thrash Raducanu 6-0, 6-1. The pair have plenty of respect for each other and played doubles together last month in Washington DC.
Raducanu, all smiles, steps on to court, just ahead of Rybakina. The British No 1 has looked so happy and relaxed this week, having finally won her first matches at the US Open since that unlikely 2021 triumph. Rybakina, surprisingly given her pedigree as a former Wimbledon champion, has never been beyond the third round in New York. The pair are warming up, which should give you just about enough time to read Tumaini’s preview:
Preamble
Good afternoon/morning/evening depending on your worldly whereabouts and welcome to our day six coverage of the US Open as the third round begins. Now the pre-match pleasantries are out of the way, we better cut straight to the chase, because Emma Raducanu is about to get going against Elena Rybakina on Louis Armstrong. Carlos Alcaraz will make his entrance on Arthur Ashe in about half an hour. The American contingent of Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe and Emma Navarro are also in action in the day session as the Labor Day weekend gets under way, along with Jasmine Paolini and the former finalist Victoria Azarenka. Let’s do this!
