FLUSHING, NY–On Thursday at the US Open, the only winners were the ones who finished their matches. All week, meteorologists predicted a soggy Friday with Thursday largely spared by precipitation. Instead, we get a double dose of the slop. Only 33 of the 65 matches were able to be concluded. Players spent over five hours in those annoying conditions with which tennis fans are too familiar: intermittent light rain, and just when the courts seemed ready for their blow dry, the rain would return.
That sets up a disastrous Friday where it is coming down hard right now and rain is expected to send qualifying Friday into a Midnight Marathon.
Dayana Yastremska and Genie Bouchard provided some excitement to Day 3 of qualifying and a little bit of drama. The Ukrainian raced out to claim the first set, 6-1, and Bouchard looked listless. The Canadian crawled her way back through a competitive second set to level the match at 6-4. Finally, Yastremska’s more consistent play handed her the match, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. After the match, Bouchard bypassed the net, ensuring that there would not be a handshake with the controversial Yastremska. A couple of fans shouted that Bouchard was a sore loser. Nevertheless, the result is that Yastremska will play for a spot in the main draw today against Elena Gabriela Ruse at some point probably tonight. The pair have to await a second round match and then a conclusion of a match that will likely go three sets (Broady/De Jong 0-6, 4-0). Without the star power of Bouchard, Yastremska is off of Grandstand and relegated to Court 7. I give the Ukrainian an excellent chance to advance today over the Romanian. She’s playing en fuego.
Women’s winners included Americans Elizabeth Mandlik, Katie Volynets and Sachia Vickery. Volynets, a former 18s US champion, was excited about a chance to make it to Monday here in New York.
Two other American women are still in limbo: Louisa Chirico will go immediately to the third set of her second round match against Ankita Raina when play resumes, and Fiona Crawley is locked in a third set tiebreak against Timea Babos.
It’s like it’s 2009 all over again with Yanina Wickmayer breaking down opponents as she sent Harriet Dart packing yesterday, 6-3, 6-4. The 2009 US Open semifinalist goes up against Sachia Vickery on Court 17 today after two full second round matches conclude.
The biggest win on the men’s side yesterday had to be that of American Aidan Mayo, who edged French phenom Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 7-6(6), 7-6(8). This is the biggest stage of Mayo’s career and he was relishing the home country love from the fans during and after the contest.
Taro Daniel also got the win in before the rain in a three set affair over Seongchan Hong, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.
Tennis Atlantic 
Return Serve?