Coco Gauff pants, who was serving to close the match and has encountered the fierce reply from Paula Badosa. The Spaniard falls, but stays close. Tested from start to finish, the American (6-4 and 7-6(5), in 2h) praises a player who is trying to reconnect with herself and is on the right track: this Badosa is that Badosa. Bold, aggressive, defiant. She breaks back in the final stretch. When she is against the ropes, she attacks instead of retreating. A step forward. However, a long backhand in the tiebreak rewards the American and, therefore, her run in the second round ends. She leaves early, much earlier than desired. But with good news: this is something else.
Read more F1 Italian GP: schedule and where to watch the race
The praise from the rival is worth noting, who will face another Spaniard at the next stop, Cantabrian Cristina Bucsa (7-6 (6), 6-7 (0) and 7-6 (6) against Himeno Sakatsume, in 3h 01m): “Paula is a tough player. I felt I had the advantage, but she raised her level. So I’m really happy to have won today. I saw the draw and, definitely, she’s not someone you want to face in the second round. Former world number two [in 2022]. She’s a great competitor [champion at Indian Wells (2021) and semifinalist in Australia]. I think I need matches like this to build my confidence. I’m happy with how I handled it today, because there were some nerves…”.
Determined to feel like a tennis player again, because her body — with her back as the source — has thrown countless obstacles at her, Badosa (28 years old and 87th) leaves New York with the bad taste of early elimination, but with the good residue of the battle with Gauff — yes, even in defeat there can be enjoyment — and a very different feeling from the first time at Arthur Ashe. She stepped on it two years ago, in the quarterfinals against Emma Navarro, and then left with the impression that she had become “very small.” This time it’s the opposite: she loses, but at times she grows. “I would have liked to play this match later,” she says in statements collected by Movistar+.
She does not leave empty-handed and has the consolation of analyzing in perspective, because after all, her summer translates into 18 wins and two losses since Wimbledon. She will provisionally rise 18 positions in the ranking and if there are no setbacks, she will reactivate in São Paulo (starting September 14). Out goes she and also Jessica Bouzas, with no chances for the Galician against Elena Rybakina late in the day (6-2 and 6-4, in 1h 08m), Spanish tennis has one last bullet. As happened a year ago, Bucsa (40th) is still standing and will once again have the pleasure of playing at Arthur Ashe, where a year ago she bowed to champion Aryna Sabalenka. “I’m excited to face anyone,” she says; “every match is tough. You have to fight to the death and be physically and mentally prepared.”
ALCARAZ, RETURN TO THE DAYTIME SLOT
The fifth day of the competition saw the elimination of two heavyweight players in the men’s draw. To the previous stumbles of Novak Djokovic, Arthur Fils, and Spaniard Rafa Jódar were added this Thursday those of Felix Auger-Aliassime (6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2 to Karen Khachanov) and Lorenzo Musetti (3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and 6-2 to Dane Sweeny).
This Friday Carlos Alcaraz will play for the third time, scheduled (not before 19:00, Movistar+) against Chinese Yibing Wu (113th). As he did after passing the first round, the player from El Palmar (23 years old) preferred not to go to the complex and trained exclusively at his hotel.
Read more ‘El Pulso’ from ‘Hoy por Hoy’, live on EL PAÍS
Not before 22:30, Spanish time, Dani Mérida will face local Alex Michelsen. He will do so after leaving a good impression on Wednesday, when he beat Andrey Rublev. The Madrid native —virtually 38th— will play on Court 17.
On the other hand, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced a one-month sanction for Australian Nick Kyrgios, who tested positive for cocaine use in a test carried out during the Mallorca tournament in June.
However, the Oceanian player (31 years old) could compete immediately if he wishes, since the punishment was applied from August 4 (upon accepting the provisional suspension).
Last season, Moroccan Imran Sibille was also sanctioned for the same reason. In his case (detected at an ITF tournament in Catalonia) it was also one month. In contrast, a trace of benzoylecgonine (a cocaine metabolite) cost Swiss Martina Hingis two years in 2007.
French Richard Gasquet escaped in 2009 (claimed accidental exposure) and Daniel Evans was away from the courts for a year in 2017. The Englishman, retired for two months, tested positive in a test carried out outside competition.
