US Open 2023: Frances Tiafoe’s rock-solid performance takes him into R3, Victoria Azarenka out
American tennis ace Frances Tiafoe advanced to the third round of the US Open 2023 on Wednesday, showcasing formidable skills against Austrian Sebastian Ofner.
Tiafoe, seeded 10th, defeated Ofner in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, making only 14 unforced errors over the 91-minute match. Tiafoe’s five service breaks and 21-winners duly impressed the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Ofner, playing his first US Open main draw, had no answer to Tiafoe’s versatility and control. The American will next face France’s 22nd seed Adrian Mannarino, who has an evenly balanced head-to-head record with Tiafoe at 1-1.
On the same day, 14th seed Tommy Paul triumphed in a five-set thriller 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 against Roman Safiullin, coming back from a two-set deficit to register his first victory of that kind at Flushing Meadows. Paul, who had previously been winless at the tournament, has won two of his five US Open matches over the last two years. He will face Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the next round.
In the women’s draw, China’s Zhu Lin eliminated 18th seed Victoria Azarenka, avenging a narrow defeat earlier in the year at the Australian Open. Zhu, currently having her best season and ranked No. 44 in the world, dominated the match with precise baseline play and efficient service, winning 6-3, 6-3.
However, it was not a good day for Azarenka, who has failed to find form on hard courts this summer. Her early exit continues a dismal performance sequence after second-round losses in Cincinnati and Montreal and an opening-round defeat in Washington.
Elsewhere, fourth seed Elena Rybakina moved forward after Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic was forced to withdraw due to injury. Tomljanovic defeated Serena Williams last year in what turned out to be the latter’s last match at the Grand Slam level. Her withdrawal now presents Rybakina with an opportunity to further her US Open ambitions.
