Andy Murray’s US Open 2023 journey came to an end on Thursday in the second round, losing to Grigor Dimitrov. Former world number one, Murray expressed disappointment at his performance, acknowledging the challenges of competing against the young rising stars. He hasn’t reached the last 16 of a major since his comeback from hip surgery in 2019 and suggested that deep runs at Grand Slams might be behind him. However, despite setbacks, Murray still enjoys the game and training but hinted at potential changes if his ranking continues to decline. Dimitrov’s tactical gameplan frustrated Murray, who struggled with unforced errors and break point conversions. This loss further complicates Murray’s aspirations to regain his previous dominance in tennis.
Following a three-year retirement, world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki made a remarkable comeback at the US Open. She defeated the tournament’s No. 11 seed, Petra Kvitova, in a closely contested match, winning 7-5, 7-6 (5). This victory marks her official return to Grand Slam tennis, having not played one since the 2020 Australian Open. At 33 years old, Wozniacki displayed her defensive prowess, reminiscent of her earlier career, and will face American Jennifer Brady in the next round. Some fans were seen leaving the stadium while Wozniacki was serving at 4-4 in the second set. This prompted boos from the crowd. The commentator expressed surprise at the audience’s behaviour, considering the exciting matchup between two experienced players. Some fans critisised the early departures as disrespectful to the players, while others suggested that there might have been emergencies.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek tennis star ranked No. 7 in the world, has parted ways with his coach, Mark Philippoussis, following his upset loss at the US Open to qualifier Dominic Stricker. Tsitsipas had previously removed Philippoussis from his coaching staff in June but reinstated him earlier this month. However, after his recent loss, Tsitsipas decided to end the coaching partnership once again. Tsitsipas took responsibility for his upset loss, stating that he should not blame any members of his team. The defeat marks another disappointment for Tsitsipas, who has struggled to reach the same heights since making the finals at the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic impressively advances to the third round of the US Open with a dominant victory over Bernabé Zapata Miralles securing a comfortable 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win. Djokovic is aiming to extend his record-breaking 23 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic arrived in good form after winning the Western & Southern Open, his first tournament in the US since 2021 due to his vaccination status. In the next round, he will face his fellow countryman Laslo Djere.
