Abu dhabi: Carlos Alcaraz made significant strides in his comeback from injury, while Aryna Sabalenka also advanced at the US Open on Wednesday. Organizers breathed a sigh of relief after managing to clear a backlog of rain-delayed matches.
According to Emirates News Agency, former winner Daniil Medvedev overcame an avian interruption to proceed to the next round. American players Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and Frances Tiafoe also secured victories. Alcaraz captivated the audience during the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the Spanish second seed lost the opening set but then dominated Jaime Faria 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2, dispelling any lingering concerns about his wrist injury.
Sabalenka delivered a commanding performance earlier on the main show court, as the Belarusian defeated Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1 6-1, before being questioned about her pre-tournament appearances. Medvedev, the 2021 champion, experienced a minor disruption during his 6-1 6-3 7-5 victory over US wildcard Sebastian Gorzny on Louis Armstrong Stadium when two birds landed on the net.
Earlier, third-ranked Pegula needed just 56 minutes to defeat 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-1 in the first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, setting up a match with 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez. Eighth seed Shelton had a tougher challenge, defeating Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 5-7 7-6(3) 7-5, drawing energy from the home crowd.
Emma Navarro overcame fellow American Caty McNally 3-6 6-2 6-3, and Tiafoe defeated Rei Sakamoto 6-3 7-6(2) 7-5. However, it was not all good news for the home favorites, as 2017 champion Sloane Stephens lost 6-1 7-5 to 11th seed Marta Kostyuk. Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova eased to a 6-4 6-2 win over Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee, while runner-up Karolina Muchova dispatched Katie Boulter 6-1 6-0.
With a backlog of 14 matches to complete after Tuesday's weather disruptions, organizers anxiously watched the skies as more rain briefly halted play at Flushing Meadows. Despite this, lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete reached the second round with a surprising victory over 12th seed Rafael Jodar.
Alex Michelsen added to the surprises by defeating fellow American and 16th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the second round. Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur comfortably won his opening match against Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri 6-2 6-2 6-4. Peruvian Ignacio Buse claimed his first major victory after a five-set battle.