The latest third-round updates from Flushing Meadows
A big cheer on Grandstand – despite the fact Zheng is facing an American – as she holds at the start of the second set. Anisimova is still a break down, 3-2, against Potapova, while Taylor Fritz – the pick of the American men in the first week – is warming up on Arthur Ashe against Francisco Cerundolo, the 24th seed from Argentina.
And after my talking-up of Zheng’s chances … she’s 5-1 down in 20 minutes. A messy fourth game, including two double faults, surrendered the first break – and the second came when she was broken to love. So Keys, having survived those five match points against her in round two, is making the most of her second life, serving for the set … and the 2017 runner-up closes it out emphatically, to 15. Perhaps all the matches Zheng has played to get to this point are now catching up with her.