Pegula

Pegula 4-3 *Krejcikova

Barbora Krejcikova is being very ambitious with her return position and instead of being a 6-0 set, she is now back on serve.

Tennis is a strange game like that.

Jessica Pegula hit a double fault in game seven, her second of the match, and then she was forced into an error by her Eastern European opponent.

Krejcikova could have found herself a set down. Instead she will be serving to level up at 4-4.

Pegula* 4-2 Krejcikova

Jessica Pegula has adopted an aggressive stance and is trying to get on top of the second serve.

This is forcing errors from Barbora Krejcikova, who is feeling the pressure.

She is clearly struggling with the sun in her face at midday in New York City.

A second double fault hands a break point to the Buffalo-born star.

But then a forehand into the net from the home player saves Krejcikova from going 5-1 down.

In a surprise tactic, she showed she is able to serve-and-volley and that method allows her to wrap up the game.

Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, is courtside but when she was picked up on the TV cameras, she was texting on her phone.

So perhaps the action is not that exhilarating yet to grab her full attention… 

Pegula 4-1 *Krejcikova

Serving with the sun in her eyes, Jessica Pegula moves 4-1 ahead and closer to clinching the first set.

She shouted “come on” as she sealed the fifth game.

There was a 96mph ace down the line that almost took the racquet out of the hand of Barbora Krejcikova.

She is showing why she is the world No.4.

The last time these two played each other, at the WTA Finals last November in Riyadh, Krejcikova won 6-3 6-3 in 69 minutes.

But Pegula was not fit then due to a knee problem and she ended up pulling out of the season-ending tournament.

Pegula* 3-1 Krejcikova

Barbora Krejcikova, who served this time from the shady part of the Arthur Ashe stadium, gets on the board this time – after 17 minutes.

But Jessica Pegula had a break point and the chance to go 4-0 up.

Krejcikova hit a 102mph ace down the centre which prevented the American from breaking twice.

There is a fist clench and a brief smile flashes across her face.

The former Wimbledon champion has been standing from the baseline and hardly ventured towards the net.

Jessica Pegula hits the ball so flat and this means it flies very low for her opponent – so tricky for a rival to combat.

Pegula 3-0 *Krejcikova

Barbora Krejcikova is a mentally strong player – she did save eight match points against American ace Taylor Townsend in the last round.

She hit bravely and aggressively in that clash and went for her shots.

And she has also succeeded at the highest level of the sport.

But she will have to dig into those reserves again as Jessica Pegula heads to her chair for the changeover firmly in control.

Pegula produced her first double fault as her second-serve ace missed the line by two millimetres.

But it mattered little as she held serve.

Pegula* 2-0 Krejcikova

Before her first serve, Barbora Krejcikova took SIX balls and then threw two of them.

They are only a game old but clearly she is clearly quite pedantic about the condition of the balls.

The Czech had to serve from the sunny side of the court.

And the sun was clearly in her eyes when she tried to hit a smash but completely missed the ball.

It meant Jessica Pegula went love-40 ahead and then an awful double fault handed the break to her American opponent.

What a terrible start for Krejcikova.

Jack Draper reacts

Jack Draper has spoken following his mixed doubles win over Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, along with partner Jessica Pegula.

I have got a pretty good partner.

What an experience playing out here with Jessica, playing Emma and Carlos, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Just a pleasure to be out here.

Jack Draper

How to watch

The US Open is set to restart tonight.

The event resumed at 7pm ET, which is 12am BST.

Fans can watch it on ESPN and Sky Sports.

Djokovic tippeed for shock win

Novak Djokovic has been backed by iconic tennis coach Rick Macci to win the US Open, but only if a few things go his way.

Maci said of the Serb:”He can win the US Open because he still checks enough boxes.

“He has to make sure that he’s not playing four or five hours the other matches because you’ve got a day or whatever to get back and do it again.

“It’s the physical and mental toll that’s going to be tough on his body, but if the draw breaks the right way, or if Alcaraz or Sinner, something happens to them along the way…

“It changes the whole roadmap, the way you’re looking at this thing. He definitely could win the US Open, but those things have to happen.

“But if he has a lot of tough matches and then he has to go through both those guys, I think that’s kind of rough sledding.”

Novak speaks

Novak Djokovic took to X to express his delight at sharing the court with protege Olga Danilovic in their mixed doubles match with Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva.

He wrote on X: “Always fun playing mix doubles with Olga.

“Thank you@usopen for the WC opportunity to play.”

Womens seedings confirmed

The seedings for the women’s US Open have been confirmed.

Unsurprisingly, World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed, with Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff being second and third seeds, respectively.

Check out the full seedings below.

Pegula reacts to mixed doubles win with Draper

She said: “This stadium was packed, so thanks to everyone for showing up.

“That was such a fun atmosphere. Even if it meant a couple of highlight-reel shots by Carlos to get the crowd going, it was really fun.

“I’ve played doubles a lot. I haven’t played that much recently.

“So, it’s always tricky, especially going into a mixed format, playing against other people who don’t play a lot of doubles.

“It was a lot of fun. Jack played great. Excited to be back soon.”

Swiatek/Ruud* 1-1 McNally/Musetti [Sets: 1-0]

Casper Ruud is looking lethal on his own serve.

Despite being a singles player usually, he serves and charges into the net like a real doubles player.

He holds serve with ease and squares the match up.

Swiatek/Ruud 0-1 *McNally/Musetti [Sets: 1-0]

One of the best rallies of the day between the two pairs.

It sees Musetti plays a superb forehand down the baseline, which looks out, but the replay shows it just touched the line.

Swiatek/Ruud manage to claw their way back into it as they square the game up at 30-30.

A double fault from Musetti then gifts break point to their opponents.

Ruud then sends a shot from the baseline into the net to tie us up at deuce.

A superb cross shot from Musetti ensures they hold serve.

Swiatek/Ruud* 4-1 McNally/Musetti [Sets: 1-0]

McNally/Musetti quickly go into a 0-30 lead in this one.

However, Ruud steps up his game and single-handedly wins two points back.

A good net shot from Swiatek then sets up set point for the pair.

As Musetti sends a volley long, it took all of 16 minutes for the first set to be concluded.

Swiatek/Ruud 3-1 *McNally/Musetti

McNally agreed to join this pairing very late in the day.

She was only playing in Cincinnati yesterday.

Ruud gets some good shots in as the game is tied at 30-30.

Casper Ruud is looking in lethal form out there.

He smashes a forehand down the middle for the break of serve.

Swiatek/Ruud* 2-1 McNally/Musetti

Finally we see some points won off the serve of an opponent.

Some good work from Musetti at the net, forcing Swiatek to make up some ground.

McNally/Musetti have a break point in this one.

Musetti misses the chance to break as his deft volley at the net drops wide of the line.

A long return from McNally sees Swiatek hold her serve.

Swiatek/Ruud 1-1 *McNally/Musetti

This match seems to be very much going with serve here.

Another game where no points are won off the serve by the receiving pair.

Based on what we have seen in the opening stages, this could head to a tie-break to decide the set.