Daria Kasatkina and Paula Badosa are set to compete in their opening match, featuring a clash between the former world No. 8 and No. 2. Kasatkina, currently ranked 61 after a surprising dip in form following her switch from representing Russia to Australia last year, faces Badosa, who is ranked 87 after struggling with injuries. Together, they have recorded only five victories at Grand Slam tournaments this year, though both players possess the potential to make an impact in this draw when performing at their best.
In another match, Fery seems to have found his rhythm after a strong self-motivation session, claiming his first break of serve to 30 with a display of composed aggression. The English crowd, reminiscent of a World Cup atmosphere, begins to sing “Wonderwall.” However, Fery quickly finds himself in a precarious position, falling to 15-40 on his serve. Although he saves the first break point, a powerful backhand narrowly misses the mark on the second, allowing Musetti to regain the serve with a score of 6-3, 6-3, 1-2 in his favor.
Both players have stepped off the court for a breather between sets, and Fery could benefit from a motivational talk akin to what Andy Murray received during the 2012 US Open final if he hopes to turn his performance around. Tim Henman, who is providing commentary, expresses skepticism about Fery’s chances, citing Musetti’s superior class and ability to absorb Fery’s aggressive play. Henman notes that Musetti’s effective serving gives him an advantage, while Fery appears to be working much harder for his points, making Musetti’s comfort at this level evident.
In other tournament news, 12th seed Belinda Bencic, the champion from the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, has been eliminated after losing in three sets to Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, who will next face another Olympic champion, Zheng Qinwen.
Fery manages to hold serve, reducing Musetti’s lead to 6-3, 5-3, but he appears to be struggling with his speed as Musetti serves out the second set without dropping a point. Musetti now leads 6-3, 6-3, placing Fery in a challenging position as he attempts to mount a comeback.
A flicker of hope arises for Fery when he reaches 15-40 on Musetti’s serve. He saves the first break point with another stunning backhand shot but ultimately fails to capitalize on two more opportunities, leading to mounting frustration as Musetti holds serve for 6-3, 5-2. Reflecting on Fery’s performance, Henman suggests that the recent demands of reaching the finals at the Winston-Salem Open may be taking a toll on him.
Conversely, Maria Sakkari has staged a remarkable comeback from a 6-2, 4-0 deficit to defeat American qualifier Robin Montgomery, winning the match 6-2 in the final set. Francisco Cerundolo and Dane Sweeny have also secured victories, with Sweeny advancing after Corentin Moutet retired during the third set, setting up a potential match against the winner of Musetti and Fery.
Fery manages to hold his serve to equalize at 2-2, but even a clever shot through the legs cannot deter Musetti, who confidently responds with a forehand volley, holding his serve to love. A fan enthusiastically cheers, urging Fery on, yet Musetti’s precision shines through as he delivers a backhand winner down the line on break point, leaving Fery trailing at 6-3, 4-2.
For those interested in match highlights, Fery displays signs of unease as Musetti smoothly navigates through the opening game of the second set, aided by a careless forehand error from Fery. Nevertheless, Fery manages to hold serve for 1-1, breaking a streak of five consecutive games lost. However, he struggles to make any progress on Musetti’s serve, quickly finding himself back in a serving position, trailing 6-3, 2-1.
Following two double faults in game seven, Fery faces a critical moment while serving to stay in the first set at 3-5. He saves the first set point with a well-placed drop shot, but Musetti capitalizes on deuce, hitting a precise one-handed shot down the line, and Fery ultimately sends his return long on the second set point, concluding the first set at 6-3.
In another match, Andreeva, after narrowly missing two match points, decisively finishes off Tjen with a powerful smash. The Russian player expresses relief after a more straightforward victory this time compared to their previous encounter in Cincinnati. As she progresses, Andreeva aims to advance deeper into the tournament, having previously reached the third round last year, which remains her best showing to date. She remarks, “I was just trying to be very aggressive, go for my shots, and I felt that today was a better match.”
After a brief 64 minutes of play, Andreeva is poised to secure her place in the second round, leading 6-2, 5-2 against Tjen. However, Fery’s double faults allow Musetti to break for 4-3, indicating a sudden shift in momentum. Fery, who had previously displayed confidence, now appears rattled as he reflects on his recent missteps.
During the changeover, Fery attempts to block out the noise from the crowd by inserting ear plugs, while Musetti levels the score at 2-2. Fortunately for Fery, he is not competing on Court 17, where Bencic, having battled for victory, finds herself in a deciding set against Putintseva.
Fery starts strong with a straightforward hold, and Musetti responds similarly. Channeling the spirit of the recently retired Stan Wawrinka, Musetti executes a stunning one-handed backhand down the line. Despite this display, Fery remains composed, managing to hold serve for 2-1.
In a quick roundup of matches, Andreeva has taken the first set 6-2 against Tjen, while Bencic is leading Putintseva 6-4, 4-4. Francisco Cerundolo is ahead 6-4, 6-3 against Filip Misolic, and his brother Juan Manuel is just starting his match.
