Well, I seem to have jinxed Sloane Stephens with my Sloane watch. Raducanu played much better than I expected, taking the first set to love. Stephens did well to come back and take the second set 6-2. Raducanu then took the third set 6-1.
Day 2 was a little more exciting than day 1. Andy Murray, a wild card, ‘upset’ Nicoloz Basilashvili in five sets. In the fifth, the two exchanged breaks before Murray prevailed 6-1, 3,6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4. It was Murray’s second defeat in a week over the Georgian and his variety and nuances were too much for the inconsistent 21st seed.
Other highlights of the day were:
de Minaur defeating Musetti in four sets. I was cheering for Musetti, but it’s hard not to like de Minuar’s tenacity and smarts.
Kanepi doing what Kanepi does- knocking a seed out of a slam. This time, Kerber (16).
FAA and Ruusuvuori going five sets and FAA winning.
I was disappointed to see Fernandez went down in straights to Inglis. I could happily take a Fernandez run to a final every slam.
Cressy nudging out Isner in five.
Gasquet knocking out Humbert (29) in four. Humbert continues to flatter to deceive, performing well before a slam and then getting knocked out in the first rounds. Maybe it was the pressure of facing his very talented countryman?
Other seeds out:
Kvitova (20) went down in straights to Cirstea.
Here’s to day 3 tomorrow!
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