US Open claims its first British sufferer as Lily Miyazaki crashes out
Lily Miyazaki suffered a second-round exit to the Olympic champion to finish Britain’s excellent begin to the US Open. The world No.198 recorded her first-ever Grand Slam victory on Monday to start out a outstanding run of all seven British gamers successful their opening matches with out dropping a set.
But Belinda Bencic, the Swiss world No.13 who misplaced to Emma Raducanu within the quarter-finals right here in 2021, ensured there wouldn’t be one other fairytale story in New York for an additional British qualifier by successful 6-3 6-3. She has the compensation of banking $123,000 (£96,000)- simply the largest cheque of her profession.
Japanese-born Miyazaki, 27, beat world No.1022 Margarita Betova in her first abroad match in a Major. But after the scheduled 11am begin was delayed by heavy morning rain, former world No.5 Bencic performed at a unique stage on a steamy Court 5 regardless of the help of Jodie Burrage.
The British No.7 received solely 5 factors within the first three video games as she rapidly slipped 0-3 down. It took Miyazaki 21 minutes to get on the scoreboard when the Swiss despatched a sliced forehand return into the online.
Miyazaki took the rating to deuce at 4-2 – and led 0-30 when the Swiss served for the set at 5-3 however Bencic took her first set level after 44 minutes when the Brit despatched a forehand into the online.
The finish appeared nigh when the previous US Open semi-finalist once more raced right into a 3-0 lead within the second set. But Miyazaki dug in and broke serve for the primary and solely time after 65 minutes when she took a second serve early and powered a backhand service return winner down the road.
Bencic confirmed her rising frustration when she tossed her racquet to the courtroom after Miyazaki held serve to get again to 2-3. But Bencic held her nerve to take her second match level after 90 minutes when Miyazaki hooked a forehand into the online.
The different six British gamers to make the second spherical – Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Cam Norrie, Dan Evans and Andy Murray – are all in motion on Thursday.
It is the primary time there are greater than two British feminine gamers have received a predominant draw match in New York since 1987. And it was essentially the most British gamers to succeed in the second spherical since seven gamers additionally achieved the feat again in 1977.