Naomi Osaka, the defending champion, returned to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday when her opponent withdrew due to illness.
Naomi Osaka was supposed to play Serbian Olga Danilovic in the first match of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Instead, the USTA relocated the match between women’s No. 12 seed Simona Halep and Kristina Kucova to that time slot.
Osaka would have been attempting to win her 17th Grand Slam match in a row. She returned to the majors with a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Marie Bouzkova on Monday night, after missing Wimbledon due to mental health issues.
Halep sails through Kucova.
For the first time since 2016, Simona Halep has advanced to the third round of the US Open.
The No. 12 seed defeated Kristina Kucova 6-3, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium after their match was moved when Naomi Osaka opponent withdrew from their planned match.
Halep has two Grand Slam victories to her name, but she battled at the US Open. She had lost in the first round in both 2017 and 2018 and hadn’t advanced past the second round since reaching the quarter-finals in 2016.
She finished her victory inside the closed roof, while play on the outdoor courts was once again halted due to rain.
Muguruza and Jabeur make quick progress.
Garbine Muguruza and Ons Jabeur both won quickly to go to the third round of the US Open.
Muguruza, a two-time Grand Slam champion, defeated Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2. She might be up next against No. 18 seed Victoria Azarenka, who reached her third US Open final last year.
Jabeur, the 20th seed, defeated Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 6-0, 6-1 in 53 minutes.
