Lee 3-5 Boulter: Katie Boulter gets through another service game but Lee makes it tricky after fighting back from 40-0 down to deuce. 10 winners off the Boulter forehand in the match but two double faults in the game so not all smooth sailing.
Lee 3-4 Boulter: Lee has no answer for more punishing groundstrokes from Boulter who forces the game to deuce with a big crosscourt forehand. Break point but Lee saves with a strong forehand of her own and another puts the American on top with the advantage. Game.
Lee 2-4 Boulter: The British no 1 holds to love with some bully behaviour crushing the ball past Lee at every opportunity.
Lee 2-3 Boulter: Lee races out to a 40-0 lead with an ace and an unreturnable serve and stays ahead to close out the game from 40-30.
Lee 1-3 Boulter: The big hitting shows no signs of stopping. Lee staying in touch in that game but unfortunately mistimes a second serve return and sends it out to lost the game. Should probably have gone to deuce.
Lee 1-2 Boulter: Boulter is attacking the second serve of Lee but the American’s heavy spin is countering the dynamite coming her way. From deuce Lee struggles to contain a big forehand but saves the break point with a serve straight at Boulter’s head. A cheeky drop shot winner is followed up by a double fault to send it back to deuce.
Ace. Next Boulter batters a second serve and keeps her foot down. Deuce. Massive crosscourt forehand winner from Boulter gives the shot for a double break. Overcooks a forehand. Deuce. Wow. Boulter wins the battle of the big forehands, a 16-shot epic where neither were trying for any angle at all just smoking it down the middle. Another miss from Boulter. Deuce. Error from Lee. Fourth break point of the game and Boulter misses a crosscourt inside out forehand. Deuce. Two good firsts and Lee holds. Gritty.
Lee 0-2 Boulter: Lee stays in the rallies and Boulter goes too big on two points but the Briton forces an error to take it to 30-all. Boulter imposes herself to move into the net and finish the point for 40-30. Too much again sends it to deuce. Positive just not quite finding her range so far. Advantage Lee after another ball flies out the back. Deuce. Bang, bang. Game, Boulter.
Carol Lee to serve first against world No 62 Katie Boulter. The Briton makes early inroads with some power hitting an a lovely lob to set up two break points to start the match. A couple of tricky serves drags it back to deuce for Lee. Boulter crushes a weak second serve to make a third break point. Job done. 1-0 Boulter after a shank.
Pliskova break Wandewinkel again for a 4-0 in the final set. Meanwhile, Katie Boulter is warming up on Court 5 now for her match against world no 140 Carol Young Suh Lee of America via the Northern Mariana Islands.
Where to now?! Well, former women’s world No 1 Karolina Pliskova is on court. One of those weird No 1s who hasnt’t won a grand slam. Top player though. The Czech leads Hanne Wandewinkel 6-2, 5-7, 3-0. Bit of work still to be done to make the second round, lets see how she goes.
Norrie sends what should have been an easy winner wildly long and that about sums his day up. Take nothing away from the Frenchman who wins his first main draw match at the US Open. Truly a breakout moment for the 22-year-old, stunningly consistent play and accurate serving.
And that is that. The world No 110 and British qualifier Toby Samuel beats Tomas Mahac with his second match point. He has been so impressive in beating a seasoned pro for the first main draw grand slam win of his career. Well played.
Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 5-2 Mahac: Samuel breaks again and is serving for the match!!!
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 3-5 Van Assche: Norrie fluffs a drop shot at 40-15 up to put a bit of needless pressure on himself. Incredible rally from the pair who gets to deuce from 40-0 down. Danger for Norrie. The internal monologue will be cooking. But so is the backhand and he has the advantage. Deuce again though. The Van Assche forehand is too good. Norrie’s is too bad. Huge chance for the Frenchman with a break point. RELENTLESS hitting draws the error from Norrie. He is just everywhere on the court. Van Assche serving for the match.
Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 4-2 Mahac: The world No 110 survives a marathon service game to move two games from his first main draw singles win against a player who has made the US Open fourth round in both of the past two years. Keep going!
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 3-4 Van Assche: The Frenchman gets his nose in front with an easy hold to stop the rot. Pressure back on Norrie to stay in the match.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 3-3 Van Assche: Norrie keeps the pressure up with an impressive hold. The serve is looking better by the game for the veteran 29th seed. Can he break again?
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 2-3 Van Assche: Did I say it was going one way? Erm, Norrie breaks back for 3-2. Egg on my face.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 1-3 Van Assche: Big trouble for Cam as he is down 0-30. Shank. 0-40. He is struggling mightily behind is forehand. Game. Too easy for Van Assche. This is going one way.
Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 3-2 Mahac: Quick hold from Samuel is just what the doctor ordered. Then a stunning winner down the line on the Mahac serve puts him 30-0 up. A crosscourt passing shot sets up three break points. Here we GO! And Mahac sends a ball well wide. WOW! 2-0 down, 3-2 up …
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 1-2 Van Assche: No inroads at all right now for Norrie on the Van Assche serve. The Frenchman finds the line with a forehand to take the game.
Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 1-2 Mahac: Samuel fires back with a break of his own just like that. Superb. Horrible error from Mahac to dump a short ball into the net with Samuel at sixes and sevens.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 1-1 Van Assche: Good recovery from Norrie to level the fourth set with a strong service game of his own.
Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 0-2 Mahac: Samuel saves two break points but succumbs to the third. Was never going to go all his own way.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 0-1 Van Assche: It is difficult to overstate how well Luca van Assche is playing right now. He escapes two of the most punishing rallies of the match with the plaudits for 30-0 after looking in trouble in both. He holds to love. What a start. This is a breakout moment for the 22-year-old if he knocks off the 29th seed.
The big Russian serves it out for a handy straight sets win to make the second round in the Big Apple. He dials up his 10th ace in the final game. Nostrovia!
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6 Van Assche: The passing shots are in full flow from the Frenchman and so are more and more and more unforced errors from Norrie. Out again. Set over. 10 unforced errors from Norrie plays one from Van Assche in that frame. He is now one set from his first main draw win at Flushing Meadows.
Samuel 6-2, 6-3 Mahac: Samuel races into a 40-0 lead. C’mon now, you got this. Three chances for the second set. BOSH! The British qualifier leads two sets to love.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-5 Van Assche: Some of the hitting from Van Assche has been sensational. Norrie can’t compete right now. An easy hold for the Frenchman.
Samuel 6-2, 5-3 Mahac: Set-point Samuel! A shot at a massive lead for the British qualifier. Oooh deuce. Advantage Samuel now. Deuce again. Mahac holds after saving two set points.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-4 Van Assche: Norrie keeps the train on the tracks for now with a solid hold.
Samuel 6-2, 5-2 Mahac: Spot of bother for Samuel who faces deuce on his serve. He is up to the challenge though and holds. One away from a two-set lead.
Medvedev 6-4, 6-2, 4-2 Gaston: The Russian edges closer to the second round with a relatively comfortable service hold.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 1-4 Van Assche: Cracking response from Norrie though to go 30-0 up. Now or never Cammy boy. Van Assche is too good with a forehand down the line and a nasty body serve. 30-all. Norrie sends a backhand long after coming up far too short with a rally ball that Van Assche dispatches. Solid hold from a tricky spot.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 1-3 Van Assche: Oh, Cameron. More and more errors come as he slips to 15-40 on serve. One is saved after Van Assche’s lob is just, and I mean just, long. A double fault coughs up the break of serve. Ouch.
Samuel 6-2, 4-1 Mahac: Samuel is making light work of Mahac. This is only his third appearance at a grand slam after qualifying for the French Open and getting a wildcard at Wimbledon this year. Here’s hoping he romps home for a first main draw win.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 1-2 Van Assche: Norrie holds serve comfortably and looks relieved for his troubles. Great start on Van Assche’s serve for Norrie who puts away a volley for the early advantage. Oooo then he says shank you very much as a wild ball flies out of the court from Van Assche. 0-30. Too good from Van Assche who punishes the short return for 15-30. An unbelievable deep backhand in the corner from Norrie creates two break points. A bomb saves one and a sublime passing shot saves the other despite brilliantly patient work from Norrie. The Frenchman holds after Norrie blocks a return into the net.
Samuel 6-2 Mahac: Amazing start for Toby Samuel. He breaks Mahac again to take the first set in 25 minutes.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 0-1 Van Assche: The Frenchman is playing like a man possessed and somehow wins a point for 30-0 he had no business taking. An ace gives him three shots at the opening game of the third set. He takes the second of those. Important service game coming for Norrie.
Medvedev 6-4, 6-2, 2-0 Gaston: Medvedev holds a tricky deuce game.
Samuel 4-2 Mahac: The British qualifier breaks serve to take a healthy lead at the business end of the opening set.
Medvedev 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 Gaston: The Russian is all over Gaston like a cheap suit and creates three break points in the opening game of the third set. A brutal backhand converts at the second opportunity. This one could be over very quickly.
With these two having a quick break, British qualifier Toby Samuel is on court against Tomas Mahac of Czechia. It is on serve with Samuel 3-2 up in the first set.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6 Van Assche: Van Assche’s speed is winning this set as he races to a drop shot and flips it past Norrie to set up a break point at 30-40. He whips a forehand winner past the advancing Norrie and levels the match. Perfect response by the Frenchman.
Medvedev 6-4, 6-2 Gaston: The Russian is on to a short ball like the clappers and puts it away for 15-0. Ace makes it 30-0. Ace, 40-0. Three set points. Easy chance missed and one saved for Gaston after some insanely good defence to stay in the rally three times. The Russian takes a two-set lead with a volley at Gaston that he can’t get out the way of. Suffocating hitting from Medvedev.
Medvedev 6-4, 5-2 Gaston: Gaston goes for the underarm first serve but hits the net. Embarrassing. He goes back to the usual artillery but that doesn’t work either and Gaston is broken again. He misses an improvised lob and the second set looks all-but over.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-5 Van Assche: Important hold for Norrie to stay in the second set. Van Assche takes over and is again 40-0 up in double quick time. Can he do it again? Nope, double fault. What a let down. He quickly gets back on track to hold again with a drop shot. Four service games and only one point conceded. Not bad.
Medvedev 6-4, 4-2 Gaston: Gaston sniffs a chance at 30-0 up on the Russian’s serve but Medvedev shuts him down to take it to 30-all with a leaping backhand. You know the one, the big leg kick and WHIP. A couple of nasty serves and he holds.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 1-4 Van Assche: The errors keep flowing from Norrie. He is swiftly 30-0 down but he can do nothing about a superb forehand winner from Van Assche. Big serve and that is three holds to love to start the second set for the Frenchman. Incroyable.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 1-3 Van Assche: Norrie struggling a touch with his unforced error count creeping to 21 as they lock horns at 30-all. Make that 23 as Van Assche is gifted a break of serve with two misses on easy balls
Medvedev 6-4, 3-2 Gaston: The Russian is on the charge but Gaston holds firm to make it 30-30 after a neat crosscourt forehand winner. Medvedev cooks up a crosscourt winner of his own off the backhand to create a break point. The Russian is too passive is beaten by a beautiful slice volley from Gaston. Deuce. Medvedev hits a huge forehand that catches the line to earn a break point. Gaston saves and serves it out.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 1-2 Van Assche: Van Assche endures a punishing rally with Norrie to emerge 30-0 up. These guys are really going at it from the baseline. A slight shank from the Frenchman creates a chance but Norrie misses out wide. Van Assche holds to love again after a cracking drop shot.
Medvedev 6-4, 3-1 Gaston: The seventh seed solidifies the break with a bomb into the corner. The return flies long.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 1-1 Van Assche: Norrie leathers a defensive lob to go 30-15 up and whips an evil slice serve out wide to then hold with ease.
Norrie 7-6 (6), 0-1 Van Assche: The Frenchman responds to the loss of the first set with a quick hold to love. Bang, bang.
Hello again, quality tie-break from Norrie, well played by the 29th seed.
Medvedev 6-4, 2-1 Gaston: The Russian has just broken serve to take complete control against Hugo Gaston.
Norrie 7-6 (8-6) Van Assche: Norrie takes the first set with a forehand down the line before Van Assche misses a backhand. That truly could have gone either way. Graham is back to take you through the rest of the evening’s action.
Norrie 6-6 (6-6) Van Assche: Van Assche with the double fault! That is unideal for him and Norrie now has two set points … he can’t do anything with either as his opponents hits a fantastic forehand to save the second set point.
Norrie 6-6 (3-3) Van Assche: An easy volley is flubbed by Norrie before he missed a forehand down the line but he rectifies his mistake with a forehand winner to make it all square in the decider.
Norrie 6-6 Van Assche: Huge error from Norrie with a backhand that hits the net … we go to a tie-break.
Norrie 6-5 Van Assche: Some great serving from Norrie before sealing the game with a couple groundstrokes from the baseline. He shouts ‘Allez’ to pump himself up.
