US Open 2024 day six: Putintseva v Paolini, Van de Zandschulp v Draper – live | US Open Tennis 2024

There is a real battle taking place between Goffin and Machac but the Czech player has taken the first set 6-3.

Paolini takes first set. Putintseva* 3-6 Paolini (*denotes the next server)

Wow, what a way to open a serve game. A deftly hit drop shot but she follows it up with a long shot so we are 15-15. A double fault gives Putintseva the lead in this game but she then throws her racquet to the floor twice as she has two errors to gift Paolini set point. She gets it and shouts in delight.

Putintseva 3-5 Paolini* (*denotes the next server)

We have new balls for this game. Paolini approaches the net after a rally and times it perfectly to pop a ball in the top left corner. A looping ball comes to Paolini and she smashes it past Putintseva but the Italian has not had this game all her own way, we are 30-30 now. Putintseva shouts as her shot hit the net, giving Paolini break point. And she gets it on the first time of asking, this is huge. She will now serve for the set.

Putintseva* 3-4 Paolini (*denotes the next server)

The crowd are getting really into this one and the umpire has had to tell them to be quiet during play. At 30-15 to Putintseva looks to find a way into this set and she has great reflexes to return a shot and has break point. But Paolini beats Putintseva in the right hand corner, Putintseva shouts to herself for not returning that one. But she wins the next point to break, what a battle this is.

Putintseva 2-4 Paolini* (*denotes the next server)

This is a great opportunity for Putintseva to land another blow to Paolini, a hold here will completely cancel out her earlier break. Paolini wants to maintain the advantage and plays well to get to 30-0. Putintseva lobs the ball and Paolini jumps but cannot return it and another clever shot from the Italian sees it 30-30. This battle has really cranked up a few gears as we head to deuce again, Putintseva plays the right shot but there’s too much power it and Paolini gets the break! WOW.

Goffin has been broken by Machac with the Czech player having a 4-2 lead in the first set.

Muchova also has a break advantage, leading Potpova 4-3 in the first set.

Putintseva* 2-3 Paolini (*denotes the next server)

A loose ball goes out from Paolini but then Putintseva does the same, 15-15. Another error from Paolini but she corrects it with a beautiful volley, 30-30 here now. Putintseva roars with delight as she gets around Paolini to have break point but the Italian controls the next point completely to take it to deuce. Putintseva gets advantage and another break point but Paolini pops the shot in the left corner with Putintseva anticipating it to come on the right, deuce it is. Again Putinseva gets advantage, can she break this time? No she can’t! A rally ends with a clever forehand winner and we’re back to deuce. Putintseva gets to the position again but she can’t turn the screw, she won’t get too many of these chances so she has to take them. She has yet another break point and this time she takes it! What a point.

Putintseva 1-3 Paolini* (*denotes the next server)

Putintseva needs a clean hold just to get a grip on this set. She wins the first point but Paolini levels at 15-15 but Putintseva then races t 40-15, can she wrap it up? Not yet, a double fault gifts Paolini a point but then the Italian pushes the ball too far.

Putintseva* 0-3 Paolini (*denotes the next server)

Paolini controls the opening of the third game but Putintseva is finding pockets of great play, if she can be more consistent in her play she will challenge Paolini. This time though the Italian races to take the game.

Elsewhere, David Goffin is leading Tomas Machac 2-1 in the first set. And Karolina Muchova and Anastasia Potapova are level at 2-2 in the first set.

Putintseva 0-2 Paolini* (*denotes the next server)

Putintseva’s serve is good but she sends a return out, a great forehand winner from Paolini and Putintseva then hits the net to give Paolini break point. She doesn’t take it on the first time of asking and she can’t on the second time either with a well worked point from Putintseva to take it to deuce. She gets the advantage after Paolini smacks the net, Putintseva then slips and almost does the splits on the return which goes out – deuce we go again. Deuce and back as these two setting into this game and Paolini then gets her first advantage and she seals it to break.

Putintseva* 0-1 Paolini (*denotes the next server)

We are underway in this one and Paolini is serving first. Putintseva’s return on the first serve is out and a drop shot then hits the net, Paolini starting the game perfectly – racing to a 40-0 lead in the first game. She then pushes a shot too long to give her opponent some light in this game. Then Putintseva has some absolutely stunning tennis to march Paolini across the court to get to 40-30 but the Italian then seals it.

The ball people are holding a towel in one hand and scraping the rest along the floor to get rid of the water that did get on the court before the roof was closed.

The pair are getting their warm-up underway.

There have been some shocks in this year’s US Open and another was delivered yesterday with Novak Djokovic knocked out by Alexei Popryn. Have a read of the report below:

There is a slight delay to the start of the game as they are closing the roof as it is a rainy day in New York.

First up we will be focusing on Jasmine Paolini’s match against Yulia Putintseva. I will be bringing you all the updates from the other courts too!

The pair are now preparing to get going.

Preamble