Give it a break: Tsistipas wins, but jeered for long recess

NEW YORK, September 2

World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first player to record 50 tour-level wins this year with his second-round victory over Adrian Mannarino on Wednesday but was jeered by the US Open crowd after taking another lengthy bathroom break.

The 23-year-old, who angered Andy Murray in the last round with what the Scot saw as stalling tactics, said he had done nothing wrong by taking a seven minute-long break after dropping the third set. He eventually won 6-3 6-4 6-7(4) 6-0.

“I love the fans. But some people don’t understand,” he said. “They haven’t played tennis at high level to understand how much effort and how difficult it is to do what we are doing. Sometimes we need a short break to do what we have to do.”

Second seed and 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev kept his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title alive with a comfortable 6-4 6-1 6-2 victory over unseeded German Dominik Koepfer.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka also progressed to the third round after receiving a walkover from Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic due to illness.

Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champion, also advanced with a dominant 6-4 6-2 win over Coco Gauff. — Reuters

Day 3 highlights

Barty too good

Top seed Ash Barty of Australia hardly broke sweat as she beat tournament debutant Clara Tauson 6-1 7-5. SABALENKA cruises

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka notched her 40th win of the season with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek. AZARENKA vs muguruza

Three-time runner-up Victoria Azarenka overcame unseeded Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-3 7-6(1) to set up a meeting with Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.

Svitolina spot on

Fifth seed Elina Svitolina eased past Spain’s Rebeka Masarova 6-2 7-5. Joining her in the third round was Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, who made short work of Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, winning 6-0 6-1.