In an interview with Stadium Last week, Beatriz Haddad Maia already predicted the future: “the rivals already know me, they know how I play”. In the early hours of this Thursday, the number 1 tennis player in Brazil saw her prediction come true. Bianca Andreescu entered the court already knowing what to expect from the Brazilian and got the best, by 2 sets to 0, with partials of 6/2 and 6/4. The Brazilian was knocked out in the second round of the US Open.

American Grand Slam champion in 2019, Andreescu faced Bia already knowing the aggressive posture of the Brazilian who had worked in recent weeks. In broad terms, the national tennis player was runner-up at the WTA 1000 in Toronto last month and sits atop the women’s circuit at No. 15 in the rankings.

Beatriz Haddad Maia was eliminated in the second phase of the US Open. Photo: Frank Franklin/AP

None of this went unnoticed by the Canadian tennis player, who relied on tactical variations, with higher balls and quick changes of direction, to hamper Bia’s more aggressive strategy. Uncomfortable on the court, the Brazilian was unable to repeat what had worked in recent months.

Despite the Canadian’s tactical performance, Bia made a reasonable presentation. Ended the game with 20 winning balls, against 11 from the opponent. But he exaggerated in unforced errors: 30. Andreescu, former world number 4 and currently 48th, only scored 14. The Canadian scored three breaks on serve, while Bia failed to win on the service of its rival.

Despite the elimination, Bia recorded her best record ever at the US Open. Until then, he had failed to impose himself in the main draw. Now she will focus her attention on the doubles bracket. She and partner Anna Danilina form the tournament’s 8th seeded partnership.

Finalists of the Australian Open this year, they will start this Thursday against the Serb Aleksandra Krunic and the Polish Magda Linette. Bia and Danilina try to confirm in New York their place in the WTA Finals, a competition that closes the season and brings together the eight best tennis players and the eight best doubles of the year.

Bia was not the only seed (15th) to bid farewell to the tournament this morning. Greek Maria Sakkari (3rd), Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez (14th) and Czech Barbora Krejcikova (23rd) were also eliminated. Tunisian Ons Jabeur (5th), Russian Veronika Kudermetova (18th), French Caroline Garcia (17th) and Americans Coco Gauff (12th), Madison Keys (20th), Alison Riske-Amritraj (29th) and Shelby Rogers (29th) 31st) qualified.

Man

Current world number 1, Russian Daniel Medvedev won one more at the US Open and secured in the third round. On Wednesday night, the defending US Open champion beat the French Arthur Rinderknech for 3 sets to 0, with partials of 6/2, 7/5 and 6/3. The leader of the ranking is yet to drop a set in New York.

In the sequel, he will face the young Chinese Yibing Wu. The 22-year-old tennis player qualified by beating the Portuguese Nuno Borges by 6/7 (3/7), 7/6 (7/4), 4/ 6, 6/4 and 6/4. If he confirms his favoritism in the third round, Medvedev could meet Australian Nick Kyrgios, current vice-champion at Wimbledon, in the round of 16.