NEW YORK (AFP): Ons Jabeur overcame a bout of flu that has left her feeling like a “zombie” to battle into the third round of the US Open on Thursday.
The Tunisian fifth seed has struggled to produce her best form since arriving in New York, having been laid low by illness which struck on the eve of the tournament.
After finding it difficult to breathe during her opening round victory on Tuesday, Jabeur once again found the going tough on Thursday, labouring to a 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 6-3 victory over Czech teenager Linda Noskova.
Jabeur, chasing a maiden Grand Slam after losing back-to-back Wimbledon finals last year and this season, as well as finishing as a runner-up at last year’s US Open, revealed after her win that she has been ill for most of the past week.
“I’ve been sick since I think Thursday,” she said. “I’m taking a lot of medicine. I’m doing everything I can with my team trying to recover.
“Honestly, they have amazing doctors here, so they’ve been helping me. Every day I’m there. Basically took every medication they have.
“We try to manage what my health is right now. I’m glad it was two matches, two tests for me. I was trying to push myself to see what I can do, getting out of the comfort zone kind of.
“Hopefully will continue in a better shape and feel better for the next match.”
Jabeur said she had been refreshed by a well-deserved holiday after Wimbledon, but admitted: “I’m a zombie because I have a flu.
“I took vacation after Wimbledon. I think that really helped me kind of take a second breath for the rest of the season.
“Emotionally could be tired, but I know if I just let go, I will regret it, so I want to continue and stay in New York as long as I can.”
Jabeur will play another Czech in the third round on Saturday, Marie Bouzkova.
“I have a lot of respect for Czech tennis school, in general,” Jabeur said. “They really, really have amazing players.
“Another test against Marie. It’s going to be tough playing her, but I’m going to get ready and hopefully prepare well for the match.”
Alcaraz through at US Open
World number one Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to a US Open rematch with Italy’s Jannik Sinner on Thursday as Grand Slam winners Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova booked their places in the third round.
Defending champion Alcaraz eased into a last 32 meeting with Britain’s Dan Evans after dispatching South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in 2hr 28min on the Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt.
It means Alcaraz is just two wins away from a potential quarter-final collision with Italian sixth seed Sinner, who continued his serene progress through the draw Thursday with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of compatriot Lorenzo Sonego.
Last year, Alcaraz and Sinner produced an epic five-set quarter-final classic that was not completed until 2.50am local time — the latest ever finish in US Open history.
After their performances on Thursday, few would bet against a repeat of last year’s heavyweight slugfest in this year’s quarter-finals.
“I think I played a great match from the beginning to the last ball,” Alcaraz said after his defeat of Harris.
“To be able to win in straight sets is really important to me in the first rounds,” added Alcaraz, who is bidding to become the first man to defend the US Open since 2008, when Roger Federer hoisted the trophy for a fifth straight year.
The 22-year-old Sinner meanwhile looks to be firing on all cylinders on the evidence of his second round performance.
The Italian conceded just 10 points on serve without giving Sonego a single break point throughout the 2hr 5min encounter.
Sinner will play 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the third round on Saturday. Wawrinka, 38, rolled back the years to eliminate Argentine No.30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-2.
Germany’s 12th seed Alexander Zverev is also potentially lurking in Sinner’s path before a quarter-final with Alcaraz.
Zverev booked his place in the third round with a 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of compatriot Daniel Altmaier.
– Champions advance –
Elsewhere Thursday, Britain’s 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray slumped to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov.
Former world number three Dimitrov, who saved three match points in the opening round, meets 2020 runner-up Zverev in the last 32.
“It’s obviously disappointing, to not play how you would like,” said Murray, who hit 45 unforced errors and just 16 winners, following his loss to Dimitrov.
While Murray tumbled out, fellow Britons Jack Draper and Katie Boulter both advanced to the third round in contrasting fashion in their second round matches.
Draper upset Polish 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a third round meeting with American wild card Michael Mmoh, who defeated John Isner 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-6 (10/7) in what was the final game of the big-serving veteran’s career.
Boulter came from behind to beat China’s Wang Yafan 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.
But another Briton, Jodie Burrage, saw her tournament come to an end after a one-sided defeat to second seed Sabalenka of Belarus, the reigning Australian Open champion. Sabalenka prevailed 6-3, 6-2 in 1hr 14min.
Sabalenka, 25, has reached the semi-finals or better at the past four Grand Slams and can replace Iga Swiatek as world number one if she matches the Pole’s result in New York.
“I’m not really focused on that, but it’s going to mean a lot to me,” said Sabalenka. “It’s one of my goals, one of my dreams and I’ll do my best to reach my dream.”
Another of 2023’s Grand Slam winners, Wimbledon champion Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, could meet Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
Vondrousova, who made history by becoming the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon in July, had too much firepower for Italy’s Martina Trevisan, winning 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 20min.
The ninth seed said afterwards she is adjusting to being the hunted rather than the hunter in the wake of her unexpected Wimbledon triumph.
“It’s a tough position,” Vondrousova said. “I feel like everybody wants to beat me. I’m just happy to be here and play good tennis.”
Meanwhile Tunisia’s fifth seed Ons Jabeur, runner-up at last year’s US Open final and beaten by Vondrousova in the Wimbledon final in July, was put through the grinder in a 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 6-3 defeat of Czech teenager Linda Noskova.
