By Chris Oddo | Wednesday August 30, 2017
Two high seeds with title hopes in New York kept their dreams alive on Day 3 with deciding-set victories in their first-round matches.
Day 3: Kyrgios Says Commitment "Probably Not Coming"
Elina Svitolina rallied from a break down in the third set against feisty Katerina Siniakova to notch a 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-3 win and book a second-round clash with Evgeniya Rodina of Russia.
Svitolina improved to 46-10 on the season and 14-6 in three-set matches. The Ukrainian leads the WTA with five titles this season and owns an impressive 7-1 record against the Top 5.
Svitolina is one of seven player with a shot at claiming the No.1 ranking by the end of the U.S. Open, but she’ll need to reach at least the semis to get there. Svitolina has never reached beyond the third round at the U.S. Open in five previous appearances.
Kuznetsova Saves 3 MPs to Defeat Vondrousova
Svetlana Kuznetsova had her back against the wall on Day 3 but emerged with a confidence-inspiring, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) victory over 18-year-old Czech Marketa Vondrousova. The Czech, playing in her first U.S. Open main draw, had three match points while serving for the match at 5-4 but Kuznetsova gutted out the break and eventually emerged victorious after playing a tidy third-set tiebreaker.
Kuznetsova improved to 11-2 in tiebreakers on the year, and 35-13 overall at the U.S. Open. The 2004 champion earned her 152nd Grand Slam victory, a total that is only surpassed by Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova among active players.
Radwanska Rolls, Vandeweghe Fights Back
No.10-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska set up a second-round clash with Yulia Putintseva and improved to 3-0 lifetime against Petra Martic with a 6-4, 7-6(3) win. The Pole is making her 46th consecutive appearance at a major and has not missed a Grand Slam since her major debut at Wimbledon in 2006.
Vandeweghe battled back from a set down to defeat fellow American Alison Riske, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.