Katie Boulter v Aliaksandra Sasnovich LIVE: US Open tennis scores as British No.1 secures comeback win
The US Open first round continues with Dan Evans, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper also in action at Flushing Meadows
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Katie Boulter got her US Open campaign off to a successful start as she faced Belarussian Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round at Flushing Meadows in New York. The British No.1 took to court against the qualifier and never settled in the opening set.
After taking a 2-0 lead, Boulter slipped behind and lost the opener to a thriving Sasnovich who looked dangerous. However, Boulter recovered to take the next two sets without much trouble, holding serve in each game and securing enough breaks to win the match 5-7 6-2 6-1.
She now advances into the second round and will be hoping for a long run at the tournament this time around. Boulter has had a good and consistent this year so far, winning two WTA Tour titles but has underperformed in the majors. In 2024, she is is yet to progress futher than the second round at a Grand Slam but will be confident after her win on Tuesday.
Relive the action from Boulter’s opening US Open match below:
Katie Boulter 5-7 1-0 Aliaksandra Sasnovich*
Katie Boulter’s first serve dropped off massively as the first set went on which pretty much handed the initiative to her opponent in each game.
She needs to bring it back up if she wants to get back into this match. She’s also struggling to land her forehands and too often is sending them long.
Boulter manages to get through a nervy opening game in the second and holds serve.
Katie Boulter 5-7 Aliaksandra Sasnovich - SET!
Oh Katie!
The first two returns of serve are punted too long and she gives away to easy points. Sasnovich then lands a forehand down the line on the baseline to open up three set points.
Boulter smokes a backhand return over the net and beats Sasnovich for pace meaning one of them gets saved. She then sets up a forehand down the line but hits it too long!
Sasnovich takes the first set.
Katie Boulter 5-6 Aliaksandra Sasnovich* - BREAK!
Boulter buckles under the pressure and Aliaksandra Sasnovich manages to get through the next two rallies, winning both points, and clinching a break of serve.
She’s now serving to win the first set... again.
*Katie Boulter 5-5 Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Now then.
Katie Boulter opens up a two point lead after a couple of errors from Sasnovich. The Brit sends a second serve to her opponent’s backhand and Sasnovich drills it back. Boulter’s response clips the tape and falls back onto her own side of court.
30-15.
That is good! Sasnovich is on the front foot in the next rally and takes the point with a whipping forehand that lands in the far back corner.
Oh! Sasnovich is forced deep behind the baseline as Boulter attempts to overpower her. The Belarussian gets one to land on the baseline and Boulter has to lift it up on the half-volley. She doesn’t get the height and finds the net. Sasnovich has a break point but Boulter holds her nerve and rescues it.
Deuce.
*Katie Boulter 5-5 Aliaksandra Sasnovich - BREAK!
The hold of serve from Boulter has caused another slight momentum shift. She takes the first point of the next game before pushing a backhand too wide.
Sasnovich serves to Boulter’s forehand then messes up a backhand slice and finds the net. Sasnovich draws level once more with a forehand that she whips to the left side of court and Boulter can’t get across in time to return.
The British No.1 sets up a break point though with a blistering forehand aimed at the body, Sasnovich’s return hits the tape.
The Belarussian mess up massively though. A double fault gives Boulter a break and she’s back in the set!
Katie Boulter 4-5 Aliaksandra Sasnovich*
There’s a lot of work for Boulter to do now.
She must, must hold her serve here of else Sasnovich wins the opening set. It’s already a tight game at 30-30 with mistakes from both players.
Boulter sends a serve to Sasnovich’s forehand and is waiting for the cross court return which does come. The rally continues in this way, Boulter to the forehand, Sasnovich returning across the court.
Boulter then switches it up and nails one down the line before going on to hold!
*Katie Boulter 3-5 Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Boulter started this match in blistering fashion but her momentum has been nullified by Sasnovich who has settled into this match nicely.
After being broken, the Brit goes after Sasnovich’s serve and opens up a 0-30 lead. She tries to keep the attack going but misses her next two returns and Sasnovich is back level.
Four points in a row for the Belarussian and she closes in on the opening set!
Katie Boulter 3-4 Aliaksandra Sasnovich* - BREAK!
Sasnovich makes Boutler work as she’s forced to both sides of the baseline. Boutler defends strongly and gets her reward as Sasnovich ploughs a forehand into the net.
The Brit edges into a 30-15 lead and attempts to come down the line but hits the tape to allow her back into the game.
The players trade blows, and points, to take this game to deuce and Boulter is under threat a bit here. Her first serve percentage is dropping leaving easier opportunities for Sasnovich to attack her serve.
The Belarussian is first to advantage and breaks! Boulter hooks a backhand wide of the court and Sasnovich edges closer to winning the first set.
*Katie Boulter 3-3 Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Sasnovich errs with a double fault at advantage then is bullied by the Boulter forehand. The Brit smokes a winner past her opponent to set up a second break point but Sasnovich saves it again.
This is the longest game of the set and the Belarussian doesn’t want to give it up. She serves to the side line of the box and lands the first ace of the match.
Sasnovich then gets a backhand down the line to drop and manages to hold her serve.
Katie Boulter 3-2 Aliaksandra Sasnovich*
This is a good match. Sasnovich is growing in confidence, Boulter is already confident. There are some great shots coming out and some typical errors
Boulter opens up a 0-30 lead against the serve but punts a backhand into the net. Sasnovich levels the game in the next rally before underhitting a backhand attempt to go down the line and finding the tape.
She needs to defend break point now...
... and does! Boutler runs around the ball to unleash on a forehand but it’s not on. She has to run to far and isn’t balanced as she takes the shot. The ball lands in the net and the game goes to deuce.
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