Six days of competition and it’s already over in singles for the French representation at the US Tennis Open in New York. Of the twenty-four Tricolores entered in the main draws at Flushing Meadow, they were four (Arthur Rinderknech, Adrian Mannarino, Benjamin Bonzi for men, Clara Burel for women) to be able to pass in the second week, but none did. do.

Mannarino and Bonzi were eliminated on Friday, and Arthur Rinderknech, 73rd in the world, was taken out, Saturday, September 2, in the third round, by Russian Andrey Rublev (8th) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 . No French player has therefore reached the knockout stages of the men’s Grand Slam table this year, a collective underperformance which had only happened in 2021 and 1978 in recent history.

“I had never played against Arthur and I wasn’t sure what to expect, except that I had seen on TV that he had a big forehand. I’m happy to have turned the tide and won,” commented the 25-year-old Russian. Tormented by his wrist last year, Rinderknech had chained on a Covid in December, mononucleosis in January and February of this year, then pubalgia. But against Rublev, he had all his means.

From the first set, the Frenchman managed a white break to lead 3-2 then 4-2. Rublev broke on the heels, but failed to save his next face-off, allowing Rinderknech to serve for the set at 5-3. Solid, the French pocketed the sleeve. But then the tide turned. Rublev earned the break to lead 4-2 and confirmed at 5-2. He served at 5-3 to tie one innings all.

Rinderknech then seemed to lose his footing and even offered the third set on a double fault. However, the fourth round was the most hooked. Both players held their face-off until 5-5, with Rinderknech saving three match points at 5-4. But after having an equalizer at 6-6, he conceded a fourth match point on which he bowed.

Step too high for Clara Burel

A little earlier, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, 2nd player in the world, had dismissed the last French in the women’s table Clara Burel 6-1, 6-1 to reach the round of 16.

The step was too high for the 62nd player in the world, who fought but lost too many precious points on her serve, including committing five double faults in the first set. In the second set, the 22-year-old found the resources to win the first game on her serve and gave Sabalenka a hard time on her serve at 4-1, even giving herself her only break point, which she did not transform.

“It was difficult, from the start she took me a little by the throat, she chained a lot of good points and I couldn’t get into the rhythm (…) she didn’t didn’t let it breathe”, noted Clara Burel, after the meeting. “I never really got into the game,” she added. With this course, the French is doing as well as last year at the US Open, where Sabalenka had already beaten her in the 3rd round 6-0, 6-2.

The Belarusian, who is aiming for the title, must watch for the course of the American Jessica Pegula, 3rd in the world, who put an end to the adventure of the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (26th) on Saturday in three sets (6-4, 4 -6, 6-2). Pegula, 29, will face compatriot Madison Keys (17th and 2017 runner-up at Flushing Meadows) on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals.

Alcaraz and Sinner qualify for the round of 16

In the men’s draw, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and his British opponent Daniel Evans (28th) offered the Arthur-Ashe court audience a match filled with spectacular exchanges, finally won in 3:11 by the Spaniard 6-2 , 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. “He was (Evans) a tough opponent. I am very, very happy to have arrived there, “commented the world No.1 who will give way to the top of the hierarchy to Novak Djokovic regardless of the results of the tournament.

“There were great points, great shots, lots of different situations,” he added, visibly happy to “make people happy.” In search of a third Grand Slam title (after the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon this season), the Murcian will face the Italian Matteo Arnaldi (61st in the world at 22) who released the Briton Cameron Norrie (16th) , 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Jannik Sinner, 6th in the world, qualified by dominating the Swiss Stan Wawrinka (49th), winner in 2016, in four sets (6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2). “I’m happy with my game. I didn’t play my best tennis, but I was able to raise my level on the key points”, analyzed the 22-year-old Italian.