U.S. Open recap Day 4: A 10-minute tennis microdrama as rain finally clears

Key Points:

• Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina’s U.S. Open match was suspended by rain at match point and resumed over nine hours later, with Badosa ultimately winning after a mentally challenging break. Both players described the difficulty of staying mentally prepared and managing emotions during the delay.
• Rain caused scheduling challenges on Day 4, pushing first-round matches into the fourth day and forcing the USTA to juggle court assignments carefully to avoid disrupting the night session and accommodate the weather forecast.
• Several young ATP players, including Rafael Jódar, Brandon Nakashima, and Arthur Fils, experienced surprising early exits, attributed to the physical and mental toll of a long tennis season despite their promising form.
• Daniil Medvedev criticized a chair umpire’s decision to replay a point because of two birds landing on the net, calling it the most ridiculous decision he had seen, though he won his match comfortably.
• Notable Day 4 results included Aryna Sabalenka’s dominant win, Carlos Alcaraz advancing after dropping a set, Mariano Navone’s upset over Matteo Berrettini, and strong performances from Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton, and Karolína Muchová.