Today has been one of my favourite tennis days of the year with so many great matches and exciting tennis moments to enjoy. Therefore, this is the first of two recaps in a double header of Saturday’s Set Points! The first two winners on day 6 of the 2017 US Open were the world number ones in doubles and singles, and in contrasting fashion.

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First through to the second week from the top half of the draw was the world number one in doubles, Lucie Safarova with a super clean display, beating Kurumi Nara, 6-3 6-2. Safarova wobbled a tad, leading *4-0 *40-0 in the second set, but refocused from 4-2 and finished in style. Lucie played such an aggressive match and her forehand was PEAK at the start of the second set. There were some gorgeous angles and a stunning on-the-run forehand winner down-the-line.

This was an ideal match-up for Safarova as Nara didn’t put her under a great deal of pressure so she was able to dictate and go after her shots. It was also nice to see Lucie win nine out of nine points up at the net. There is no doubt that her success in doubles has translated to her being more positive in singles coming forward.

I’m thrilled for Lucie who is through to the fourth round of a Slam for the first time since Wimbledon 2016! Here’s the selfie from the screencap above.

I enjoyed this interview with Lucie after her first round win over Anett Kontaveit – watch out for a cameo by Donna Vekic and Peng Shuai walking by at about 0:40 in the video! 😂

The world number one in singles, Karolina Pliskova battled through a forearm injury and against an at-times inspired opponent, saving a match point to beat Zhang Shuai, 3-6 7-5 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes. An aggressive, Zhang had served for the match leading 6-3 *5-4. The Chinese player was clearly tight, yet did chalk up a match point – Pliskova saved it with a sensational forehand down-the-line. Full credit to Zhang who never threw in the towel after losing the second set and played her part in a thrilling third set. In the end, Pliskova was just a bit tougher mentally in the key moments.

There was quite a roar from Pliskova at the end! The arm injury was certainly a worry for Karolina but hats off to her – I am mega impressed how she hung in there, yet came through for her second hard fought three set win of the week.

One of many great points from the third set of Pliskova-Zhang.

CoCo Vandeweghe had never previously won a set off Agnieszka Radwanska on hard courts in five previous encounters. The American turned the tables with a superb display to win, 7-5 4-6 6-4 in two hours and 56 minutes. I loved the contrast in styles and there were so many exciting points.

Vandeweghe recovered from a slow, nervy start to win the opener, 7-5, serving out the set at the second time of asking on her fourth set point. I was surprised how patient Vandeweghe was from the baseline and I felt she was zoning in on the straight sets win. Vandeweghe chalked up a break point at 4-4 in the second set. However, Radwanska held on and then pounced with a forceful return on set point after Vandeweghe had hit back-to-back double faults serving at *4-5 *40-15.

The decider went to and fro – the quality wasn’t always there but it remained fascinating to watch. In a four deuce game at 3-3, Vandeweghe broke with a huge forehand winner. It proved to be the pivotal break as Vandeweghe consolidated with a big hold and then shook off a few nerves at the end to serve out the match to 30.

Radwanska challenged on match point – Vandeweghe’s reaction 😂

I was so impressed with CoCo’s tennis, mixing in patience from the baseline and aggressive charges to the net. She showed signs of cracking mentally but held it together (just!) in the decider for one of her best wins of the year. On a personal note, I thought that delaying the handshake with Radwanska and leaving her waiting while she celebrated to the crowd was uncalled for and lacked class. Just when I was starting to warm a tad to CoCo…

There were so many hot shots from the Vandeweghe-Radwanska match…

WHAT. A. POINT.

Amazing again from CoCo!

The WTA has gone OTT in my opinion on Aga hot shots – this though was totally legit!

Jennifer Brady has bookended her Slam year with last 16 showings at the Australian Open and US Open . Fun stat alert – Brady’s seven main draw wins at WTA level in 2017 have all come at the Slams!

Brady was ultimately rewarded for her positivity in a 6-3 4-6 7-6(3) win over Monica Niculescu in two hours and 26 minutes. I watched most of the third set and it was so much fun. Brady’s net charging against Niculescu’s passing shots was a fun dynamic. Chuck in Niculescu’s forehand slice, some wicked drop shots and Brady struggling to stay on her feet and it was wild! Brady played a great third set tiebreak and won a trio of points up at the net.

There was one point that went Niculescu’s way in the third set tiebreak as she held firm at the net – as Brady chased back Niculescu’s response, she collapsed in a heap. This may be one of my favourite screencaps of the year 😂😂😂

Note Brady was laughing while on the floor!

Love this shot of Brady from the WTA’s Instagram page.

So the first quarter of the draw has produced the following fourth round matches for Monday:

(1) Karolina Pliskova vs. Jennifer Brady

(20) CoCo Vandeweghe vs. Lucie Safarova

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A pair of polls already up – who you got? Come on Lucie, you can do this! 😄😄😄

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