Hot Russian rises in New York

Russia’s Ludmila Samsonova continued her strong summer form by sending US Open 2021 finalist Leylah Fernandez out of this year’s tournament, defeating the Canadian 14th seed in straight sets in their meeting on Wednesday.

23-year-old Samsonova traveled to New York following WTA title wins at the Citi Open and Cleveland and has so far continued that streak at Flushing Meadows.

The Russian impressed again against last year’s New York finalist Fernandez, beating the 19-year-old 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in an hour and 45 minutes at Grandstand Stadium.

The result extended the winning streak for world No. 35 Samsonova to 12 games – the last seven of which were all played in straight sets.

“It was the first time I’ve played on such a big court here at the US Open, it was incredible,” Samsonova said their last victory.

“It was so tough against Leylah today. I think my serve was fantastic so that was key for me today.”

The Olenegorsk-born star meets world No. 96 Aleksandra Krunic in the third round after the Serbian scored her own upset win over Czech 23rd seed Barbora Krejcikova.

Additionally, a potential fourth-round clash could loom with Serena Williams.

Elsewhere in the women’s singles draw in New York, Samsonova’s compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova – seeded 28th – ended her rain-plagued first-round match against American Peyton Stearns with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win to one Prepare to meet in the second round with another US rival, Lauren Davis.

There was also joy for Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, 25, on Wednesday as she advanced to the third round by beating Ukrainian-born Belgian Maryna Zanevska.

Seeded 18th, Kudermetova is the highest-ranking Russian woman still in the draw after the early elimination of national number one Daria Kasatkina.

Kudermetova meets Hungarian outsider Dalma Galfi in New York on Friday after Galfi defeated Kasatkina’s British conqueror Harriet Dart in the second round.

While there were victories for Kudermetova and Samsonova, her compatriots Anna Kalinskaya and Evgeniya Rodina will not feature in the third round after being beaten by France’s Caroline Garcia and Croatia’s Ajla Tomljanovic respectively.

In the men’s draw, world number one and defending champion Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round with a win in straight sets over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Medvedev, 26, next plays China’s Wu Yibing – the 22-year-old rising star who has become the first man from his country to reach the third round of the US Open.

Karen Khachanov, the No. 27 seeded Russian, is also safe in the third round after beating Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in four sets in their encounter, and next plays unseeded British talent Jack Draper.