Aussie Women's US Open Setbacks

The Australian women's US Open journey encounters obstacles as Ajla Tomljanovic withdraws after a challenging victory, and Daria Saville falls to Iga Swiatek, leaving no Aussies in the tournament.

The Australian contingent at the US Open faced a double blow as both Ajla Tomljanovic and Daria Saville exited the tournament in their second-round clashes. Tomljanovic's emotional opening-round victory proved to be too taxing, leading to her withdrawal from the competition. This disappointing news came shortly after Daria Saville's valiant effort against world No.1 Iga Swiatek ended in a straight-sets loss.

Tomljanovic's return to the US Open was marked by an impressive opening-round win against Panna Udvardy. However, the toll of the three-set victory, coupled with her previous knee injury that kept her sidelined throughout 2023, prompted her to withdraw from her scheduled second-round match against fourth seed Elena Rybakina. The victory over Udvardy came as a surprise, considering Tomljanovic's prolonged absence due to injury. Unfortunately, her body's response to the intensity of high-level tennis forced her to pull out of the tournament.

Daria Saville, who made her return to the tennis court in June after a nine-month absence due to a torn ACL, faced a challenging opponent in Iga Swiatek. Despite her ranking of No.322 in the world, Saville displayed resilience and determination against the top seed. However, her lack of second-serve firepower proved to be a disadvantage, and Swiatek secured a victory in straight sets.

While the Aussie women's journey at the US Open came to an end, there was a glimmer of hope in the form of wildcard Rinky Hijikata. The 22-year-old from Sydney powered into the third round with an impressive straight-sets win over Hungary's Márton Fucsovics. This marked a significant achievement for Hijikata, as he advanced to the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his career. His dominating performance guaranteed him a career-best paycheck of $298,250 and elevated his world ranking to No.92.

Hijikata's success contrasted with the challenges faced by Tomljanovic and Saville. Tomljanovic's decision to withdraw from the tournament was fueled by the need for her body to adjust to the demanding nature of high-level tennis. Her remarkable performance in previous years, including victories against top players like Serena Williams and quarter-final appearances at Grand Slam events, adds to the disappointment of her withdrawal.

Despite the setbacks faced by Tomljanovic and Saville, the Australian presence at the US Open still sparked conversations and emotions. Tomljanovic's journey from injury to victory to withdrawal highlights the physical demands of professional tennis, while Saville's determined effort despite her low ranking showcased the spirit of competition. As the tournament progresses, fans will witness further surprises, upsets, and displays of resilience on the court, shaping the narrative of the 2023 US Open.

The Australian women's US Open journey encounters obstacles as Ajla Tomljanovic withdraws after a challenging victory, and Daria Saville falls to Iga Swiatek, leaving no Aussies in the tournament.