TIL Desk Sports/ Three-time champion Rafael Nadal advanced into the third round of the ongoing US Open without hitting a ball in the second round while former women”s world No. 1 Simona Halep crashed out, conceding a shocking defeat to 116th seed.
Nadal”s advance came after his scheduled second-round opponent Thanasi Kokkinakis was unable to play due to injury. According to tournament organisers, the Australian wildcard entry Kokkinakis pulled out of the Thursday evening tie with a right shoulder problem.
Second seed Nadal will next face either 32nd-seeded fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco or South Korea”s Chung Hyeon on Saturday. Meanwhile, in women”s singles, former world No. 1 Simona Halep was shocked by 23-year-old qualifier Taylor Townsend at the Flushing Meadows as the Romanian was defeated 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (4) to crash out of the competition. “I never played with someone coming so often to the net,” Halep said. “I didn”t miss much. It”s unbelievable.”
