Defending champion Naomi Osaka has advanced to the US Open third round, after Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic withdrew from their second-round match, due to illness.
The Japanese third seed and world No.145 Danilovic, who was competing in her first US Open main draw, were scheduled as the day's second match in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I am so sad to have to [withdraw] from my match this morning," Danilovic wries on social media.
"I have been feeling unwell these past few days, dealing with a non-COVID-related viral illness. I was really looking forward to playing against Naomi on Arthur Ashe Stadium today, but not to be this time."
Osaka will face Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the third round.
Meanwhile, Simona Halep admits she got lucky, when her second-round match with Kristina Kucova was moved from a rainy outside court to the dry of Arthur Ashe Stadium, allowing her an uninterrupted 6-3 6-1 victory.
The stop-and-start rain delays on a dreary day at Flushing Meadows provided a reflection of Halep's season that has seen the Romanian struggle through an injury-disrupted campaign.
The twice Grand Slam winner missed the French Open, Wimbledon and Tokyo Olympics, due to a calf injury, then in only her second tournament back, she was forced to withdraw from the US Open tune-up event at Cincinnati, due to a right thigh injury.
"I think, in life, you cannot do much without luck," smiles Halep. "I feel like I'm a lucky person, always have been, but you have also to work for what you want and what you desire.
"Then the luck, if you are positive, the luck comes to you. Like today, I was positive and I was ready to play the second round.
"I was like very positive that I'm healthy and I can go on court 100 percent, and the court has changed and I could play without stopping because of the rain."
Reuters
