Getting Over the Hump

HATS OFF

Hump Day will kick off as one of the two Colombians remaining in the singles draw takes to Center Court. Emiliana Arango became a household name last year when she beat Taylor Townsend in Guadalajara to become the first player from her country to reach a WTA 1000 quarterfinal in 19 years. That feat would pique her nation’s hopes for what the 23-year-old hat-wearing player might deliver. Well, she definitely delivered in her convincing straight-setter over promising American Alycia Parks. She now faces Wang Yafan who ousted No. 4 seed Lucia Bronzetti two days ago. 

THREE IN ONE

American supermom, Taylor Townsend, battled from a set down to defeat the hometown kid Fernanda Contreras in front of a packed Grandstand yesterday. After her win, Townsend introduced her grandmother to the Austin crowd and seemed to credit her presence for the extra motivation. Adyn’s mommy will take on our No. 8 seed Yuan Yue for a second time, with Taylor winning their Tyler, Texas, encounter almost two years ago. Austin just might see three generations in the house for this one on what promises to be an action-packed Wednesday afternoon.

FAN FAVOR

In the first offering of the evening session, our No. 1 seed, Anhelina Kalinina, takes on the former US Open junior champion Camila Osorio. The latter struggles to choose between a good fight and a great smile, so she tends to opt for both. After dispatching of veteran Alizé Cornet in her first round match, Camila charmed the crowd by telling them they were her favorite thing about Austin (smiling as she did so, of course). Will that exchange be enough to guarantee the fans’ favor as she seeks to avenge her 2019 loss against an in-form Kalinina?

SECOND SECONDS

The nightcap will be a battle of seconds. The pair of Diane Parry and Kamilla Rakhimova met just one month ago in the second round of the Australian Open, with Parry taking that one in two sets. Expect some deja vu vibes as the duo brings their battle from down under to down south…playing for a second time…in the second round.

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

Peyton Stearns may have gone down on the singles court, but she is certainly not out of the tournament. The Longhorn legend will be looking to extend her stay as she and fellow American Sloane Stephens take to the doubles court on Grandstand. Is it too soon for a team name? What do you suggest?