Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina could not reach the third round at the US Open after a straight-sets defeat to American competitor Python Stearns in the second round. The match lasted one hour and twenty-three minutes and concluded with scores of 1-6 and 6-7. Kasatkina stood her ground in the second set, pushing it to a tiebreak with a 6-7 result, but Stearns claimed the decisive points. Across the clash, Kasatkina served seven times, recorded eight double faults, and converted three of six break chances. Stearns delivered six aces, registered three double faults, and converted five of six break points.
Looking ahead to the fourth round, Stearns is set to meet Donna Vekic of Croatia, who defeated Belgian Greta Minnen in two sets, 7-5 and 6-1. The path to success in this round marks another milestone for Stearns, who faced a strong opponent in Kasatkina and emerged with a decisive win.
In her previous Grand Slam appearance at Wimbledon, Kasatkina was edged out in the third round by Paula Badosa of Spain. That match stretched over nearly three hours and concluded in three sets with scores of 6-7, 6-4, 4-6. The tiebreak in the opening set went to Badosa with a tight finish, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Kasatkina was cleared by the International Olympic Committee to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but she opted not to take part. Her decision left room for speculation about her priorities and plans for the season ahead.
Earlier in the season, Anastasia Potapova delivered a notable performance by advancing to the second round of the US Open, highlighting the depth of talent in the Russian tennis contingent and signaling strong form entering the latter stages of the year.