WHAT HAPPENED: Under the lights—and under the pressure to conquer two universally loved American players in a row—Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen proved her first-round win against tennis legend Venus Williams wasn’t for nothing. She found herself a spot in the third round of the US Open for the second time in her career with a win over fellow qualifier Sachia Vickery, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Both players held their own at the start—the first potential break only in sight during a close deuce game. Minnen held for 3-2, though, and pounded her shots into Vickery’s weaker side, pushing her opponent into a defensive ball chase. The first break of the opening set came from Minnen, as Vickery’s favorite shot—her backhand—brought her a mix of winners, but also misses into the net. Minnen was able to close that first set, 6-3.
But as more American supporters (who seemingly refreshed their vocal cords from the day session, to give all the energy they could to Vickery) filtered into the stands of Court 17, Vickery’s game got more bold. She was able to take the second set, 6-4.
“The crowd was quite tough on me,” said Minnen post-match. “It wasn’t easy to manage, but I’m proud of my mental effort today.”
Vickery was at bat to start the final set of the match, and an 11-minute game ensued, which she was able to hold. But the chants from the crowd, in Vickery’s favor, surprisingly fueled Minnen to take back a match she felt was hers. She broke at 4-4 and finished the match on her serve, 6-4, sending more than one American home disappointed.
WHAT IT MEANS: This is the second time in Minnen’s career that she has advanced into Round 3 of a Grand Slam (in 2021 she reached that stage here as well, as a lucky loser). In her next match, she’ll be facing world No. 13 Daria Kasatkina, who she is 0-1 against. She fell to Kasatkina around this time last year, at the Granby National Bank Championships in another three-setter, 7-6(4), 4-6, 2-6.
But Minnen is relishing the challenge, explaining, “[Kasatkina]’s been at the top of the game for many years. I’ll have to play my best tennis to beat her and play aggressive to have a chance. But, I have nothing to lose.”
This won’t be the first time Minnen has had the opportunity to take out a top seed in a Grand Slam. The biggest win of her career was last summer at Wimbledon, when she stunned the world with a clean defeat of the two-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza in the first round, 6-4, 6-0.
Even still, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is waiting at the bottom of the draw.
MATCH POINT: Today, Day 4 at the 2023 US Open, celebrates Open Pride—a day for the tournament and its patrons to reflect on love and equality. Minnen herself is a LGBTQ+ advocate, and together, with her former partner, Belgian Alison van Uytvanck, she’s won two WTA Tour doubles titles (2018; 2021). In 2019, she and Van Uytvanck paired up for Wimbledon and made history as the first openly gay couple to play on court together at a Grand Slam. Yes, Billie Jean King was gladly in attendance.
