Howell's World Doubles Challenge in doubt after calf injury in US Open semis
Riviere and Lumley set up US Open final rematch
Nick Howell’s upcoming challenge for the World Doubles Championship has been thrown into jeopardy after he suffered a calf injury in the semi-finals of the US Open at the Racquet Club of Chicago on Monday evening. Meanwhile, Camden Riviere and John Lumley have set up a rematch of last year’s final, as Riviere seeks to recover his title from the World Number 2.
The first semi-final was between Nick Howell and Camden Riviere. It was their first meeting in a ranking event since the 2024 British Open final, which had been the first time Howell won a set from Riviere. As he had done in that match, Howell took the game to Riviere from the first ball, getting a good result from his cut-volley into Riviere’s left-handed backhand corner. However, after winning the first two games, Howell’s left leg pulled up lame after extending it out to change directions. He battled on for five more minutes but it was increasingly obvious that he was unable to move, wincing after every shot. By the sixth game, Howell called it quits, handing Riviere a direct passage to the final.
The second semi-final was between defending champion John Lumley and Bryn Sayers, who was playing in his first US Open semi-final since 2013. Both players opted for slow serves with plenty of backspin: underarm twists served from high in the court or giraffes and chandelles. The result was primarily a floor game, with each trying to outmanoeuvre the other, working the ball side to side. For Sayers, it was all about survival, keeping the rally going one more ball, whereas for Lumley, he always seemed to be able to find a way out of the rally when he needed it, hitting a target or a gallery, or driving a ball low onto the back wall for it to cut down. After Sayers won the first game, Lumley took the next five, putting the first set out of reach for his opponent. Sayers took another token game, but Lumley quickly had a 1-0 lead.
In the second set, Lumley was a bit more expansive in his play, looking to finish points earlier if at all possible. His approach paid off, winning the first four games easily and looking as though he was going to storm away with the set. Needing to shake things up, Sayers switched to a power game of his own five games into the set. It caught Lumley a little off guard, as Sayers slid ball after ball into the dedans. Once he did start mustering a defense, he found himself behind in the rally after the third stroke, needing to fight his way back into contention, as opposed to leading from the front. Sayers quickly stole two games, with the 2/4 game playing out a long deuce exchange, eventually won by Sayers. However, during the game, Lumley rediscovered his attacking spirit, using it to push his way to the finish line of the second set. By the third, Lumley was ascendant. He was mixing up the pace of the ball well, winning both the floor rallies and the target game. Sayers put together a couple of games of resistance, but it was to no avail, with Lumley setting up his place in the singles final.
Play continues on Tuesday evening with the doubles semi-finals — should Howell be fit, he and Josh Dodgson will play Lumley and Steve Virgona, followed by Riviere and Tim Chisholm playing Sayers and Ben Taylor-Matthews. The singles final will follow on Wednesday evening.
Match results:
5:00 PM: Camden Riviere (1) def Nick Howell (3) 3/2 ret.
6:30 PM: Bryn Sayers (8) lost to John Lumley (2) 2/6 3/6 2/6
Order of play for Tuesday (all times CDT):
5:00 PM: Steve Virgona & John Lumley (2) vs Nick Howell & Josh Dodgson (3)
6:30 PM: Camden Riviere & Tim Chisholm (1) vs Ben Taylor-Matthews & Bryn Sayers (4)