Riviere and Chisholm survive scare from Sayers and Taylor-Matthews in US Open semis
Lumley and Virgona receive walkover into doubles final
World Champions Camden Riviere and Tim Chisholm have survived a stiff challenge from Bryn Sayers and Ben Taylor-Matthews in the semi-finals of the US Open at the Racquet Club of Chicago on Tuesday, qualifying for their fourteenth consecutive doubles final.
The day began with the news that the calf injury that Nick Howell sustained in his singles semi-final against Camden Riviere would also rule him and his partner, Josh Dodgson, out of the doubles semi-final. As a result, their opponents, second seeds John Lumley and Steve Virgona, received a bye through to the doubles final. It would also mean that Lumley would get an extra day of rest before his singles final, while home court pro Virgona would receive a three-day break between matches.
The remaining semi-final was brought forward to an earlier start as a result. The match was a direct preview of the upcoming World Doubles Championship semi-final, with first seeds and defending champions of both events, Tim Chisholm and Camden Riviere playing the fourth seeds in both events, and Ben Taylor-Matthews and Bryn Sayers. Sayers and Taylor-Matthews were switching at the hazard end to put Sayers predominantly on the backhand side, taking full advantage of the two-handed whip from Sayers to target the galleries. For much of the first set, the World Champions played with Chisholm at the back, even though he often floated up the court to defend the main wall force. Taylor-Matthews and Sayers were defensively solid, not letting the World Champions get away with their usual shenanigans. They held onto a narrow lead throughout the first set, picking on Chisholm’s slow movement to pick up points into the corners. It marked the second time that the British pair had won a set from the Americans, having also done so on the same court at the 2024 World Doubles Championship.
Taylor-Matthews and Sayers continued to ice out Riviere in the second set, picking on Chisholm as much as possible. It paid dividends, as Chisholm was making plenty of unforced errors. Riviere wasn’t able to use the balls coming his direction to counterattack, instead spraying the penthouse and setting Taylor-Matthews up with another shot at Chisholm. He tried but was not quick enough, to cover the balls Chisholm was letting pass. Taylor-Matthews hardly missed a ball in the whole set, especially in defence of the dedans, with Sayers playing a supporting role without ego, constantly generating difficult angles for the left-handed Riviere. Even so, Chisholm still played the back through most of the set, despite the deficit growing. Taylor-Matthews and Sayers had several points for a 5/2 lead — including one defending a chase worse than 2 — but couldn’t convert any, as it appeared a few nerves were starting to seep in. Instead, Riviere and Chisholm, having been granted their reprieve, found a new intensity. After battling back to 4-all, it seemed as though the World Champions were going to push ahead with game point and a chase 3 to defend. But Sayers struck a couple of key forces to keep their hopes alive, perfectly threading the needle through the defenders. The set went to a deciding game, with Sayers serving to Riviere. Riviere turned on two tight serves to hit two chases. Changing ends, Riviere spooned the first into the winning gallery, then let the second go. After jamming Taylor-Matthews against the wall, Riviere secured the set with a rally pestering the Brits underneath the grille.
Into the third set, and the World Champions were really winding up. Chisholm’s error count had dropped off, while Riviere’s movement was back to its full flow. They once again had the initiative, pressing forward in the rallies and putting their opponents right on the back foot. To their credit, Sayers and Taylor-Matthews never fell away, weathering the storm sent at them by the World Champions. If they survived long enough in the point, eventually Chisholm or Riviere would err, giving them a narrow opening to try and hit a winner in response. They stayed within a game or two throughout the third set, saving set points in the 5/3 and 5/4 games, sending the set into another deciding game. The Brits were lucky to get away with a couple of loose return-of-serves, picking up two chases early to recover the service end. But Riviere’s return was too strong, winning both to set up a 2-1 overall lead.
Finally, in the fourth set, Riviere and Chisholm truly got on top, once again returning to their usual, relaxed and jovial play style. Sayers and Taylor-Matthews’s resistance finally broke, as the World Champions ran away with the set. They dropped just the one game, continuing their unbroken run of US Open doubles finals appearances.
Riviere will return to the court on Wednesday evening for the singles final, to play defending champion John Lumley. The event concludes with the doubles final on Thursday evening.
Match results:
5:00 PM: Nick Howell & Josh Dodgson (3) lost to John Lumley & Steve Virgona (2) w/o
6:30 PM: Camden Riviere & Tim Chisholm (1) def Ben Taylor-Matthews & Bryn Sayers (4) 3/6 6/5 6/5 6/1
Order of play for Wednesday (all times CDT):
5:30 PM: Camden Riviere (1) vs John Lumley (2)