On her sophomore appearance in a Grand Slam main draw, after getting a wildcard entry for Wimbledon in 2022, Lily Miyazaki managed to secure her maiden Grand Slam victory at this year’s US Open.
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York
Dates: August 28 – September 10
Coverage: In-depth live text and radio commentary available on the Sport News Center platform, its mobile app, BBC Radio 5 Live, and 5 Sports Extra.
Lily Miyazaki, the British qualifier, expressed that her £98,000 earnings from the first-round victory at the US Open may finally allow her to stop globe-trotting solo for tournaments. The 27-year-old staged a stellar performance, handing a loss to Russia’s Margarita Betova.
“Tennis can burn a hole in your pocket; it’s an expensive affair. Maybe now I can afford to bring a coach along on my trips,” Miyazaki remarked.
Ranked seventh in Britain, Miyazaki breezed through the opening matches, scoring a 6-3, 6-3 win. As a reward, she’s set to face Swiss 15th seed Belinda Bencic in the second round.
Born in Japan and having moved to London at the age of 10, Miyazaki is relatively new to the Grand Slam scene. Her regular stomping ground is the second-tier ITF Tour, where she often finds herself traveling to compete unaccompanied.
Craig Veal, who coaches Miyazaki along with fellow Brit Jodie Burrage, had his eyes fixed on the world number 198 throughout the last week at Flushing Meadows.
Her form seemed to carry over from the three qualifying rounds, as she made quick work of a struggling Betova. “I didn’t see myself getting this far in the tournament, honestly. I’m super pumped and pretty proud of myself,” said Miyazaki, who only recently started competing under the British flag.
Financially and in terms of rankings, this win is a significant milestone for Miyazaki. A substantial British crowd watched as she consistently outplayed Betova, forcing her into a series of blunders. As she claimed victory on her second match point, Miyazaki couldn’t hold back a radiant grin, and the crowd, some waving Union Jacks, showered her with applause.
Rune gets eliminated in the first round as Thiem celebrates a heartfelt win
Swiatek effortlessly advances to round two, but Sakkari gets ousted
Wozniacki’s one-liner on her US Open return: “You only live once”
“Incoming Text Alert: My Phone is Exploding!”
Her composure and tactical acumen were on full display against Betova, a Russian player currently in a slump. Particularly, her cross-court forehand was a recurring nightmare for Betova.
Betova, once ranked 41st in 2016, had her career thrown off track by a severe knee injury. After taking a break to give birth to her son in late 2021, she’s now playing under a protected ranking and lies outside the top 1,000.
The match took a decisive turn when Betova failed to consolidate a 3-1 lead in the first set. A couple of key errors from her at 3-3 changed the game’s momentum in Miyazaki’s favor.
Showing grit, Miyazaki battled back from 0-40 down in the second set to break Betova’s serve decisively in the sixth game. Though she failed to capitalize on a match point at 5-2, she seized another chance on her own serve, becoming the first British player to advance to the second round.
“My phone’s buzzing non-stop. I’ve only texted my folks and a friend so far. They’re ecstatic and, obviously, they’ve given up a lot for me to be here,” said Miyazaki, who holds an undergrad degree in math and a master’s in IT management focusing on data science.
Joining her at Flushing Meadows for their openers on Tuesday are six other Brits: Andy Murray, Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie, Burrage, Dan Evans, and Jack Draper.
Catch all live scores, results, and the schedule on Sport News Center, and keep those phone alerts on for the latest in tennis!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about It seems like your message got cut off. Did you have any further questions or is there anything else you’d like to know? Feel free to continue!
What tournament did Lily Miyazaki win a match in?
Lily Miyazaki won her first-round match at the US Open 2023, held at Flushing Meadows, New York.
Who was her opponent in the first round?
In the first round, Lily Miyazaki defeated Russia’s Margarita Betova.
How much did she earn in prize money?
Lily Miyazaki earned £98,000 in prize money from her first-round victory at the US Open 2023.
Who is her next opponent?
Lily Miyazaki’s next opponent in the tournament is the Swiss 15th seed Belinda Bencic.
What does this win mean for Miyazaki financially?
With her £98,000 earnings from this victory, Lily Miyazaki mentioned that she might now be able to afford traveling with a coach for future tournaments.
What is Lily Miyazaki’s background?
Lily Miyazaki was born in Japan and moved to London at the age of 10. She began representing Great Britain last year and usually competes in the second-tier ITF Tour.
What was her ranking before this win?
Before this win, Lily Miyazaki was ranked as the world number 198 in tennis and was the seventh-ranked player in Britain.
What are some notable moments from her match?
Lily Miyazaki showed great composure during the match, particularly when she fought back from 0-40 down in the second set. Her tactical use of the cross-court forehand was especially effective against Betova.
Did she have any family or friends watching?
While it’s not explicitly mentioned whether her family or friends were in the audience, she did say that her phone was “blowing up” with messages. The match was watched by a healthy number of British fans, some of whom were waving Union Jack flags.
Who else is playing from Britain in this tournament?
Other British players participating in the US Open 2023 include Andy Murray, Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie, Jodie Burrage, Dan Evans, and Jack Draper. They will be playing their opening matches on the following Tuesday.
Does she have any academic qualifications?
Yes, Lily Miyazaki holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in IT management that focuses on data science.
More about It seems like your message got cut off. Did you have any further questions or is there anything else you’d like to know? Feel free to continue!
- US Open 2023 Official Website
- BBC Sport Tennis
- Lily Miyazaki’s ITF Profile
- Grand Slam History
- Sport News Center’s Tennis Coverage
- Financial Challenges in Professional Tennis
- Belinda Bencic Player Profile
- Margarita Betova Career Highlights
- British Tennis Rankings
- Union Jack and British Fans
- Data Science in Sports
- Traveling the World for Tennis
10 comments
Finally some fresh talent from Britain, way to go Lily! That prize money should go a long way. Cheers!!
Love the Union Jack flags in the crowd. A little home away from home for our rising star. Keep going Lily!
can’t wait for the match against Bencic. This is gonna be epic, mark my words.
Gotta say, that cross-court forehand was something else. Strategy on point. But let’s see how she handles Bencic next.
Whoa, Lily Miyazaki is the real deal guys. Never saw her play before but man, she owned that court!
she’s only 27, plenty of time to make her mark. With that kind of money she can finally invest in a good coach, and who knows what else is in store.
I remember Betova back in her heydays. Shame about the knee injury and all, but good for Lily seizing the opportunity.
Wait, she’s originally from Japan? That’s cool, kinda like Naomi Osaka. Multicultural athletes ftw.
Hold up, she’s got a masters in IT management focusing on data science? Now thats a backup career if I’ve ever heard one.
£98,000?!!! Thats like, 4 years of my rent lol. She can now upgrade from coach to first class and still have change.