Coco Gauff, of the US, returns a shot on the internet to Varvara Gracheva, of France, through the first spherical of the U.S. Open tennis championships, in New York on August 26, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff loved snug wins within the first spherical of the U.S. Open on Monday (August 26, 2024) whereas Dominic Thiem bid a ultimate farewell to the Grand Slam the place he loved his biggest triumph.
Djokovic, seeking to grow to be the primary participant to seize 25 Grand Slam titles, capped the night session beneath the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 victory over Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot.
The Serbian world quantity two had not competed since successful the Olympic gold medal in Paris and shook off the rust to cruise previous Albot in his bid to grow to be the primary man to retain the New York title since Roger Federer in 2008.
He additionally set a document for many victories by a male participant on the predominant showcourt together with his 78th win.
“I wasn’t conscious of it to be sincere,” Djokovic stated.
“It’s the most important stadium. Undoubtedly the loudest we have now within the historical past of our sport. The evening periods are the very best on the planet on Arthur Ashe.
“Ever because the roof was launched it grew to become even louder. Electrical ambiance … we’re clocking midnight now. I really like evening periods, perhaps not this late but it surely was nice enjoyable.”
Gauff cruised previous France’s Varvara Gracheva 6-2 6-0 on Ashe because the American shrugged off disappointing performances in Toronto and Cincinnati to make a quick begin on the yr’s ultimate main.
“The final couple of weeks have been robust and I used to be like, ‘I’ve to do that and do this’ however I don’t must show something to anybody besides myself,” Gauff stated.
“This entire week or two weeks are nearly proving all of the expectations that I’ve on myself.”
It was the tip of the highway for Thiem, who’s retiring on the finish of the season on account of a wrist concern that derailed his profession, because the 2020 champion fell 6-4 6-2 6-2 to American Ben Shelton.
Diego Schwartzman additionally waved goodbye to Flushing Meadows after the Argentine’s ultimate look on the event ended with a 6-7(2) 6-2 6-2 6-1 loss to Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who misplaced the ultimate to Thiem 4 years in the past, started his newest bid to elevate a primary main title with a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 win over fellow German Maximilian Marterer.
Taylor Fritz flew previous Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5 6-1 6-2 as he launched his quest to grow to be the primary American man to win a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick triumphed on the 2003 U.S. Open.
He was joined within the second spherical by Cincinnati runner-up Frances Tiafoe after the twentieth seed battled previous fellow American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4 6-3 4-6 7-5.
Denmark’s Holger Rune was an early casualty, the fifteenth seed despatched packing by American Brandon Nakashima 6-2 6-1 6-4, whereas Casper Ruud of Norway dispatched Bu Yunchaokete 7-6(2) 6-2 6-2.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion and one of many pre-tournament favourites, shone beneath the lights as she beat Australian Priscilla Hon 6-3 6-3.
Final yr’s runner-up arrived in New York contemporary off her triumph in Cincinnati and is seeking to grow to be the primary lady to seize the season’s two hardcourt majors in the identical yr since Angelique Kerber in 2016.
China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen kicked off the matches on Louis Armstrong Stadium with a 4-6 6-4 6-2 victory over Amanda Anisimova, whereas her compatriot Wang Yafan superior after ninth seed Maria Sakkari retired with harm trailing 6-2.
Frenchwoman Clara Burel recovered from being blanked within the opening set to beat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 0-6 7-5 7-5.
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova and three-times U.S. Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka joined seeded gamers Madison Keys, Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina in advancing within the girls’s draw.
