Alex Eala impresses in US Open first round, while Alexander Zverev fights hard to secure his place in the next stage amid weather disruptions.
American players Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, and Taylor Fritz progressed into the second round of the US Open alongside French veteran Gael Monfils. Alexander Zverev faced a difficult challenge from Lorenzo Sonego but ultimately triumphed, continuing his pursuit of a third consecutive Grand Slam final.
The inclement weather at Flushing Meadows in New York caused significant disruption, but play proceeded indoors at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Zverev, who is the top seed in the tournament following the withdrawal of injured world number one Jannik Sinner, had to battle through a strenuous five-set match, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4. After nearly five hours on court, Zverev expressed relief, stating, “I’m just happy I won, that’s it. Good things happen after you fight through these matches.” His next opponent will be Quentin Halys.
Madison Keys, who reached the final in 2017, started confidently against Alina Korneeva, winning 7-5, 6-4. Reflecting on her performance, Keys acknowledged the pressures of the first round in a Grand Slam, saying, “It’s so hard to play the first round… So grateful I was able to fight through that.” She is set to face Hungarian player Anna Bondar next.
Taylor Fritz, the ninth seed, showed his strength with a straightforward victory over compatriot Darwin Blanch, finishing with scores of 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Fritz, a finalist last year, is determined to end a lengthy wait for a US men’s singles Grand Slam winner, stating, “I’d be pretty disappointed… if I wasn’t able to achieve that.”
At Louis Armstrong Stadium, fifth seed Flavio Cobolli had a resilient win against Francisco Comesana, winning in five sets. In the women’s draw, fifth seed Mirra Andreeva cruised to victory against Janice Tjen with a 6-2, 6-2 scoreline.
Gauff, another strong contender for the title, successfully overcame Zeynep Sonmez with a clear 6-3, 6-4 win. Eala, gaining popularity among fans, demonstrated her potential by defeating qualifier Mary Stoiana, winning 6-1, 6-2.
The inclement weather had caused delays earlier in the day, with many spectators donning ponchos. Among those in attendance was American teenager Thea Frodin, who gained recognition for her role as Serena Williams’ doubles stand-in in the film “King Richard.” Unfortunately, her WTA Tour debut ended in defeat against second seed Elena Rybakina, who won 6-3, 6-2 despite concerns over injury.
Lorenzo Musetti also progressed to the next round with a comfortable victory over Briton Arthur Fery, who recently reached the Wimbledon semifinals.
Alex de Minaur was scheduled to compete later but saw his match postponed due to recurring rain. Organisers will need to reschedule a total of 14 first-round matches on Wednesday, along with any that were suspended due to the weather.
Gael Monfils celebrated his 40th birthday in style, securing a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 win against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. This victory keeps Monfils’ hopes alive in what is expected to be his final appearance at the US Open.
