Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and three extra issues from Day 1 of 2023 US Open
The 2023 US Open kicked off on Monday and identical to each different iteration of the Grand Slam Day 1 had a great deal of upsets, feel-good tales and main moments. Daily Express Sport breaks down the 5 issues we discovered as the sport’s greatest and brightest hit the onerous courts of Flushing Meadows.
Back in July Coco Gauff was ousted within the first spherical of Wimbledon, however in just some brief weeks she has remodeled not solely her recreation however her mindset. The 19-year-old, who gained titles in Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati, Ohio, confirmed poise as she got here again from a first-set shock to high Laura Siegemund.
The German did her greatest to play thoughts video games as she constantly stalled factors — even when Gauff was serving. But the No. 6 seed was capable of keep on her recreation. And beneath the encouragement from her coaches, together with Brad Gilbert who might be heard on TV teaching his latest prodigy, she was capable of overcome a tricky take a look at.
“I definitely won ugly tonight,” she instructed reporters after the match. “It was a lot of weird points, with the slicing. Usually, something that I usually do well against, opponents who slice. We were prepared for it. I think today was just execution.”
It’s been 5 years since Sloane Stephens was the final American who gained the United States’ lone main and with how issues are wanting, Gauff may simply be the one to finish the drought. She’ll face a tricky take a look at within the second spherical in 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
Speaking of lengthy droughts, the final American man to win the US Open was Andy Roddick again in 2003. (Side word: He too was coached by Gilbert). But issues are wanting optimistic that the long-standing await the following nice American males’s singles participant is coming to an finish.
Yes, various guys misplaced: J.J. Wolf, Emilio Nava, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Zachary Svajda, Steve Johnson, Sebastian Korda and Ethan Quinn had been all eradicated.
But, Learner Tien and Steve Johnson misplaced to compatriots. Johnson was handed a fast exit — he gained simply 5 video games — by the highest-ranked American on the lads’s facet, Taylor Fritz. Tien, who’s simply 17, misplaced in straight units however gave Maryland native Frances Tiafoe some issues to consider.
Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Wimbledon star Christopher Eubanks superior in 4 units and Mackenzie McDonald had the match of the evening by upsetting the No. 15 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Just just a few days in the past, after dropping to Gauff for the primary time in her profession within the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters, Iga Swiatek stated, “Well, from my perspective I would say my tank of fuel is pretty empty.”
The world No. 1 will need to have discovered an incredible fuel station.
The Poland native gained her first-round match towards Rebecca Peterson 6-0, 6-1 and solely misplaced 22 factors. You cannot blame the defending champion if she felt somewhat drained, she’s had deep runs at just about each event, together with Roland Garros the place she didn’t drop a set. It was the fourth time she reached a last at a significant with out going the space in any match.
Numerous massive names made their returns to the onerous courts — and a Grand Slam.
Caroline Wozniacki performed her first main for the reason that Australian Open in 2020 and cruised to a simple 6-3, 6-2 win. The final time she was on the US Open was again in 2019 the place she misplaced to the eventual champion, Bianca Andreescu. She is considered one of 10 mothers competing at this yr’s version.
Dominic Thiem is again. The 2020 US Open winner, who had misplaced within the first spherical in each main since advancing to the Round of 16 on the Aussie Open in 2021, upset the No. 25 seed Alexander Bublik in straight units. Thiem has struggled for greater than two years with a wrist harm.
One different comeback, albeit one which resulted in a loss, was nonetheless an enormous success. Milos Raonic made his return to Flushing. The Canadian performed his first US Open since 2020 and solely his fourth tourney of the yr as a result of accidents. Unfortunately, the welcome mat was a first-round match-up with the seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, who gained in straight units.
The stars shone brightly on the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Day 1 and it wasn’t simply on the courtroom. Yes, Novak Djokovic barely broke a sweat in his first-round match as he cruised to a simple three-set win.
But the celebs had been additionally within the stands. Spotted within the crowd had been former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who helped honor Billie Jean King for the fiftieth anniversary of equal prize cash for ladies.
Actor Danny Devito, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, boxer Mike Tyson and skier Lyndsey Vonn had been additionally in attendance.