Alex de Minaur, Australia’s top-ranked male tennis player, successfully launched his US Open run with a commanding victory over Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri. In a match that saw delays due to rain, de Minaur triumphed with a straight-sets win of 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. This win sets him up for a second-round encounter with Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp.
The seventh seed de Minaur showcased his skill by breaking Guerrieri twice in each set while only losing his serve once. Despite the interruptions, he completed the match in under two hours of actual play. The New York tournament faced scheduling challenges due to consistent rain, potentially requiring de Minaur to play three matches across three consecutive days as he aims for a significant advancement in the competition.
On the women’s side of the draw, Australian player Maya Joint made headlines despite her loss to Elina Svitolina, who is seeded ninth. Joint managed to capture a set, marking her as the first Australian woman in this tournament to do so against a top-10 opponent. The final score was 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-4 in favor of Svitolina.
In other matches, Daria Kasatkina was eliminated after a defeat by Spain’s Paula Badosa. Similarly, Taylah Preston faced a tough challenge against American Taylor Townsend, losing 6-1, 6-1. Kim Birrell also exited the tournament following a three-set battle with Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, which ended 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.