The 2024 US Open kicked off with some dramatic moments and key storylines as the final Grand Slam of the year began. Here’s a recap of what you may have missed from Day 1:
Coco Gauff’s Dominant Start
No. 3 seed Coco Gauff had a strong start to her title defense, easily defeating France’s Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-0. Despite a challenging summer, including an early exit at the Paris Olympics, Gauff showed resilience and composure, setting the stage for a promising tournament.
Match of the Day
American Chris Eubanks faced France’s Arthur Rinderknech in a thrilling five-set match on Court 11. The crowd’s chants of “USA! USA!” energized the players, but Rinderknech edged out Eubanks in a nail-biting fifth-set tiebreak, winning 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8).
Biggest Collapse
Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, suffered a surprising loss against Clara Burel. Despite leading 6-0, 3-0, Stephens couldn’t close out the match, eventually losing 0-6, 7-5, 7-5. This marks the third first-round exit for Stephens in her last six US Opens.
Biggest Upset
No. 15 seed Holger Rune, who recently reached the semifinals in Cincinnati, was stunned by American Brandon Nakashima. Rune’s performance was underwhelming, committing numerous errors, and Nakashima capitalized, winning 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Biggest Heartbreak
Reilly Opelka, making his return after two years plagued by injuries, was close to pushing No. 18 seed Lorenzo Musetti to a fifth set. However, leading 5-3 in the fourth set, Opelka failed to serve it out, ultimately losing the match 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.
Farewell Ceremonies
The US Open bid farewell to two fan favorites, Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman. Thiem, the 2020 champion, and Schwartzman, known for his tenacity despite his smaller stature, both received warm sendoffs. While Thiem lost to Ben Shelton, Schwartzman fell to Gael Monfils after a promising start.
Notable Matches to Watch on Tuesday
-Jelena Ostapenko, the No. 10 seed, will face Naomi Osaka, a two-time US Open champion.
-2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is set to take on Jasmine Paolini, a recent finalist at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
-No. 14 seed Tommy Paul will play against Lorenzo Sonego, who just won the Winston-Salem title.
-Felix Auger-Aliassime, seeded No. 19, will meet Czech prospect Jakub Mensik.
-No. 24 seed Arthur Fils will play against 18-year-old American Learner Tien.
The excitement is just beginning as the US Open unfolds, with more thrilling matches and storylines sure to emerge in the coming days.
