Alex de Minaur, ranked as Australia’s top male tennis player, successfully launched his US Open journey with a convincing straight-sets win against Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri. The seventh-seeded De Minaur secured his victory with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 scoreline, despite facing delays due to rain and an additional two-hour interruption. His next challenge will be against Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.
Throughout the match, De Minaur demonstrated his prowess by breaking Guerrieri’s serve twice in each set while only losing his own serve once. He wrapped up the match in under two hours of actual play. The victory was achieved amidst a hectic schedule in New York, plagued by persistent rain, which might lead De Minaur into a scenario where he could be playing three consecutive matches if he progresses further in the tournament.
On the women’s side, Australia’s Maya Joint made a notable impact despite her loss to ninth seed Elina Svitolina. Joint was the first Australian woman to take a set from a top-10 opponent at this year’s tournament, eventually falling 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-4. Her performance marked a significant feat, even as it ended in defeat.
Other Australian players faced challenges as well. Daria Kasatkina was knocked out by Spain’s Paula Badosa, while Taylah Preston suffered a 6-1, 6-1 defeat at the hands of American Taylor Townsend. Additionally, Kim Birrell was eliminated by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, concluding their match with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 score.