Australia’s top-ranked men’s tennis player, Alex de Minaur, started his US Open journey with a convincing win over Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri. De Minaur, currently ranked seventh, secured a straight-sets victory, defeating Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Despite facing a delayed start and a two-hour rain interruption, he managed to maintain focus and complete the match in under two hours of actual play. Next, he is set to compete against Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.
De Minaur’s performance was efficient, breaking his opponent’s serve twice in each set and only losing his serve once. His win comes during a challenging period at the tournament, with persistent rain in New York causing scheduling disruptions. This could mean De Minaur might have to play three matches in as many days if weather conditions continue to affect the tournament schedule, as he aims to advance further in the competition.
In the women’s section of the draw, Australian player Maya Joint made waves by taking a set from a top-10 opponent, ninth seed Elina Svitolina, before eventually losing 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-4. Joint’s performance marked the first time an Australian woman had claimed a set against a top-10 player at this year’s tournament, showcasing her potential on the big stage.
Meanwhile, other Australian competitors faced challenges of their own. Daria Kasatkina was defeated by Spain’s Paula Badosa, while Taylah Preston fell 6-1, 6-1 to American Taylor Townsend. Additionally, Kim Birrell ended her US Open run after a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 loss to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.