New York (AFP)

Andrey Rublev bowed Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday in the first round of the US Open after a terrible showdown, while the long fight of Naomi Osaka to access the second round was much less satisfactory for the defending champion.

On court Louis-Armstrong, Tsitsipas (8th world) and Rublev (43rd) fought a very high level, especially for a first round.

And it was the Russian who qualified 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 after 3:54 of play.

Both men went to the end of their forces. But the Greek has been the most diminished by cramps.

"I too had cramps, but I did not show it," said Rublev.

In the 4th inning, Tsitsipas seemed very handicapped by his right leg, obviously impaired. He even chose to extend his rest time during a change of side, even to provoke the referee.

"Give me a warning, I do not care!" threw the Greek to the chair judge ... who actually gave him a penalty point.

Meanwhile in the confines of the Flushing Meadows complex, decided the name of the opponent Rublev, between Gilles Simon (40th) and Bjorn Fratangelo (117th world and recipient of a wild card). The Frenchman was 4:19 to win 5-7, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5.

In the women's competition, defending champion Naomi Osaka, whose world throne is at stake in the past two weeks, has been badly beaten by the young Russian Anna Blinkova (84th), but managed to qualify.

- 2h28 of suffering -

But it took him 2h28 of suffering to win 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

"I love you, that's why I wanted to stay long on the court and I played almost 3 hours," Osaka told the audience ... who did not have to believe it.

The left knee, which forced her to give up in Cincinnati, was locked in a big knee brace and the world N.1 took a long time to get into her match.

She let Blinkova escape 4-1 in the first inning, before lining up 5 games in a row to win the set.

She then broke the lead to lead 6-5 in the second run, but Blinkova came back and won in the deciding game.

The third set was easier and the Japanese will face in the second round the Polish Magda Linette (53), who has won her first career WTA title in New York on Saturday.

World No.2 Rafael Nadal will open the night session on the gigantic Arthur-Ashe court against Australian John Millman (60) who dropped Roger Federer last year in the round of 16.

Spectators at the Grandstand will be able to enjoy a duel between the two Canadians expected at the highest level in the years to come: Felix Auger-Aliassime (19th to 19 years) and Denis Shapovalov (33 to 20 years).

The public of the court Louis-Armstrong will be tempted to stay late to attend the show of the whimsical Australian Nick Kyrgios (30th), scheduled late in the evening against the American Steve Johnson (86th).

© 2019 AFP