New York (AFP)
Andrey Rublev made a solid entry into the US Open, qualifying for the second round at the expense of veteran Ivo Karlovic on Monday in a first day where Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka are also in contention.
The Russian, 7th in the world, won 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 against the big Croatian server, from qualifying and the oldest player on the circuit at 42 years old.
He made use of his power in the exchanges (27 winning shots) and he managed to take the engagement twice, while being very solid on his, especially during the decisive game of the second round.
The 23-year-old Russian, two-time quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows (2017, 2020) and finalist two weeks ago at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, is one of the potential rivals of Novak Djokovic, who will try to take the record for 21 to 21. Majors won, by succeeding in the calendar Grand Slam, which has not been done since 1969, by Rod Laver.
The Argentinian, Diego Schwartzman, 11th in the world and the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (15th) also reached the second round, unlike John Isner (22nd) surprised at the start by his compatriot Brandon Nakashima (84th) from qualifying who successful, rare against this big server, to win by winning two decisive games 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
Argentina's Diego Schwartzman qualified for the second round of the US Open tennis tournament on Monday by beating Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis on August 30, 2021 in New York City AL BELLO GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
In the same part of the table, Daniil Medvedev (2nd), who won this summer at the Masters 1000 in Toronto, will face the French Richard Gasquet (79th) in the night session.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (3rd), also looking for a first Major, is grappling with Andy Murray, 34, triple winner of Majors (US Open 2012, Wimbledon 2013, 2016) and who is trying to resurface at the highest level after being injured for a long time in a hip.
- Osaka scrutinized -
In the ladies' category, the first seed (N.12) to complete her lap was the Romanian Simona Halep.
The 13th player in the world, winner of Roland-Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019, beat quite difficult 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) the Italian Camila Giorgi (36th), who pushed her to the game decisive in the second set after breaking 6-5 against her.
The one whose best run at Flushing Meadows took her to the semi-finals in 2015 will face Slovakian Kristina Kucova, a lucky loser after qualifying, in the next round.
Romania's Simona Halep qualified for the second round of the US Open tennis tournament on Monday, beating Italy's Camila Giorgi on August 30, 2021 in New York. AL BELLO GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
At the end of the afternoon, it will be the debut of the defending champion Naomi Osaka, which will be observed with attention, against the Czech Marie Bouzkova.
The Japanese, 3rd in the world, who started the season perfectly by winning the Australian Open, has since lived through very difficult months.
First there was the controversy, born of his refusal to answer questions from the media at Roland Garros, which earned him financial penalties and led to his resounding forfeit before the second round.
The whole having updated problems of anxiety, marked by "several depressive episodes".
After a break that led her to skip Wimbledon, she missed her return to the Tokyo Games where, after lighting the Olympic cauldron, she cracked under the pressure in the round of 16.
And in Cincinnati, two weeks ago, she burst into tears for her first press conference on the WTA circuit since Roland Garros, before giving in in the third round to the Swiss Jil Teichmann, 76th in the world.
Other beginnings, that of Belarusians Aryna Sabalenka (2nd world) and Victoria Azarenka (19th), finalist last year, respectively opposed to Serbian Nina Stojanovic (94th) and Czech Tereza Martinkova (60th).
© 2021 AFP