Defending champion Daniil Medvedev did not show any weakness at the start of the US Open in New York.
The tennis world number one from Russia clearly prevailed in his first game against the American Stefan Kozlov 6: 2, 6: 4, 6: 0.
In the second round, Medvedev meets Arthur Rinderknech, who prevailed in the French duel against compatriot Quentin Halys.
Unlike the recent Grand Slam on grass in Wimbledon, Medvedev is allowed to take part in the US Open because the organizers give Russian and Belarusian tennis players the right to start. They were denied this at Wimbledon due to the Russian war of aggression in the Ukraine.
British tennis star Andy Murray also went one round further. The three-time Grand Slam tournament winner defeated Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in three sets 7: 5, 6: 3, 6: 3. It is the 16th participation of the former world number one at the US Open.
Ukrainian dedicates victory to her homeland
Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur dedicated her surprise coup at the start of the US Open to her war-torn homeland. “Of course this match is for Ukraine, for my family, for all the fans who supported me,” said the 20-year-old after her first-round victory, which she thought was hardly possible, with 6: 2, 0: 6, 6: 4 against the an Number seven seeded Simona Halep from Romania.
In tears, Snigur followed up with a “Slava Ukraini” (“Glory of Ukraine”), the crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium applauded loudly.
“I’m very happy. Otherwise I can’t comment because it’s impossible,” said the visibly overwhelmed outsider after the biggest success of her young career so far: “I’m very excited. I tried to do my best.”
Halep, who has already won two Grand Slam titles in her career and was number one in the world rankings for 64 weeks, disappointed across the board. The 30-year-old had previously been traded as one of the favorites for the title.