Andy Murray rejoices after winning the first set against Cerúndolo. Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images / AFP.
The first day of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season, did not bode well for the Argentines as Facundo Cerúndolo, Facundo Bagnis and Tomás Etcheverry and Nadia Podoroska were eliminated. However, at the end of the day, the only joy came. Pedro Cachín won a marathon against Slovenian Aljaz Bedene.
Cordovan, who are having their best season on the circuit, had won the first two sets (6-4 and 6-3), but fell in the next two (7-5 and 6-1). In the fifth chapter the fight was game after game and the Argentine finally won the super tiebreak 7-6 (6). Now, for a third-round spot, Cachín will face local Brandon Holt, son of legendary Tracy Austin, who struck on Monday by knocking out his compatriot Taylor Fritz, seeded 10th, 6-7 (3), 7-6 ( 1), 6-3 and 6-4.
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows opened its doors at noon and the blue and white racquets jumped into action. One of the first to take the field was Cerúndolo, seeded 24, who failed to beat the hierarchy of Scotsman Andy Murray, former world number one and tournament champion in 2012, and said goodbye in the first round. In the first game at the Louis Armstrong stadium, the second most important in the complex, the Argentine fell 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 41 minutes and has not yet won a Grand Slam game.
At the end of the first set, a particular situation was experienced. When Cerúndolo was serving 0-15 and 4-5 on the scoreboard, he responded on a Murray shot after a double spike, which at first glance was unnoticeable to him and the referee. But the Scotsman protested. And after the screens showed the European was right, the Argentine gave up on the point.
It wasn’t enough for Facundo Bagnis to play very well in the first three sets against local Sebastian Korda. Rosario closed the first set 7-5 and gave up the next two, arguing, 6-7 (3-7) and 5-7. But in the fourth, due to physical problems, he lowered the intensity and his rival easily signed the victory, 6-1.
Etcheverry had to face Pablo Andújar, but the Spaniard came out at the last minute and thus faced French Hugo Grenier, number 119, who came in as a lucky underdog. He could not claim his best gift: despite winning 6-4 in the first set, he then lost the following three 6-2, 6-3 and 6-4 and greeted Rosarina Podoroska, who is 190th in the league table. WTA, she entered the main draw directly with a protected ranking and did not have fun: she fell on the Slovakian Anna Schmiedlova, 116th on the planet, 6-3, 6-2 after 1h21 of play.
Today the other four Argentines appear. Sebastián Báez will play for Arthur Ashe, from the age of 13, against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (3rd). Diego Schwartzman will meet around 9:30 pm with local Jack Sock at the Louis Armstrong. The action will be completed with presentations by Federicos Coria and Delbonis. The two will play at around 13:30 against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor and local John Isner
Galán gave the first big surprise of the US Open and eliminated Tsitsipas
With a whipped forehand all night, Colombian Daniel Elahi Galán achieved the first major US Open flip by anesthetizing fourth-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in four sets.
At his ninth match point, Galán prevailed 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to seal the most extraordinary victory of his career.
At 26 and currently 94 in the world rankings, Galán had never defeated a player ranked in the top 20 of the ATP rankings.
Coming from the previous stage without giving up a single set, Galán stunned Tsitsipas. He did it with astounding dominance, winning the first 11 matches of the duel on Louis Armstrong Court, the second most important court of the tournament.
“He literally killed me on the pitch. He was a world-class player and I was an amateur,” said Tsitsipas. “He completely dominated the game. He didn’t let me log in.”
It was the fifth US Open, the only Grand Slam event in which the 24-year-old Greek failed to reach the round of 16.
Galán will face Australian Jordan Thompson in the second round, who defeated Italian Lorenzo Sonego 2-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Source: Clarin