Alcaraz will get straightforward begin to US Open title defence, Medvedev advances

AFP

Carlos Alcaraz has surrendered the primary world rating however received his US Open title defence off to a simple begin as injured German Dominik Koepfer retired in opposition to the 20-year-old high seed on Tuesday.

The season’s remaining Grand Slam started on Monday with a change on the high after Novak Djokovic demolished Frenchman Alexandre Muller to ease into the second spherical – a consequence that meant the Serb will change Alcaraz as world primary when the rankings are up to date on September 11.

But Alcaraz may have the primary hooked up to his title all through the Flushing Meadows fortnight and superior to the second spherical after Koepfer twisted his ankle minutes into the match and later retired with the Spaniard up 6-2 3-2.

Alcaraz, bidding to turn out to be the primary man to retain his US Open crown since Roger Federer gained 5 straight from 2004 to 2008, appeared unsteady at occasions on the North American hardcourts forward of the season’s remaining Grand Slam however saved his composure on Tuesday with few errors.

“I’m not thinking about defending the title. I was not thinking about I was the champion last year,” he informed reporters.

“I just focus on playing my best level, to recover the level that I played last year, try to do same things that I did last year. That’s the only thing that I’m thinking right now.”

With Alcaraz and Djokovic hogging the highlight, Daniil Medvedev had been the forgotten man however the third seeded Russian stays a risk to say his second US Open title in three years.

He received everybody’s consideration when he dispatched Hungarian Attila Balazs 6-1 6-1 6-0 in a speedy affair to kick off the motion on Arthur Ashe Stadium, firing off 41 winners to arrange a second spherical assembly with Australian Christopher O’Connell.

Andy Murray, the 2012 US Open champion, recorded a landmark two hundredth Grand Slam match win as he turned again the clock to beat younger Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-2 7-5 6-3.

The 36-year-old Scotsman stated he was enjoying among the greatest tennis on a constant stage since 2017. He faces Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov within the second spherical.

Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner handily beat German Yannick Hanfmann 6-3 6-1 6-1 and can play compatriot Lorenzo Sonego subsequent.

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka despatched off Belgian Maryna Zanevska 6-3 6-2, closing out the motion on Louis Armstrong Stadium with 27 winners to arrange a gathering with Britain’s Jodie Burrage.

“I think she played an unbelievable match – she fought until the end,” the Australian Open champion stated in on-court remarks. “I think I’m most pleased with my focus… Hopefully, I’ll do better with every game.”

American Jessica Pegula took her place within the U.S. cost into the second spherical as she fired off eight aces to swat apart Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-2.

The third seed has taken a backseat to compatriot Coco Gauff within the headlines, as native followers hope to see an American hoist the trophy for the primary time since 2017, however stated she has no drawback ceding the highlight.

“Coco can take it, that pressure, not me,” stated Pegula, who will play Romanian Patricia Maria Tig subsequent. “It’s nice that there is a lot of us that are doing well and that have chances to go deep here.”

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams got here up wanting her purpose to make it previous the opening spherical for the primary time since 2019, dropping 6-1 6-1 to Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen in her a centesimal U.S. Open match.