Rafa Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Paula Badosa and Garbiñe Muguruza and the Polish Iga Swiatek, number one in the WTA ranking, did not disappoint. on Tuesday in their US Open debuts, in a day that saw the eliminations of reigning champion, British Emma Raducanu, and veteran Venus Williams.
Three years after his last participation, when he was crowned champion in the final against Russian Daniil Medvedev, Nadal returned to compete on the Arthur Ashe court and defeated 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and 6-3 Australian Rinky Hijikata, number 198 in the world.
Nadal, a four-time champion in New York, has played just one match since an abdominal injury forced him to withdraw from the Wimbledon semifinals against Australian Nick Kyrgios.
The Majorcan fell without playing in London and, precisely for this reason, his balance this year in the ‘big’ remains clean, with twenty wins out of twenty and titles at the Australian Open and at Roland Garros.
He endured a match of three hours and eight minutes in a very positive manner and this Thursday he will face the Italian Fabio Fognini in the second roundwith whom he has a record of thirteen wins for four losses, one of them at the 2015 US Open.
ALCARAZ COMES OUT WITH POWER
Carlos Alcaraz also debuted with successnumber four in the ATP rankings, against Argentine Sebastián Báez, number 37 in the world, who retired due to injury as he lost 7-5, 7-5 and 2-0 in a stunning high-level match.
Alcaraz, winner of four tournaments this year, including the Masters 1,000 in Miami and Madrid, lit up the Arthur Ashe court with spectacular tennis in the second matchup of his career with Báezafter defeating him last year at the New Generation Masters in Milan.
Quarterfinalist last year, will square off in the second round with another Argentine, Federico Coriawho defeated Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
BADOSA IS BACK, GARBIÑE IS OUT OF AIR
Paula Badosa, number four in the WTA ranking, has to sufferbut finally defeated the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in a comeback after a tough and complicated match of two hours and 31 minutes.
World number 87, Tsurenko traded his loss against Badosa, ending the match 3-6, 7-6(4) and 6-3. Calmer the game of Muguruza, who won 6-3 7-6(5) against Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
“Obviously I don’t take any win for granted, particularly this year. It’s been a year where I haven’t won much, so I’m very happy to get this win in the first round,” Muguruza said at the post-match at the press conference. .
SWIATEK WILL DESTROY, CORNET FLASH THE CHAMPION
World number one Iga Swiatek started with a solid win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (n.57) 6-3 and 6-0 in just one hour of play.
Swiatek, winner of six titles this season, added victory to 51 of his outstanding year and entered this tournament determined to make history and become the first Pole to reach the quarterfinals in the Open era.
Along with her, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and American Jessica Pegula also advanced. they beat American Catherine Harrison (6-1 and 6-3) and Swiss Viktorija Golubic (6-2 and 6-2), respectively.
however, the big surprise was given by the French Alize Cornet, when she defeated the British Emma Raducanu by doubles 6-3the current champion of the tournament.
Raducanu made history last year when he was crowned after leaving the rankings, as 150th in the world, but this Tuesday he found a Cornet in good condition, celebrating his record of consecutive participation in a ‘big ‘ in the best way ( 63).
He was also fired in the first amendment Naomi Osaka. Japanese people was defeated by American Danielle Collins 7-6 (5) and 6-3 in the last game of the second day.
GOODBYE TO VENUS WILLIAMS
The legendary Venus Williams, 42 years old and champion in New York in 2000 and 2001, also bid farewell to the tournament, losing 6-1 and 7-6 (4) against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.
For Venus it was participation number 23 in the US Open, a record despite the loss.
Her sister Serena, 40, will compete this Wednesday at Arthur Ashe against Estonian Anett Kontaveit, world number two, in what could be the final tournament of her career.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
