Key events
Sinner was “under absolutely no pressure whatsoever” observes one of the commentators.
“One way traffic from start to finish,” chips in Tim Henman. “Sinner looking so comfortable, so confident.”
Sinner beats Kopriva: 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
Les jeux sont faits.
Fun fact: In 2021, Kopriva beat Denis Shapovalov in the second round at the Swiss Open. That is his one win against a top-10 player.
Kopriva lost 6-1 6-2 6-2 to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year.
Sinner 6-1, 6-1, 5-2 *Kopriva (*denotes next server)
A glimmer for Kopriva at 0-30. Sinner wins an imperious point next up, and it looks like the danger will soon be over, but then Kopriva wins a long rally thanks to a drop shot and a handsome cross-court winner with Sinner coming to the net. Two break points, but very quickly it’s back to deuce, and the Italian wastes one advantage, but makes no such mistake next up. This really is some of the lowest-key tennis I’ve seen in a long time, based on how much bother Kopriva is causing Sinner, ie zero.
*Sinner 6-1, 6-1, 4-2 Kopriva (*denotes next server)
A precious hold for Kopriva. Are you watching/reading? Mail me.
Francisco Cerundolo, the No 19 seed, leads Matteo Arnaldi 3-1 in their fifth and deciding set over on Court 7.
Sinner 6-1, 6-1, 4-1 *Kopriva (*denotes next server)
Kopriva seems to be mishitting everything. Seems like a case of stagefright, or is there some other bizarre, unknown reason behind this meltdown?
*Sinner 6-1, 6-1, 3-1 Kopriva (*denotes next server)
At 15-30, Kopriva miscues horribly with a regulation stroke from the back of the court and it’s two break points for Sinner. Then he double faults, handing his illustrious opponent a very easy game. Sinner isn’t having to do much here, and he should be safely through shortly.
I can’t even tell you the fun fact about Kopriva hailing from the same Czech town as Petra Kvitova, as I see Taha already mentioned it.
Sinner 6-1, 6-1, 2-1 *Kopriva (*denotes next server)
A regulation hold for Sinner, to -15, and it remains on serve in the third set.
Jack Draper is now pictured, having a hit on one of the back courts, following his win yesterday against the big-hitting Federico Agustín Gómez.
Draper faces Zizou Bergs, the world No 48, of Belgium in the second round on Thursday.
Thanks Taha. Hi all. Kopriva holds, and it’s 1-1 in the third set.
Luke McLaughlin is going to step in while I steal a break. Keep him company.
Amanda Anisimova is seeded eighth and up against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell. They’re 1-1 in the opening set, Anisimova looking to build on her run to the final of Wimbledon. That last match in south London was a brutal experience but this is her home slam … and, well, look at that – she races through a hold to lead 2-1.
Sinner skips to the net, dictating the point to leave Kopriva stretching for a forehand and on the floor. The No 1 has two set points, and Kopriva provides a double fault. Sinner leads 6-1, 6-1 with just over an hour on the board.
Kopriva hails from Fulnek in the Czech Republic and grew up in the same area as Petra Kvitova, who bowed out of the professional game yesterday. Sinner isn’t bothered about the backstory, though; relentless, he breaks once again and leads 4-1 in the second set.
Sinner is already up a break in the second set but Kopriva delivers a love hold, closed out with successive aces. The Italian leads 6-1, 2-1.
Lorenzo Musetti, the 10th seed, has wrapped up a four-set victory over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Italian, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros this year, triumphs 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Kopriva finally has some joy, claiming his first game to trail 1-5. Sinner responds with an ace and domination at the net. Kopriva closes a 15-shot rally with a lovely drop shot and saves three set points! Sinner spanks a 127mph ace and Kopriva goes long to extinguish the prospect of any jeopardy. Sinner takes the first set 6-1.
Tidy work.
OK, time to get to the world No 1. Jannik Sinner is going OK. He’s 5-0 up against Vit Kopriva after just 20 minutes. Decent.
Beatriz Haddad Maia (18) beats Sonay Kartal 6-3, 1-6, 6-1
Haddad Maia resorts to an underarm serve and Kartal, after saving two match points, has a chance to break! The Brazilian saves it before setting up her third match point … she advances to the net for one last push and it works. Kartal nets and this incredible slog is over. Two players, struggling to move by the end, have put on a serious show.
Kartal tries to torture Haddad Maia with a drop shot but the 18th seed gets to it and wins the net battle. Haddad Maia wins another point at the net and she signals her joy to the crowd. A wide forehand from Kartal hands Haddad Maia two break points … but Kartal finds a lift of energy when it matters. She crouches down in pain after setting up advantage but Haddad Maia remains in the game, forcing a fifth deuce and fifth break point – she takes it. Haddad Maia is up 5-1 in the final set and will serve for the match.
Oh, now it’s Haddad Maia who has pulled up with an issue! Both players are walking wounded. Haddad Maia is struggling to properly move and Kartal has a chance to break after a backhand that is out of the hampered Haddad Maia’s reach. Kartal sends a forehand down the line and is now, suddenly, back in the match. This is remarkable. Haddad Maia leads 4-1 in the final set.
Haddad Maia, who has plenty of support in the crowd, races to three break points as Kartal – who is not moving well at all – double-faults to go down a second break. Haddad Maia is closing in on victory, up 4-0 in the final set.
Kartal seems to be struggling with some sort of injury, the tide with Haddad Maia as the former nets a backhand. The Brazilian takes a 3-0 lead in the deciding set.
Haddad Maia is 1-0 up in the third set against Kartal and has three break points … she needs just one, this match taking another major swing. Haddad Maia leads 6-3, 1-6, 2-0.
Marta Kostyuk (27) beats Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-4
Boulter saved five match points but she can’t deny Kostyuk, who secures the win on her serve.
Iga Swiatek (2) beats Emiliana Arango 6-1, 6-2
The six-time grand slam champion cruises to the second round after an hour’s work on Arthur Ashe.
Kartal has forced a third set against Haddad Maia after winning the second 6-1. Dominant work from the Brit, who made seven unforced errors in that set compared to Haddad Maia’s 16.
Boulter is staring at the exit door, down 0-30 and 3-5 in the second set. A successful forehand at the net prompts an emotional release but she follows that with a double fault. Kostyuk has two match points. Boulter saves both … the second done with a drive volley. But then another ill-timed double fault, and Kostyuk has her third match point, and then a fourth, and then a fifth … but Boulter shows some stellar defence, with Kostyuk netting a volley. Finally, Boulter has advantage, and she takes it with a fine serve down the middle. Proper fight from Boulter but she remains a break down. Kostyuk leads 6-4, 5-4.
Kartal isn’t happy with a one-break advantage in the second set … she nabs another to lead 5-1 against Haddad Maia.
Arango hits her first ace of the match but she remains a break down in the second set against Swiatek, who leads 6-1, 2-1.
Katie Boulter is in trouble. Having lost the first set, she’s down a break in the second, with Marta Kostyuk leading 3-1, the last game sealed with a cracking forehand winner into the corner. Kostyuk has seven aces to Boulter’s none and leads the winners count 13-6.
Swiatek isn’t messing about. She laces a backhand down the line to take the first set against Arango 6-1 inside half an hour. Swiatek has 10 winners while Arango is still waiting for her first.
Kartal and Haddad Maia are having a proper ding-dong. The former breaks to go 2-0 up in the second set but Haddad Maia has a break point in the third game … she doesn’t get her drop shot right – it’s too light – and we’re into deuce. Kartal gets herself out of a hole to go up 3-0.
Swiatek is down 0-30 on her serve and nearly lands in some trouble with a forehand … but it was on the line. She escapes trouble to hold her serve and go 4-1 up.
Swiatek has two break points as Arango trails 1-2. The defending Wimbledon champion converts immediately after Arango slices a backhand into the net. Swiatek leads 3-1 in the first set, with no real signs yet of a potential upset.
Kostyuk takes the first set against Boulter 6-4. A tough start for the Brits.
There’s another break in the contest between Haddad Maia and Kartal – the former is now 5-3 up, serving for the first set. She holds to love, with Kartal up against it, struggling to make inroads against Haddad Maia’s first serve. Haddad Maia takes the first set 6-3.
Iga Swiatek is underway on Arthur Ashe, the 2022 US Open champion serving against Emiliana Arango. The second seed is up and away, holding her serve to go 1-0 up.
Kartal has an opening against Haddad Maia’s serve, with the Brazilian down 15-30. A double fault gives Kartal two chances to break. Kartal takes the second, victorious in a lengthy rally. Haddad Maia now leads 4-3. Boulter, meanwhile, has broken back herself, levelling up at 4-4 with Kostyuk.
Kartal is on her serve, trailing 2-3. She completely miscues a forehand to trail 15-30, but Haddad Maia loses her own radar when attacking Kartal’s second serve. Haddad Maia has a chance to break … but Kartal’s first serve reappears to take us to deuce. Haddad Maia gets her second break point when Kartal nets a forehand … and this one is converted, Kartal going long with a backhand. Haddad Maia, the 18th seed, leads 4-2 in the first set.
Boulter has the fist pumps going but she’s also taken to deuce by Kostyuk, who has the first chance to break after a crushing forehand. She takes it, too, after Boulter nets a backhand. Kostyuk goes 2-1 up in the first set on Grandstand.
Boulter begins her tournament by holding serve against Kostyuk. Kartal’s start is less straightforward. Haddad Maia takes the first game on her serve as well as the first two points on Kartal’s. The 23-year-old shows some ticker to hold.
Katie Boulter is up against Marta Kostyuk, the 27th seed. Getting to the second round hasn’t been an issue for Boulter. She’s got there in five consecutive slams – but can’t find a way to get to the third. Her last third-round slam appearance was at the 2023 US Open. Sonay Kartal, facing Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, is looking to build on her run to the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the last day of first-round action at Flushing Meadows. We’ve got Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner leading the cast on Arthur Ashe, and we’ll keep an eye on the Brits as well: Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal will kick off at 11am local time/4pm BST. Over on Louis Armstrong, we’ll get a look at 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti as well as Amanda Anisimova, recent runner-up at Wimbledon.
The headlines from yesterday include Madison Keys’ early exit, Venus Williams’ return and, um, Carlos Alcaraz’s haircut. Here’s to some proper thrills today.
