Alcaraz and Sabalenka Cruise as Cirstea Ends Paolini's Run in New York
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka moved through in routine fashion at the US Open, Tommy Paul survived the day's only five-setter against Alexander Bublik, and Sorana Cirstea produced the standout upset by dismissing Jasmine Paolini in straight sets.
Carlos Alcaraz666- 6
- Aces
- 1
- 4
- Double faults
- 5
- 67%
- 1st serve in
- 57%
The hard courts of Flushing Meadows delivered a day of order at the top and turbulence just beneath it. Carlos Alcaraz needed only 6-3 6-4 6-1 to see off Wu Y., a scoreline that grew steadily more one-sided and that offered the Spaniard the kind of economy of effort every contender covets in the first week. Daniil Medvedev was similarly efficient, holding off Arthur Rinderknech 6-4 6-4 6-4 in an all-serving contest in which the Frenchman never found the break he needed.
The men's headline act, though, belonged to Tommy Paul. The American was two sets to one down and staring at the exit against Alexander Bublik, having lost a third-set tie-break, before turning the match on its head with 6-1 6-3 in the closing stages. Bublik's shot-making, so effective through the middle of the contest, drained away in the fourth set, and Paul's willingness to extend rallies proved the decisive variable.
Elsewhere in the men's draw, Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered from a poor opening set to beat Jiri Lehecka 2-6 6-1 7-6 6-1, the third-set tie-break effectively settling the match. Frances Tiafoe was untroubled against Valentin Vacherot (6-4 6-2 6-4), Alex Michelsen dispatched Daniel Merida 7-6 6-4 6-3, and Tomas Martin Etcheverry translated his clay-court instincts onto a quicker surface to beat Mariano Navone 6-4 6-4 6-3. Michael Zheng, meanwhile, came from a set down to beat Bu Y. 6-3 2-6 6-2 6-3.
On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka set the tone with a controlled 6-3 6-4 win over Kamilla Rakhimova, but the day's most significant result came from Sorana Cirstea, who beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3 6-3 without ever allowing the match to become a physical grind. Jessica Pegula was made to work harder, dropping the opening set 1-6 to Leylah Fernandez before recovering 6-4 6-3, while Emma Navarro handled Karolina Muchova 6-3 7-5 in the pick of the tactical duels.
Taylor Townsend's 6-2 6-7 6-3 win over Diana Shnaider and Linda Noskova's 6-2 6-7 6-2 defeat of Ann Li followed near-identical patterns: control, a lapse, then a decisive reset. Marta Kostyuk was the most emphatic of all, beating Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 6-2.
Attention now turns to a schedule dense with marquee names. Elena Rybakina (No. 2) faces Yuliia Starodubtseva (No. 58), Coco Gauff (No. 4) meets Cristina Bucsa (No. 40), and Mirra Andreeva (No. 5) takes on Nikola Bartunkova (No. 34). Iga Swiatek (No. 8) draws Marie Bouzkova (No. 26) in the most awkward assignment of the group, given Bouzkova's ability to change pace, while Amanda Anisimova (No. 10) plays Anastasia Potapova (No. 25). Madison Keys against Qinwen Zheng is the fixture with the most obvious ceiling.
The men's programme is no lighter. Taylor Fritz (No. 10) versus Francisco Cerundolo (No. 25) pits a hard-court serve against a grinder better known for clay, and Ben Shelton (No. 9) meets Denis Shapovalov (No. 48) in a left-handed shoot-out likely decided by return depth. Flavio Cobolli (No. 6) faces Alexander Blockx (No. 34), Karen Khachanov plays Benjamin Bonzi, and Luciano Darderi meets Dane Sweeny.