US Open: Alexander Zverev passes first test, Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud win but 2020 champion Dominic Thiem bows out
Updated 26/08/2024 at 23:52 GMT+1
Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud all moved into the second round of the US Open, while former champion Dominic Thiem said goodbye to Flushing Meadows after defeat to Ben Shelton. Thiem beat Zverev in the 2020 final, but the German made a great start to his 2024 campaign with a convincing win over Maximilian Marterer. Elsewhere, American top seed Taylor Fritz also progressed.
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Video credit: SNTV
Alexander Zverev eased past German compatriot Maximilian Marterer in four sets at the US Open to advance to the second round.
The 2020 finalist claimed a 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 victory in two hours and 53 minutes on Grandstand as he continued his search for a maiden Grand Slam title.
Zverev, who is the fourth seed at Flushing Meadows, struck 21 aces and converted six of his 16 break points to improve his record at major tournaments this season to 15-3.
After opening with a relatively comfortable first set, Zverev was pegged back by Marterer via a tie-break to deny the 27-year-old the chance to get the job done in straight sets.
But after recovering from a slight wobble, Zverev was too strong for his compatriot, who looked deflated after losing the third set.
Zverev closed the match out in style to advance and will face either Adam Walton or Alexandre Muller for a spot in the third round.
top 10 trio progress in New York as Thiem bids farewell
Three of the other top 10 in action on Monday were Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud and Grigor Dimitrov who all advanced to the second round.
Rublev had to work for his straight-sets win against Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild, which he eventually wrapped up 6-3 7-6(3) 7-5.
The Russian will face Christopher Eubanks or Arthur Rinderknech in the next round as the sixth seed looks to end his wait for a major title.
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Ruud, who is set to compete in the men's doubles alongside William Blumberg, eliminated China's Bu Yunchaokete in the first singles round in straight sets.
The Norwegian came through a tricky opening set to claim a 7-6(2) 6-2 6-2 triumph and set up a tie against 37-year-old Gael Monfils, who defeated Argentine Diego Schwartzman in front of a packed crowd on Grandstand.
American No. 1 Taylor Fritz beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli to progress at his home Grand Slam, while 30-year-old Dominic Thiem bid an emotional farewell to the US Open after his first-round defeat to US No. 2 Ben Shelton.
The former champion, who beat Zverev in the 2020 final, played his final match at Flushing Meadows ahead of his expected retirement at the end of the season.
"It has been 10 years since I first played here," Thiem said on Arthur Ashe Stadium after the match. "It is actually a really important moment for me, because I had my greatest success here on this court.
"In that weird 2020, in strange and different circumstances, I had this success unfortunately without any of you [the fans] here.
"It was an amazing moment but, on the other hand, a bit sad, so I am super happy I got the chance to play my last US Open match on this court."
Meanwhile, ninth seed Dimitrov moved into the next round after an easy three-set victory over Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet.
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