Novak Djokovic returned to the US Open highlight on Monday evening because the three-time champion took centre stage and reclaimed world No 1 over Carlos Alcaraz on the high of the boys’s rankings with his his first-round win.
Prevented from taking part in in final yr’s Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows due to being unvaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, Djokovic started quest to match Margaret Court’s all-time file haul of 24 Grand Slams at 11pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
A snug 6-0 6-2 6-3 victory over Frenchman Alexandre Muller enabled the 23-time Grand Slam winner to take over from US Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz on the high of the boys’s rankings.
Holger Rune suffered an enormous upset defeat to Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena
Holger Rune was left to remorse tweeting a map of the US Open web site to level spectators in direction of his first-round match.
The Dane now wants instructions to the exit after crashing out in 4 units to Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.
Rune, seeded fourth, was clearly miffed at being shunted away on considered one of Flushing Meadows’ tiny outdoors courts and sarcastically wrote “in case you can find Court 5, this is where I play my first match Monday”.
The court docket is crammed in between the Arthur Ashe and Grandstand Stadiums, with pathways on both facet the place spectators can wander previous.
And Rune’s cheeky tweet backfired as lots of swarmed across the court docket, craning their necks and standing on benches, to see the 20-year-old slip to defeat.
To rub salt within the wound, Rune even complained to the umpire about one noisy fan earlier than ultimately happening 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-2.
Afterwards he admitted his frustration on the scheduling, saying: “As best as you get in the ranking, the more benefits you should get with playing in better conditions.
“So I believe that is a traditional manner and it is also how ATP do with all of the gamers. But they did not do it with me right here.
“That’s obviously disappointing, but I’m not going to blame the court on the loss. He played very, very solid. Credit to him.”
On his ill-judged tweet, Rune added: “I just did it kind of for fun. I mean, of course I was a bit not happy when I saw the schedule, but, I mean, I saw the schedule Friday so I had time to recover from it.
“It’s not like I can not play tennis if I do not play on centre court docket.”
Dominic Thiem punished Alexander Bublik for attempting considered one of his notorious underarm serves at break level of their match
Also on Monday, Dominic Thiem picked up his first win at Flushing Meadows since he gained the title in 2020.
The 29-year-old Austrian, a former world No 3 who’s working his manner again up the rankings after an extended spell out injured, beat twenty fifth seed Alexander Bublik 6-3 6-2 6-4.
“It’s a pretty special victory, because it’s the first since two-and-a-half years on Grand Slams,” stated Thiem.
“So it’s great. Especially here at the US Open with all the past and all the memories I have here.”
Fifth seed Casper Ruud, final yr’s runner-up, dropped a set to American qualifier Emilio Nava however got here by 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe opened their respective bids to change into the primary American man to win a Grand Slam title in 20 years with routine victories.
The top-ranked Americans had been hardly examined as ninth seed Fritz crushed compatriot Steve Johnson 6-2 6-1 6-2 after Tiafoe, the tenth seed, beat American Learner Tien 6-2 7-5 6-1.
Christopher Eubanks, the twenty eighth seed who made waves when he reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in July, beat South Korean Kwon Soon-wo 6-3 6-4 0-6 6-4.
The US Open on Sky Sports: How and the place to watch
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Watch the US Open dwell and unique on Sky Sports from August 28 to September 10. All courts shall be out there to look ahead to the primary time
The US Open is again on Sky Sports with the promise to give followers dwell protection of the Grand Slam like by no means earlier than.
Sky welcomes tennis again to its channels, including to the present sports activities portfolio and reaffirming the broadcaster as the house of dwell sport within the UK & Ireland.
Sky Sports’ new blended actuality studio options a number of customized constructed LED screens, built-in mild ‘sabres’, and an open cover roof, making the house alive with color and vitality to mirror the vibrancy of the final Grand Slam of the yr.
From Novak Djokovic to Iga Swiatek- it’s time to meet the US Open champion contenders!
With built-in AR capabilities, a flexible LED flooring, and a ‘fourth wall’, the viewer shall be transported to the Arthur Ashe Stadium in a 360-degree immersive surroundings. Our tennis consultants will take the viewer into the eyes of the gamers for skilled Hawkeye evaluation and perception because the match progresses.
The expertise concerned permits us to add a complete new dimension and can deliver clients nearer to the motion.
Highlights of matches shall be out there throughout Sky Sports TV and our social media platforms.
Video highlights will even be out there of the Sky Sports web site and app, the place there will even be a every day dwell textual content commentary on the Sky Sports web site and app, in addition to dwell scores, studies, evaluation and options.
Stream the US Open on Sky Sports with NOW for simply £26 a month for 12 months. Cancel anytime.
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