New York, USA – Day 3 of the US Open saw two of the tournament’s top seeds, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, deliver commanding performances, while defending women’s champion Coco Gauff had to dig deep in a late-night thriller. The day was marked by a mix of swift victories and dramatic battles on the courts of Flushing Meadows.
Sinner’s Title Defense Starts with a Statement
World No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner began his bid for back-to-back US Open titles in emphatic fashion on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Italian star, 24, cruised to a dominant 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Czech world number 89 Vit Kopriva in just one hour and 38 minutes. Sinner’s powerful groundstrokes and efficient play left his opponent with few answers, setting the tone for a promising title defense. He will face Alexei Popyrin in the next round.
Swiatek’s Record-Breaking Rout
Women’s draw favorite Iga Swiatek was equally impressive in her opening match, sweeping into the second round with a 6-1, 6-2 rout of Colombia’s Emiliana Arango. The 24-year-old from Poland was in complete control, overwhelming her opponent with powerful groundstrokes and deft net play. The win made Swiatek the first woman in history to win 65 consecutive WTA-level first-round matches, surpassing Monica Seles’s previous record of 64. Her dominant performance, however, was nearly overshadowed by the news of pop star Taylor Swift’s engagement to NFL player Travis Kelce, which dominated her post-match press conference. A self-professed “Swiftie,” Swiatek could not hide her delight at the news. She will next face the Netherlands’ Suzan Lamens.
Gauff Survives a Late-Night Battle
While the top seeds enjoyed comfortable victories, 2023 women’s singles champion Coco Gauff was forced to claw her way to a grueling win. In a three-hour late-night battle, Gauff prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. The American star struggled with consistency, racking up 59 unforced errors and 10 double faults, but ultimately showcased her champion’s resolve to close out the match. Gauff, who recently revamped her coaching team to improve her service game, showed immense fighting spirit to advance.
Osaka’s Comfortable Return
In a much more straightforward affair, two-time former champion Naomi Osaka had no such difficulty in her return to the US Open. The Japanese former world No. 1 comfortably dispatched Belgium’s Green Minnen 6-3, 6-4, reveling in returning to a venue she regards as a home away from home.
Other Key Results
In other women’s draw results, Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk took down Britain’s Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-4, while eighth seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States ousted Australia’s Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 6-2. Brazil’s 18th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia advanced with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 win over Britain’s Sonay Kartal. However, rising French star Lois Boisson, who captivated fans with a semifinal run at the French Open, exited in three sets to Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, losing 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.
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