Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Former champion Daniil Medvedev and American No. 1 Jessica Pegula made winning starts at the US Open as the final Grand Slam of the year got underway in New York. Medvedev beat French qualifier Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, while Pegula defeated Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2.
Medvedev arrived at Flushing Meadows after a frustrating run-up to the tournament, but looked composed on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The seventh seed took control against Gaston and completed the victory in two hours and 14 minutes, avoiding a repeat of his chaotic first-round exit against Benjamin Bonzi last year.
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“Last couple of weeks were not easy,” Medvedev said. “I’m happy that today I managed to produce high-level tennis.”
Pegula also began her campaign with a straight-sets victory, although the third seed had to work through some early nerves against Ruse. She missed her first nine break-point opportunities before finding her rhythm and eventually closed out the match in 83 minutes.
MEDVEDEV PUTS TOUGH RUN BEHIND HIM
Medvedev’s victory was particularly valuable after a difficult North American hard-court swing. The 2021 champion had suffered early exits in Montreal and Cincinnati and arrived in New York with doubts over his form.
There was little sign of those struggles against Gaston. Medvedev used his serve and backhand to keep the qualifier under pressure, winning 83% of his first-serve points and facing only one break-point opportunity throughout the match.
He will next face either Belgian Raphael Collignon or American wildcard Sebastian Gorzny.
PEGULA CONTINUES STRONG SEASON
For Pegula, the opening-round win added to an already productive 2026 campaign. The American arrived in New York after reaching the Cincinnati final and has been one of the WTA Tour’s most consistent players this season.
She will next face either two-time US Open champion Venus Williams or fellow American wildcard Sofia Kenin. A deep run would also give Pegula another opportunity to improve on her career-best Grand Slam result, her runner-up finish at Flushing Meadows in 2024.
KREJCIKOVA FALLS AS PAOLINI SURVIVES
The opening day also produced an early seeded upset, with 27th seed Barbora Krejcikova falling to Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6(4), 6-2 after saving six match points before eventually losing.
Jasmine Paolini survived a tougher test, recovering from a second-set setback to beat Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. The 19th seed will next meet compatriot Lucrezia Stefanini.
The US Open is being played across a 15-day schedule for the second consecutive year, with the first round spread across three days. The tournament is also offering a record 108 million USD prize purse, the largest in tennis history.Daniil Medvedev, Jessica Pegula make winning starts at US Open
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
