Seven Australians lined up for day one action at the 2020 US Open. Arina Rodionova had been added to the draw at the last minute but lost 6-2, 6-2 to USA’s Madison Brengle.
Rodionova was the only Australian to have a one-sided scoreline with the remaining players being very competitive.
First up Jordan Thompson and Ajla Tomljanovic flew the Aussie flag.
Thompson faced Italy’s Stefano Travaglia and jumped out to an early lead. The world no. 64 went to a 2-0 set lead before Travaglia hit back. Thompson settled and closed out the match to set up a meeting with world no. 72 Egor Gerasimov from Belarus.
Marc Polmans was two games from victory at 4-4, 40-0 in the fourth set against USA’s Marcos Giron before losing in five sets. It was the first grand slam singles victory for the American.
Tomljanovic had a tough opening round assignment against 2016 US Open champion Angelique Kerber from Germany. Kerber had made a late decision to actually confirm he spot in the draw and it was her first match in 187 days since losing at the Australian Open.
Both players failed to hold serve across the opening four games. Kerber the No. 17 moved away at 4-4, though, the three-time major champion raised her level and won eight straight points—one in which she displayed remarkable speed chasing a Tomljanovic dropshot—to claim the first set.
In the second set the German was able to get on top early with two breaks. She found herself serving for the match at 5-2. It was now that Tomljanovic lifted as she managed to get one break of serve back. Kerber did however hold her nerve to close out the match for a 6-4, 6-4 win.
World No.126 Astra Sharma went the closest out of the women when she lost in a third set tiebreaker against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. The final score being 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(2).
Maddison Inglis did well to take the 24th seed Magda Linette to three sets. Late in the third set she went for a volley that went just wide. If that had gone it things might have been different.
Linette was badly missing her groundstrokes late in the match but when she had to serve out the match she got the job done.
Men’s singles
Jordan Thompson (AUS) d Stefano Travaglia 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-2
Marcos Giron (USA) d Marc Polmans (AUS) 6-4 6-7(5) 3-6 6-4 6-2
Women’s singles
[17] Angelique Kerber (GER) d Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-4 6-4
[19] Dayana Yastremska (UKR) d Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(2)
[24] Magda Linette (POL) d Maddison Inglis (AUS) 6-1 4-6 6-4
Danka Kovinic (MNE) d Lizette Cabrera (AUS) 6-4 3-6 6-2
Madison Brengle (USA) d (Alt) Arina Rodionova (AUS) 6-2 6-2
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