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The 2023 US Open kicked off on Monday and just like every other iteration of the Grand Slam Day 1 had loads of upsets, feel-good stories and major moments. Daily Express Sport breaks down the five things we learned as the game’s best and brightest hit the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.<\/p>\n
Back in July Coco Gauff was ousted in the first round of Wimbledon, but in just a few short weeks she has transformed not only her game but her mindset. The 19-year-old, who won titles in Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati, Ohio, showed poise as she came back from a first-set surprise to top Laura Siegemund.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The German did her best to play mind games as she continuously stalled points \u2014 even when Gauff was serving. But the No. 6 seed was able to stay on her game. And under the encouragement from her coaches, including Brad Gilbert who could be heard on TV coaching his newest prodigy, she was able to overcome a tough test.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I definitely won ugly tonight,” she told reporters after the match. “It was a lot of weird points, with the slicing. Usually, something that I usually do well against, opponents who slice. We were prepared for it. I think today was just execution.”<\/p>\n
It’s been five years since Sloane Stephens was the last American who won the United States’ lone major and with how things are looking, Gauff could just be the one to end the drought. She’ll face a tough test in the second round in 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva.<\/p>\n
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Speaking of long droughts, the last American man to win the US Open was Andy Roddick back in 2003. (Side note: He too was coached by Gilbert). But things are looking optimistic that the long-standing wait for the next great American men’s singles player is coming to an end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes, a number of guys lost: J.J. Wolf, Emilio Nava, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Zachary Svajda, Steve Johnson, Sebastian Korda and Ethan Quinn were all eliminated.<\/p>\n
But, Learner Tien and Steve Johnson lost to compatriots. Johnson was handed a quick exit \u2014 he won just five games \u2014 by the highest-ranked American on the men’s side, Taylor Fritz. Tien, who is just 17, lost in straight sets but gave Maryland native Frances Tiafoe some things to think about.<\/p>\n
Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton and Wimbledon star Christopher Eubanks advanced in four sets and Mackenzie McDonald had the match of the night by upsetting the No. 15 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Just a few days ago, after losing to Gauff for the first time in her career in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters, Iga Swiatek said, “Well, from my perspective I would say my tank of fuel is pretty empty.”<\/p>\n The world No. 1 must have found a great gas station.<\/p>\n The Poland native won her first-round match against Rebecca Peterson 6-0, 6-1 and only lost 22 points. You can’t blame the defending champion if she felt a little tired, she’s had deep runs at pretty much every tournament, including Roland Garros where she did not drop a set. It was the fourth time she reached a final at a major without going the distance in any match.<\/p>\n A number of big names made their returns to the hard courts \u2014 and a Grand Slam.<\/p>\n Caroline Wozniacki played her first major since the Australian Open in 2020 and cruised to an easy 6-3, 6-2 win. The last time she was at the US Open was back in 2019 where she lost to the eventual champion, Bianca Andreescu. She is one of 10 moms competing at this year’s edition.<\/p>\n Dominic Thiem is back. The 2020 US Open winner, who had lost in the first round in every major since advancing to the Round of 16 at the Aussie Open in 2021, upset the No. 25 seed Alexander Bublik in straight sets. Thiem has struggled for more than two years with a wrist injury.<\/p>\n One other comeback, albeit one that ended in a loss, was still a huge success. Milos Raonic made his return to Flushing. The Canadian played his first US Open since 2020 and only his fourth tourney of the year due to injuries. Unfortunately, the welcome mat was a first-round match-up with the seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, who won in straight sets.<\/p>\n The stars shone brightly at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Day 1 and it wasn’t just on the court. Yes, Novak Djokovic barely broke a sweat in his first-round match as he cruised to an easy three-set win.<\/p>\n But the stars were also in the stands. Spotted in the crowd were former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who helped honor Billie Jean King for the 50th anniversary of equal prize money for women.\u00a0<\/p>\n Actor Danny Devito, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, boxer Mike Tyson and skier Lyndsey Vonn were also in attendance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic wins with ease as Coco Gauff involved in first-round thriller[LATEST] <\/strong>
US Open schedule fury grows as Rune kicks off again with dig over American stars[LATEST] <\/strong>
US Open fans left baffled as food delivery interrupts Sloane Stephens match[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\nIga is all fueled up<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nBig returns<\/h2>\n
Starry night<\/h2>\n