Flushing Meadows – The first round of the U.S. Open continues on Tuesday, featuring several marquee matchups that have fans across the nation watching closely. German star Alexander Zverev, the tournament’s top seed, is eager to build on a breakthrough year that saw him capture his first Grand Slam title at the French Open and reach the Wimbledon final.
Alexander Zverev’s Quest for More Majors
“Once you win one, you want to win more. You want to keep going and you want to play your best tennis every time you’re on a tennis court,” Zverev said, addressing concerns about a dip in form after his French Open triumph. The world No. 2 acknowledged a recent slump, noting, “I feel like I have done it after the French Open, and then I haven’t done it the last two tournaments. But I definitely feel like my game has been coming back… I hope I can show my best tennis here again.”
His opening match pits him against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, a solid opponent who will test Zverev’s renewed confidence. A victory would keep Zverev on track for a potential second major title this season.
Coco Gauff Looks to Defend Home‑Court Glory
American favorite Coco Gauff, now 22, returns to the U.S. Open with a blend of experience and youthful ambition. The former champion captured her first Grand Slam at 19 by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in 2023 and added a French Open title last year. “Veteran, I guess with my experience, yeah. With my age probably not. But I think the expectations are high… U.S. Open can be the one you feel the most pressure at, just being an American you want to succeed and do well,” Gauff explained ahead of her eighth main‑draw appearance.
Gauff’s recent résumé includes a semi‑final run at Wimbledon and a victory at the Cincinnati Open, giving her momentum as she seeks a third major title. She will face Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez in the first round, a match that promises to showcase Gauff’s aggressive baseline play.
Mirra Andreeva Seeks to Reignite Winning Form
Russia’s Mirra Andreeva, the 19‑year‑old who claimed her first Grand Slam at the French Open in June, entered the U.S. Open after a mixed stretch of results. She suffered a second‑round loss at Wimbledon and early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati, prompting a brief two‑week mental reset before the hard‑court season.
“After I won in Paris, the first few tournaments were not easy because I was still sometimes thinking, wow, I won! Yay! Great! Considering how I’ve played since, that’s not the best,” Andreeva said earlier this month. Ranked world No. 5, she hopes to translate her French Open success to the American courts.
First‑Round Order of Play
All matches begin at Arthur Ashe Stadium (15:30 GMT / 11:30 ET) and Louis Armstrong Stadium (15:00 GMT / 11:00 ET). Highlights include:
- 22 – Madison Keys (U.S.) vs. Alina Korneeva (Russia)
- 9 – Taylor Fritz (U.S.) vs. Darwin Blanch (U.S.)
- 4 – Coco Gauff (U.S.) vs. Zeynep Sonmez (Turkey)
- 1 – Alexander Zverev (Germany) vs. Lorenzo Sonego (Italy)
- 5 – Mirra Andreeva (Russia) vs. Janice Tjen (Indonesia)
Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; editing by Toby Davis.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
