Unexpected Upsets and Triumphs at US Open First Round

New York, August 26 (AP) - From the outset of her U.S. Open campaign, Madison Keys sensed she wasn’t playing at her usual confident level—the same self-assurance that led her to victory at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Tallying a staggering 89 unforced errors and 14 double-faults, the No. 6 seed Keys exited the tournament in the first round, losing 6-7 (10), 7-6 (3), 7-5 to 82nd-ranked Renata Zarazua from Mexico. “For the first time in a while, my nerves got the better of me, becoming a bit paralyzing,” said Keys, who has been a finalist in New York in 2017 and a semifinalist in 2018 and 2023. “It felt like I was slow, wasn’t seeing things clearly, which led to bad decisions and lazy footwork.” This marked her first U.S. Open as a major champion after defeating No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne, but it ended quicker than she expected.

Keys admitted, “You always feel first-round jitters, and as the day approaches, the nerves grow more intense. Today, though, I couldn’t detach myself from the feeling that winning mattered excessively.” Her errors against Zarazua’s spin-heavy shots caused a surprising outcome; Zarazua won with only eight winners in the match. This victory was Zarazua’s biggest, considering she failed to advance past the first or second round in her previous eight Grand Slam appearances.

Despite being her first time playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium, a setting that typically overwhelms newcomers with its enormity, Zarazua managed her nerves better. Even with a previous 0-6 record against top-10 players, she persevered through the 3-hour, 10-minute match, which included battling back from a set down and trailing 3-0 in the second set. “Kudos to her for making me play a lot of balls today,” Keys acknowledged. Zarazua is the only Mexican player in the women's singles bracket, expressing how tennis isn’t prominently followed in her home country. She mentioned that her transition to tennis from gymnastics and diving was due to her brother, who considered it a safer sport.

In other Monday matches, Brazilian teenager João Fonseca triumphed in his U.S. Open debut by defeating Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-3. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Canadian Vicky Mboko, seeded 22nd, was knocked out by Barbora Krejcikova with a score of 6-3, 6-2. Veteran player Petra Kvitova played her last match before retirement, losing to Diane Parry 6-1, 6-0, while Caroline Garcia, a 2022 U.S. Open semifinalist, also saw her farewell after a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 defeat by Kamilla Rakhimova. Frances Tiafoe, a two-time semifinalist in New York, advanced by beating Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets. During the night session, Venus Williams lost her first Grand Slam match in two years, preceding Carlos Alcaraz’s victory over Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, showing off a new buzz cut.

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s action, notable names such as Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Jannik Sinner are scheduled to play. Gauff faces Ajla Tomljanovic, who famously defeated Serena Williams in the last match of the 23-time major champion's career. This will be Gauff’s first appearance since she began collaborations with biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan to enhance her serve. (AP)

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