Musetti’s timing was perfect, because the rain has now stopped play on the other courts, with Badosa having blazed her way through the first set 6-1 against Kasatkina, and the boom or bust Jelena Ostapenko 4-3 down on serve in the opener against the German veteran Tatjana Maria. Iva Jovic, Alex de Minaur and Rafael Jodar haven’t even started their day matches yet, and neither have Britain’s Jan Choinski and Fran Jones, and it’s uncertain now if they’ll play today.
Coco Gauff and Gael Monfils, in the final grand slam of his career on his 40th birthday, will get going in the night session shortly though, under the roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, with Alexander Zverev and Alexandra Eala to follow, as Eala mania hits New York. It’s time to wrap up this blog now, but do check back later for our match reports. And I’ll be back again tomorrow. Bye!
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With the grey clouds looming, both literally and also figuratively for Fery, Musetti, looking far more composed than he did when serving at 5-4, skips to 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, 40-15, and the 13th seed secures the win with an unreturned serve. Fery’s first US Open campaign ends in the first round, and alas, there’ll be no repeat of his Wimbledon wonderland. “I stuck to the game plan, I’m really happy after missing the past two grand slams [through injury],” says a beaming Musetti, who’ll play the Australian wild card Dane Sweeny next. And Musetti’s still smiling, even when he’s asked why Italy couldn’t qualify for the World Cup.
Fery fails to make the most of his reprieve though, as a double fault and errant volley of his own hands Musetti two break points, and there’s a very relieved “COME ON!!!” from the Italian when Fery slices long. And Fery receives a code violation for going all sweary. Musetti will serve, once again, for the match, at 6-3, 6-3, 6-5.
There are a few drops of rain as Musetti steps up to serve for a place in round two , just to add to the drama. Which increases even more when Fery flies to 0-30. And then 15-40, when Musetti tamely double faults! And Musetti misses his backhand volley! That was messy from the Italian, whose mind was perhaps already halfway back in the locker room. It’s 6-3, 6-3, 5-5.
“This is his first US Open, Fery’s still going to learn and grow with every week on tour,” says a glass-half-full Laura Robson, as Musetti moves closer to the finish line, leading 6-3, 6-3, 5-3. It leaves Fery serving to stay in the match and, despite prevailing in an energy-sapping second point, he slides 30-40 down when he biffs a backhand into the net. So it’s match point … Fery’s first serve is WELL long … he lands his second … charges to the net … and it’s enough to put off Musetti, who errs for once on his backhand! And Fery rips through the next two points to hold!
Musetti holds for 2-2 and is back to his best as he breaks Fery for 3-2, the British No 1 blazing wide on game point. Whether it’s the miles on the clock from reaching the Winston-Salem Open final, or the oppressive, humid conditions, or the class of Musetti, or the lack of experience on the overseas grand slam stage (or perhaps it’s all four), Fery doesn’t have the energy and belief that he had during that run to the Wimbledon semi-finals, and when Musetti backs up the break for 6-3, 6-3, 4-2, Fery’s race appears to be nearly run.
Daria Kasatkina and Paula Badosa are in the opening game of their match, in the meeting of the former world No 8 and former world No 2. Kasatkina, now at 61 after surprisingly suffering a slump in form having switched her allegiance from Russia to Australia last year, and Badosa, at 87 after a terrible time with injuries, have only five match wins between them at slams this year, but on their day can do some damage in this draw.
Well look here! Maybe Fery did give himself a strong talking to in the mirror, because he claims his first break, to 30, with some controlled, measured aggression, and now the English fans think they’re at the World Cup because they’re singing Wonderwall. Fery responds to the serenading by promptly falling 15-40 down on serve, and while he saves the first break point, a backhand bullet whistles just wide on the second, and they’re back on serve, with Musetti leading 6-3, 6-3, 1-2.
Both Fery and Musetti have taken themselves off court between sets, and Fery could do with a 2012 US Open final Murray-style pep talk in the locker room , if he’s to believe he can turn this around. Does Henman think Fery can do it? Erm no. “I look at the match-up here,” says Henman, “and Musetti has emphasised his class. He’s able to soak up the firepower from Fery and he’s getting the free points on serve, which gives him an edge in his service games, while Fery is having to work very hard in his. When you look at the form and experience at this level Musetti is looking very, very comfortable.”
Bencic beaten 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 by Putintseva
Belinda Bencic, the 12th seed and the Tokyo 2021 champ, is out, losing in three sets to Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, who’ll face another Olympic champion, Zheng Qinwen, next.
Fery holds to reduce his arrears to 6-3, 5-3, but Fery – usually so speedy around the court – looks off the pace as Musetti serves out the second set to love. Musetti leads 6-3, 6-3 and it’s a very long way back for the British No 1 from here.
A first glimmer for Fery, at 15-40 on Musetti’s serve, but the 13th seed saves the first break point with yes, you’ve guessed it, another backhand beauty down the line, and Fery fires a return long on the second. From deuce, Fery gets himself another couple of break points, but he can’t take advantage, and the frustration is really starting to show when Musetti holds for 6-3, 5-2. So are there any positives? “Not a great deal,” says Tim Henman on the Sky commentary. “I think perhaps last week [Fery’s run to the Winston-Salem Open final] is catching up with him.”
Maria Sakkari, however, has just dug her way out of an even deeper hole, coming from 6-2, 4-0 down to defeat the American qualifier Robin Montgomery 6-2 in the third set. Francisco Cerundolo and Dane Sweeny have also put a W by their names, Sweeny advancing when Corentin Moutet retired in the third set, and the Australian awaits the winner of Musetti v Fery.
Fery holds for 2-2. But even a tweener from Fery can’t halt the inspired Italian on serve as Musetti swats it away with a forehand volley on the stretch, before holding to love. “Let’s go Fery,” shouts a fan, with hope more than conviction. And Musetti then flashes his backhand wand with a winner down the line on break point and Fery finds himself a set and a break down, at 6-3, 4-2.
Fancy some match highlights? Sure you do.
Fery looks rather rattled as Musetti moves effortlessly through the opening game of the second set, helped by a messy forehand miss from Fery, but the Brit does, at least, hold for 1-1, which stops the run of five games against him. He can’t make any inroads on Musetti’s serve, however, and in the blink of an eye he’s serving once more. He trails 6-3, 2-1.
After those two double faults from Fery in game seven, here’s another potentially costly double as he serves to stay in the opening set at 3-5, and it hands Musetti his first set point at 30-40. Fery saves it with a gutsy drop shot, but Musetti makes no mistake from deuce, lasering a one-hander down the line, before Fery flashes long on the second SP. Fery trails 6-3 and he’s nowhere near the heights he hit during his Wimbledon odyssey.
Andreeva, after seeing the first two match points come and go, finishes things off with an emphatic smash. The Russian puffs out her cheeks in relief, having seen off Tjen with more ease than she did when they met in Cincinnati two weeks ago. The French Open champion is up and running, as she looks to go deep in New York for the first time, with the third round last year the 19-year-old’s best showing so far. “She’s not an easy opponent to play against. I was just trying to be very aggressive, go for my shots, and I felt that today was a better match,” Andreeva says.
After a jeopardy-free 64 minutes, Andreeva is serving for a place in round two, at 6-2, 5-2 against Tjen. Back-to-back aces bring up three match points at 40-0 … just as b2b double faults from Fery gift Musetti a break for 4-3 . Ach. Fery had been looking so assured up until then. The ear plugs are back in, as Fery reflects on his stumble.
Fery, at the changeover, drowns out the Grandstand noise by sticking some ear plugs in , before Musetti draws level at 2-2. At least Fery’s not on Court 17, the “hash court”, where Bencic, having come so close to smelling victory rather than weed at 6-4, 4-4, has been taken to a decider by Putintseva.
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Fery opens with a no-fuss hold and Musetti replies with one of his own, before channelling the spirit of the now departed Stan Wawrinka (whose grand slam career came to an end yesterday) with a beautiful one-handed backhand down the line. But it’s not enough to knock Fery out of his serving groove, and the British No 1 holds for 2-1.
A quick whizz around the grounds: Andreeva has taken the first set, 6-2, against Tjen; Belinda Bencic leads Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 4-4; Francisco Cerundolo is 6-4, 6-3 up on Filip Misolic; Cerundolo’s brother Juan Manuel is just starting against France’s Arthur Gea; Dane Sweeny is a set up, 7-6, against the fiery Frenchman Corentin Moutet; and Sweeny’s fellow Australian Tristan Schoolkate is locked at one set all with the American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy.
Having just missed out on a seeding, Fery has a challenging first-round draw today, against the Italian 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti , a former French Open and Wimbledon semi-finalist, who remains a class act despite an injury-disrupted season. These two, both aged 24, know each other from their junior days, after which their careers took different trajectories, partly because of the bone bruising problems that Fery had for a couple of years but now seem to be resolved. If both play near their best, this could be a cracker.
Rybakina’s win means Arthur Fery’s name has just been announced on Grandstand , and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was Wimbledon rather than the US Open, given the welcome he gets from the crowd. It was at Wimbledon, of course, that Fery’s career changed overnight, and after that improbable run to the semi-finals, he returns to the grand slam stage as the new British No 1, despite this being his US Open main draw debut. He comes in with form on the hard courts too, having reached the first ATP Tour final of his career at the Winston-Salem Open last weekend.
“I’m just happy to be here,” says a red-cheeked Rybakina amid today’s oppressive humidity. “We’ll see how I’m going to feel tomorrow because I had to take a break [after her injury in Cincinnati]. But for now it feels OK. I’m definitely motivated [to get to world No 1], I had chances before but it didn’t go my way. Of course it will be an amazing achievement but it’s still too far. I need to focus on my recovery and just keep going.”
And it is only one more game, because Rybakina, at 40-30, has match point No 4 and, determined not to be outdone by Frodin’s flurry of aces, she rounds things off with one of her own. The world No 2 – who could become the world No 1 for the first time this fortnight (she’s guaranteed the top ranking if she reaches the semi-finals) – will be relieved to come through so comfortably after her injury last week. For Frodin – much like Blanch against Fritz – it’s a tough introduction to the big time, but with her big serve and forehand she’s one to watch in the future for sure.
Rybakina has two match points at 6-3, 5-1, 15-40 on Frodin’s serve. It’s absolutely clutch from Frodin, as the 17-year-old smacks down not one but two aces! Rybakina gets a third MP at her advantage … cue another ace from Frodin! Wow. A wry smile from Frodin, who looks as if even she can’t quite believe what she’s doing. And for the first time in this match, she holds! She lives to fight another game.
At least Rybakina is doing her best to help De Minaur out, as she breaks again for 6-3, 4-1 – before fending off two break points to hold for 5-1. Mirra Andreeva, meanwhile, is under way on Louis Armstrong after Cobolli’s comeback, with the French Open champion taking on Indonesia’s Janice Tjen. Andreeva hasn’t exactly been pulling up any trees since winning her first slam in June, so it’ll be interesting to see if she can re-enter the conversation here. It’s currently 1-1 in the opening set.
Fritz’s victory means the day session on Arthur Ashe is already over – even though the matches on the outside courts only got going less than an hour ago. It’s strange that the organisers haven’t moved another match on to Ashe – Alex de Minaur v Andrea Guerrieri would have been a good pick given that he’s scheduled fourth on Grandstand, after Rybakina, Arthur Fery and Iva Jovic, so he could be rivalling Venus Williams for the latest start in US Open history. Her first-round match didn’t begin until 12.13am on day one.
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There were question marks over Rybakina’s fitness coming into the tournament , after the Australian Open champion was forced to retire during last week’s Cincinnati quarter-final against Iga Swiatek because of a freak injury. She has strapping around her left heel today, but doesn’t seem at all impeded – even though a rare blip on serve allows Frodin to advance to 0-30, before Rybakina restores order with the next four points. It’s 6-3, 3-1.
As for Rybakina, she’s in lockdown mode, having hit only four unforced errors , on her way to a 6-3, 2-0 lead over the 17-year-old American Thea Frodin who, at 585, is ranked 583 places below the Australian Open champion and is making not only her grand slam but also her WTA Tour debut. Frodin received a wild card into the main draw after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships, but perhaps her biggest claim to fame so far is being Serena Williams’s tennis-playing body double in the 2021 film King Richard.
There’s no time to dwell on Cobolli’s victory though, because Fritz has two match points at 6-3, 6-2, 5-3, 40-15. The 2024 runner-up settles things – appropriately given his smooth serving performance – with an unreturned serve, and it’s been a harsh learning experience for the 18-year-old Blanch. “It’s hard playing another American,” Fritz says on court, rather sportingly, given it didn’t look that way. Cobolli is a potential fourth-round opponent, by the way, as Fritz attempts to become the first American man to win the US Open singles since 2003.
Cobolli beats Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Cobolli, serving for the match, decides he’s not yet had enough of this wild ride, and he slumps 15-40 down. Comesana sends a tired shot into the net on the first break point, and can’t capitalise on the second either. And from deuce, Cobolli clobbers an unreturned forehand down the line to bring up match point, and he completes the comeback with a serve-volley combo! He sinks to his knees as if he’s won the whole tournament, and for the first time in his career he’s won from two sets to love down. He was a break down in the decider too. For a player who can sometimes lose his fight when things aren’t going his way, perhaps this could be a coming of age for the 24-year-old.
Fritz is flying to the finish line, meanwhile, leading 6-3, 6-2, 5-3 , with Blanch serving at 0-15.
Now it’s Cobolli’s turn to soak in the applause as he ups the ante with an absolute rocket to advance to 0-30 on Comesana’s serve, having held for 4-4 . And soon it’s 15-40 – take one of these break points and Cobolli will be serving for the match, having been two sets to love down. Comesana sends Cobolli one way and then the other, but Cobolli is charging around the court as if this is the first set rather than the fifth, and the point is there for the taking as he unwinds on the forehand side … but he miscues! But Cobolli’s return is too hot for Comesana to handle on the second break point! It’s been anything but straightforward, but the fifth seed will now serve for a place in round two.
Thanks Daniel. I’m the bearer of good news, because the rain has finally stopped and play has started away from the two main courts, four hours later than planned. Among the not-so-early runners and riders are Elena Rybakina (2) v Thea Frodin, Belinda Bencic (12) v Yulia Putintseva, Francisco Cerundolo (24) v Filip Misolic and Dane Sweeny v Corentin Moutet. And Comesana raises his arms into the air as he finally holds in that tortuous game for 4-3 in the decider . At four hours and one minute, this is only a few minutes shy of the longest match of Comesana’s career.
Up 15-30, Comesana badly shanks a forehand, putting himself under pressure; will it inspire him as it did Cobolli? Well, he ends a really good point with a slam-dunk overhead, but then flaps a forehand long and we move to deuce then, when he makes advantage, the Italian mooches in to caress a gorgeous volley from below the level of the net; back to deuce we go. And have a look! Sent to the forehand corner, Comesana leaps into a monster that he sends cross at ludicrous pace for advantage … then Cobolli oozes around his backhand to annihilate a winner down the line, so flat it’s almost concave. These two are bringing it now, a nails second serve restoring game point … and another banging forehand from Cobolli confiscating it. Back on Ashe, Fritz has broken Blanch to lead 6-3 6-2 2-1; here’s Katy to coax you through the next bit.
OK, Comesana makes 15-30 … but a service winner doth ensue, then a gorgeous inside-out forehand to the corner, ripped low over the net. Cobolli doesn’t wait to be asked, and soon after, he secures his hold for 3-3, responding to pressure superbly.
A hold for Comesana, who now leads 3-2 in the fifth. I’d still expect Cobolli to find a way to win, but increasingly, this match looks like it’ll come to down to a point here or there, all the more so given neither is a huge server.
Yup, Fritz serves out for a 6-3 6-2 lead, and is in total control. Blanch will be better for the experience, but for now, he’s not quite ready to compete.
Fritz has broken Blanch again to lead 6-3 5-2; Comesana nets at 40-30, such that he and Cobolli are now level at 2-2 in the fifth. Away from our two show courts, though, I’m hoping for some good news soon – we were told no play before round about now, but we’ve not been advised of subsequent developments.
Roger Federer has been inducted into the tennis Hall of Fame – pah, they’re letting in anyone these days. I really liked what Lindsey Voonn wrote about him, though.
There are many athletes that I admire, respect and look up to but Roger was the athlete I aspired to be. Classy, kind, fearless, a true competitor and always a true sportsman.
A very long way to go. Cobolli makes 0-40 and unloads the suitcase from the back, the length and weight of his hitting down the middle soon inciting the error. I love the way he competes, with passion, joy and menace. Comesana leads 2-1 in the fifth, on serve.
Back on Armstrong, Comesana holds, then raises break point … and Cobolli is unusually tentative, swiping a backhand wide, all that work given away just like that. There’s a long way still to go, but the Argentine leads 2-0 in the fifth, four holds from round two.
As luck would have it, Sky change channels just as Fritz breaks Blanch for 3-2 in the second. This looks like being a quick win for the no 9 seed.
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Blanch, a decent prospect, is doing nicely in the second, down 3-6 but level at 2-2. His swinging lefty serve is decent, but his second delivery needs serious work; I’m sure Juan Carlos Ferrero will get it done.
Flavio Cobolli has never won a match from two sets down before, but he’s on course so to do now, holding to 15 to level at 2-2. Comesana has played well – the heavy balls help his scurrying, short-guy style – but the gap in class is apparent, and he’ll have to do something very special to win from here, especially given how much chasing he’s already done.
Back on Armstrong, Cobolli is serving for set four at 3-6 2-6 6-3 5-4. Comesana, though, hasn’t made things easy for him … but as I type, a leaping forehand is followed by a flat one that breaks the sideline at the corner of the service box, ridiculous behaviour. and that’s 30-0.
I feel more certain that Fritz won’t – I just don’t think his power is enough at the rarefied level, where he’ll be made to run and pivot more than suits him; he was easily dispatched by Zverev, 4, 4 and 2 in the Wimbledon quarter. But he’s just served out the first set against Blanch to lead 6-3.
So what is Cobolli’s ceiling? I really like him as a player – his forehand, his speed and his competitive charisma especially. If I’m being pressed to guess whether or not he wins a major, I’m going no, because I’m not sure what route to victory he has over five against Alcaraz or Sinner, but perhaps on clay he might find a way.
Comesana gives Cobolli all he has, but an ace is good enough for 5-3, and the Italian is within a game of a decider.
Comesana isn’t taking this fourth set and, at 30-40, Cobolli, who has perhaps diverted his focus to the not-yet-earned final set, sends down a double. He leads 4-2, but some of his momentum has been taken from him while, on Ashe, Blanch hooks a forehand wide when down advantage, and Fritz leads 4-2 in the first.
Fritz and Cobolli are seeded to meet in round four, with Auger-Aliassime potentially waiting in the last eight. I’d be a little surprised if it’s the American still standing at the end of that – I think the other two move too well for him – which is also why I think they’d give Zverev, the probable semi-final opponent, a harder time. But that’s a long way off; so far, Blanch is doing well, down 2-3 on serve in the first.
Yeah, Comesana has gone – or at least he’s gone in this set, broken again by Cobolli, who then holds in 70 seconds for a 4-0 fourth-set lead. This is going all the way, and it’ll take some kind of momentum shift for the Argentinian to win it from here.
Up 40-30, Blanch swats a backhand low into the net, but when Fritz makes advantage a long forehand return restores deuce – and given the serve was only 92mph, that was a chance. From there, Blanch serves out, and he’ll feel better for that.
And now Cobolli consolidates in double-quick time; he trails 1-2 but leads 2-0, while Fritz holds in the first game of his match against Blanch.
Cobolli and Comesana are back after a little recharge, the former sending the latter chasing to hither and yon before earning advantage with a deft volley … quickly confiscated for deuce. No matter: Cobolli soon makes advantage again and the pressure of his hitting is starting to tell, Comesana going long to cede the break. He leads 2-1, but is no longer in control of this match.
Fritz has made the final of this competition and will be one of many fancying their chances in the absence of Jannik Sinner and with Carlos Alcaraz returning from injury. No American man has won this title since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Fritz and Blanch are out on Ashe. Blanch is only 18, so this is by far the biggest match of his career; i can’t wait to see how he goes.
It stopped raining for a bit, but it’s now hosing down again, and there’ll be no play on outside courts until 2.45pm local, 7.45pm BST.
A huge serve earns Cobolli deuce, but a forehand from Comesana, leathered inside-out, means another break-back point … saved. Cobolli then makes advantage, hits to the backhand side, then whips a forehand that breaks the sideline at the service box, and that’s a set back. Comesana leads 6-3 6-2 36, and on we go.
Back on Armstrong, Comesana has held, forcing Cobolli to serve for the third set at 0-2 5-3. It’s 30-all, so there’s work to do.
Naomi Broady reckons Keys has a chance of winning this competition, but I’m less certain. I can’t see her beating Osaka or Rybakina, one of whom probably awaits in the last eight, nor Gauff or Andreeva, likely semi-final opponents. But of she gets it right, she can handle anyone.
Next on Ashe: Taylor Fritz (9) v Darwin Blanch.
Keys did her best not to win, but she got there. It’s always tough playing someone young and in the first round of a slam, she says, so she’s glad she fought her way through it. Asked how she controlled her nerves, she says she doesn’t think she did, but relied on backing herself and making a lot of balls.
She still sees herself as a teenager, she says, so it felt weird playing one, then advertises her podcast and tells us she’s constantly gardening – her neighbour is watering the plants while she’s gone -buying new furniture and making coffee.
Madison Keys (22) beats Alina Korneeva 7-5 6-4
Coemsana forces break point, but Cobolli nails a first serve for deuce, then unleashes that forehand of his for advantage before securing the hold. He leads 5-2 in the third, and is a game away from halving his deficit. Meantime, Keys has match point on the Korneeva serve…
Then a forehand is flapped wide, and Keys leads Korneeva 7-4 5-4. I hoped that, after winning her maiden major, she’d compete without getting as tight, but no such luck.
Keys puts away a volley to raise match point, while Comesana misses break points as Cobolli snaffles a 0-2 4-1 lead. Has the match turned? Back on Ashe, of course Keys can’t convert, so must now move through deuce … and she sends down a double, of course she does.
Our Maddy being Oor Maddy, she promptly breaks Korneeva and is now serving for the match at 7-5 5-3. I’m not sure I’ve seen a player whose top and bottom levels are so far apart; her no-show in the 2017 final, when she lost 3 and 0 to Sloane Stephens is still raw. We’re at 30-all…
Meantime, having lost the first two sets, Cobolli has broken Comesana for 3-1 in the third; is this the start of a comeback?
Thanks Katy and hi everyone. In classic Oor Maddy style, Keys has just been broken back by Korneeva, serving at 7-5 4-2; the second is set is right back in the balance.
With that, Daniel is here to take you through the next couple of hours . Over to you Daniel …
Keys, having zoomed into a 3-0 lead in the first set before being pulled back and then prevailing, has charged 4-1 ahead in the second , and will be hoping Korneeva can’t mount another comeback. Cobolli’s chances of a comeback, meanwhile, appear to be diminishing, as he slips 15-40 down on serve, already trailing 6-3, 6-2, 1-1, but Cobolli gamely takes the next three points before painting the lines with precision and escaping with the hold! If he goes on to win this, that could be the turning point.
Rybakina, this year’s Australian Open champion, begins her campaign knowing that taking the world No 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka is in her own hands . It would be the first time the 27-year-old’s reached the summit. Our man in New York, Tumaini Carayol, has been looking at the permutations:
Rybakina begins this tournament sitting at No 1 in the live standings and in control of her own destiny. Sabalenka must win the title to have any hope of retaining the top ranking, but Rybakina will become the new No 1 regardless of all other results if she reaches the semi-finals. Should either Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula win the title and Rybakina fails to make the semi-finals, they would take top spot. This additional pressure could further add to Sabalenka’s woes, but perhaps, after 97 consecutive weeks as the undisputed best player in the world, this is exactly what she needs.
There’s still no play away from Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, by the way . When the rain does eventually stop, we’ll have Elena Rybakina against the 17-year-old American Thea Frodin; Belinda Bencic, the 12th seed and former Olympic champion, against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva; the 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo against Austria’s Filip Misolic; and Australia’s Dane Sweeny against the fiery Frenchman Corentin Moutet, who lost nearly all his prize money at Queen’s in June after he was fined for a very sweary on-court interview which was broadcast live on the BBC.
Comesana has two set points of his own at 6-3, 5-2, 40-15, and an ace down the T seals it! Cobolli looks to the skies, or more accurately the roof, as he ponders his predicament. The fifth seed has never won a match from two sets to love down, and has a tendency to let his spirits flag when things aren’t going his way, so he’s going to have to snap that habit if he’s to avoid an unexpected first-round exit after such a fine summer.
Comesana extends his supremacy from 6-3, 2-1 to 6-3, 5-2 and the chances of a subdued Cobolli going the same way as Djokovic and Fils are increasing. Over on Arthur Ashe, Keys has two set points at 15-40, the New York crowd getting right behind the home player, and she goes for broke with a forehand down the line … but her timing is a little late and she misses. No problem, Keys gets the job done nonetheless, as she snatches the first set 7-5.
Korneeva holds for 5-5. Keys holds for 6-5 . This is far more cagey than Manchester City’s spending, which is about to approach approximately £678trillion in this transfer window, with news that they’ve agreed a £125m deal to sign Enzo Fernández from Chelsea. You can follow all the deadline day moves here:
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Cobolli manages to do what he couldn’t at the start the first set, holding from 40-0 up in the opening game of the second, but at 1-1 the Italian serves up two double faults, and misses a forehand and a backhand by a mile. He just can’t find any consistency. And he now trails Comesana by a set and a break, 6-3, 2-1.
A see-sawing first set on Arthur Ashe, where Keys led Korneeva 3-0, was broken back, but is now a game away, serving at 5-3. But the 31-year-old just can’t shake her 19-year-old opponent off and she falls 0-40 down, before Korneeva strikes on the second break point! Korneeva will serve to stay in the set at 4-5.
The luckless Thanasi Kokkinakis, so often cut down by injury, has withdrawn from the singles before his match against Rafael Jodar and has been replaced in the draw by Bu Yunchaokete, the 24-year-old from China, who’ll get the chance to improve on his 0-6 first-round record at grand slams.
No, because Comesana lands a 131mph first serve, his fastest of the day, and it gives him two set points at 40-15. Another stinging serve and the world No 119 secures the first set 6-3 against an out-of-sorts world No 6! Could Cobolli suffer the same first-round fate as Novak Djokovic and Arthur Fils? The Italian rips off his shirt, revealing what looks like a GPS tracking vest, as he sits on his chair waiting for Comesana to return to the court, but I’m not sure he needs any data to tell him he needs to up his game in the second set.
With the rain still pelting down, meaning play on the non-covered courts won’t begin for at least another 30 minutes , Cobolli, having worked hard to get back into the first set, promptly drops serve and is now serving to stay in it at 5-2. He’s entering the danger zone at 0-30 but regroups impressively to hold for 5-3. But can he stop Comesana from serving out the set?
Questions were asked after Keys’s Australian Open triumph last year about whether it would free the American up to win more slams, or if she’d be content settling for the one. So far it appears to be the latter, with the 31-year-old reaching only one major quarter-final since, but she simply has too much firepower for Korneeva early on and breaks for 2-0, before ripping a winner for 40-30 and then wrapping up the game. Keys leads 3-0.
Cobolli’s forehand has finally turned up for the occasion and he wears down Comesana in a rare lengthy rally at 30-40 on the Argentinian’s serve to break back for 2-3 . Cue an obligatory roar. Keys, meanwhile, the runner-up in 2017 and the 2025 Australian Open champion, opens with a hold against Alina Korneeva, the 19-year-old Russian who’s making her US Open main draw debut.
Nothing’s going Cobolli’s way at the moment , as he thwacks his own leg with his racket while trying to hit the ball, as he’s taken to deuce once more on his serve. He recovers to get to his advantage, but then balloons another errant forehand well long, before finally getting on the board to reduce his deficit to 3-1.
It was also a day when Stan Wawrinka played his final grand slam match , Carlos Alcaraz made his return from injury and Aryna Sabalenka, after a shaky summer, started her title defence with a comfortable victory.
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Comesana backs up the break to love for a 3-0 lead, just before Keys steps on to Arthur Ashe, in an entrance significantly more understated than Naomi Osaka’s on the same court last night. After Osaka’s jellyfish outfit at the Australian Open, Eiffel Tower-inspired dress at the French Open and Japanese kimono at Wimbledon, she completed her own calendar slam yesterday with this look. She said it was inspired by the former NBA star Allen Iverson, whom she described as a “trailblazer for shifting the way basketball players dress”. Osaka’s tennis last night was slightly less eye catching than her outfit, but she came through in two tie-break sets against Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3).
Related: Naomi Osaka pays tribute to NBA star Allen Iverson in basketball-themed US Open outfit
With humidity levels of 90% plus, the conditions are brutal, even with the roof on , and Comesana is already dripping so much he looks as if he’s deep into a fifth set. “I never sweated at all,” declares the Federer-like Navratilova on the commentary, “it was just my DNA.” Cobolli, meanwhile, is made to sweat as he’s pulled back from 40-0 to deuce - the Italian’s main strength, his forehand, isn’t fully firing yet – and Comesana breaks for 2-0! Having been 0-40 down in the opening game. It’s been a strange start.
The first victory of the day goes to Comesana , who wins the toss and elects to serve first. It’s an inauspicious start, though, as he drops 0-30 down and then 0-40 when he slices a backhand into the net. Comesana, sporting a retro headband, saves the first break point with a charge forward before scrambling to deuce, but it’s a scrappy opening game, to be honest, and Cobolli soon has a fourth break point … it’s surely his for the taking as he does all the hard work … but he then blasts a forehand into the net! An improvised drop shot volley from Cobolli can’t stop Comesana from moving to game point, and the Argentinian escapes with the hold for 1-0.
Here come Cobolli and Comesana, with the Louis Armstrong roof keeping out the rain and ramping up the atmosphere . While it’s been a breakout summer for Cobolli, having reached the French Open final and Wimbledon last eight, Comesana’s had a rough 2026, winning only seven matches all year. Cobolli’s flashy, shotmaking game will likely be too much for the world No 119 from Buenos Aires today, but the Italian does have a point to prove at the US Open, having never been beyond the third round.
Away from Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, it’s been confirmed that play won’t start until at least midday New York time/5pm BST.
And what of the day three energy levels on the Sky Sports team? Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman are in good spirits (Martina especially because she’s the only Sky pundit who can boast that all of her title picks are still standing), but Laura Robson is feeling rather sweaty in the humid, heavy conditions, with rain forecast today. And right on cue … it starts raining. Gah. Play may not be starting on time on most of the courts now, though the roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong mean that Madison Keys v Alina Korneeva is guaranteed to get under way in half an hour, and Flavio Cobolli will be on court very shortly against Argentina’s Francisco Comesana.
Arthur Ashe Stadium 11.30am New York/4.30pm BST
Taylor Fritz (USA, 9) v Darwin Blanch (USA)
Flavio Cobolli (It, 5) v Francisco Comesana (Arg)
Elena Rybakina (Kaz, 2) v Thea Frodin (USA)
Arthur Fery (GB) v Lorenzo Musetti (It, 13)
Iva Jovic (USA, 4) v Magdalena Frech (Pol)
Alex de Minaur (Aus, 6) v Andrea Guerrieri (It)
Yulia Putintseva (Kaz) v Belinda Bencic (Sui, 12)
Daria Kasatkina (Aus) v Paula Badosa (Sp)
Rafael Jodar (Sp, 12) v Thanasi Kokkinakis (Aus)
Marcos Giron (USA) v Ignacio Buse (Per, 32)
Filip Misolic (Aut) v Francisco Cerundolo (Arg, 24)
Anastasia Potapova (Aut, 24) v Darja Semenistaja (Lat)
Kaitlin Quevedo (Sp) v Elise Mertens (Bel, 23)
Jan Choinski (GB) v Botic van de Zandschulp (Ned)
Lucie Havlíčkova (Lze) v Anna Bondar (Hun)
Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Arg) v Arthur Gea (Fr)
Darja Vidmanova (Cze) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Sp)
Mattia Bellucci (It) v Zsombor Piros (Hun)
Jesper de Jong (Ned) v Francesco Passaro (It)
Nikola Bartunkova (Cze) v Mayar Sherif (Egy)
Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) v Tristan Schoolmate (Aus)
Tatjana Maria (Ger) v Jelena Ostapenko (Lat, 30)
Fabian Marozsan (Hun) v Michael Zheng (USA)
Maria Sakkari (Gre, 32) v Robin Montgomery (USA)
Zizou Bergs (Bel, 31) v Carlos Taberner (Sp)
Zachary Svajda (USA) v Daniel Altmaier (Ger)
Oleksandra Oliynykova (Ukr) v Reese Brantmeier (USA)
Yulia Starodubtseva (Ukr) v Ella Seidel (Ger)
Camilo Ugo Carabelli (Arg) v Jan-Lennard Struff (Ger)
Hello, hello! Full disclaimer: this is my first day back after nearly three weeks on holiday and I’ve also spent the past three hours trying and completely failing to install some computer updates. So it may take a bit of time before I’m firing on all cylinders. Though Madison Keys, Flavio Cobolli and Elena Rybakina will be hoping for far smoother starts, as they get the action under way on the main courts on this third and final day of the first round, with Mirra Andreeva, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur to follow later in the day session, along with the British trio of Arthur Fery, Jan Choinski and Fran Jones. Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev, Gael Monfils and Alexandra Eala, meanwhile, play in the evening session* as Monfils - after Stan Wawrinka’s emotional goodbye yesterday - begins his final grand slam on his 40th birthday. Allez Gael! Two send-offs in two days would be too much to handle.
* By which point I estimate there’s a 0.03% chance of me figuring out how to resolve my IT issues
Coco Gauff and Gael Monfils, in the final grand slam of his career on his 40th birthday, will get going in the night session shortly though, under the roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, with Alexander Zverev and Alexandra Eala to follow, as Eala mania hits New York. It’s time to wrap up this blog now, but do check back later for our match reports. And I’ll be back again tomorrow. Bye!
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Katy Murrells and Daniel Harris . Published 1 Sept 2026, 10:59 pm.
