good friend Paula Badosa at that tournament, the only slight acquiescence to the situation being to forgo her usual media duties. It was little surprise when she made early exits in Miami and the event in Stuttgart that followed.
It is only now, months and an injury-enforced absence later, that the 26-year-old is able to recognise that she probably should have done things differently.
I thought I had to just keep going, keep playing, keep doing my thing to separate my personal life from my career life.
But at the end I would say I was struggling a lot healthwise because I didn’t stop. It was really emotional and really stressful, and kind of damaged my mental health at that point.
Probably, looking back right now, I would say that a better decision would have been to step back, reset and recharge, and start everything over again. But I did what I did. At the end I paid for my decision, but I’m really glad that I have tennis in my life and it’s really helped me go through whatever and get stronger.
Here is more of her conversation with Ben Bloom on struggling with grief and stress and her burgeoning rivalry with Iga Swiatek.
Maya Joint, 18, made her grand slam maindraw debut against the German veteran Laura Siegemund and managed a 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Joint won seven consecutive games to take control of the match in the first set when it was all tied at 4-4. The world No 135 wavered in the second set but found a way to see out the biggest win of her career.
This time last year, she was ranked 1390 in the world.
Naomi Osaka returns to the US Open tomorrow, her first since giving birth. A tasty match-up awaits in Jelena Ostapenko but Osaka is keen to play with confidence.
I made a promise to myself to be as confident as I can in the fact that I am who I am. Throughout the year I have had really hard matches, and it kind of dipped my confidence a little. I wouldn’t say that I played bad tennis. I just would say that I played really good players and I also learned a lot.
On Ostapenko, who is quite the character on-court, Osaka said:
I think it’s going to be really fun. She’s honestly one of my favorite players to watch. I think we are polar opposites in a way. I respect her a lot. She was the first player in our generation to win a Grand Slam [2017 French Open]. She’s a champion.
Gaël Monfils currently leads 4-3 in his first set against Diego Schwartzman. This will be the Argentine’s last US Open before his retirement. And Madison Keys, who is seeded 14th, also leads 4-3 against Katerina Siniakova.
Ben Shelton has just been interviewed on Sky Sports a few hours after his win.
On the power behind his shots:
I am working on my power. My dad always says one serve and volley a game so I am trying. It is not an insanely fast hard court so you have to find different ways to hit winners. When I did get into net today I thought I did well on the volley.
On being back in New York after his breakout year:
I am so happy to be back. I have learned a lot in the last year. I think I am better player than i was a year ago. I am not necessarily looking for respect as I have a bit more of a target on your back.
On being the American No 2 and trying to get to No 1:
It is not something i think about. I am more of a developmental type of person. Rankings are great but I want to play my best tennis and everything will come together after that.
Heartbreak for Choinski, who made it to the main draw through qualifiers. It took a lot of effort to maintain his level but he ultimately had too many unforced errors and was enable to convert the break points when it mattered. The Spaniard wins it in just under five hours.
Coco Gauff on her mindset after her victory:
There’s definitely a lot of pressure this tournament but I’m just enjoying it. Last year was incredible so I’m just bringing those vibes. Whatever happens, happens.
On the match itself:
“If I played this last week I feel like it would be really difficult, but my perspective has changed a lot in seven days. I was just trying to enjoy the match. I enjoyed it today and obviously it was straightforward, but even if it was tighter these are the moments you live for. I know the last few weeks have been a little bit tough and I think this has been the best tennis I have played in a while.
On what she has seen on social media that has inspired her:
Someone commented on my TikTok saying you’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap.
I’m just treating this tournament like that and if you defend something that means you won something. If you did it that means you can do it again, so whether I do it again this year or not, I am going to do it again – whether it’s 2024 or not, I will do it again.
It was close until it was not and the defending champion cruises into the next round after an extremely comfortable second set. Gauff hit her tenth ace in the final game and for her, in a summer where she has struggled, it was all about going back to the basics in front of a New York crowd that absolutely adore her.
Gauff is now the youngest player to register eight consecutive wins at the US Open since Maria Sharapova who won nine between 2006 and 2007. She is also the youngest player to secure 15 women’s singles win at the US Open since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.
Gauff 6-2, 5-0 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Perfect backhand from Gauff to make it 30-30. She has to run to get there and she re-accelerates the ball just high enough to get it over the net but low enough that Gracheva is not able to force her into a volley after. It is again all Gauff and she takes another break. We have just hit the one hour mark on this match.
*Gauff 6-2, 4-0 Gracheva (*denotes server): We see Gracheva’s best point of this set. She sends Gauff crosscourt with a forehand and then immediately hits another one straight on. But Gauff gets away with a cheeky mis-hit and laughs at herself as she takes yet another game.
Gauff 6-2, 3-0 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gracheva is not even playing poorly. She attempts to hit Gauff with some tough forehands but Guaff returns them with ease. A healthy lead now.
*Gauff 6-2, 2-0 Gracheva (*denotes server): It is one-way traffic on Arthur Ashe. She is staying calm and actually playing very simple tennis. But her technical skills, no matter how little variety she is showing, is just a class above.
Gauff 6-2, 1-0 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gauff is soaking up everything Gracheva is throwing at her now. The Frenchwoman is not playing with same amount of depth she was in the first half of the first set and her shots are falling a bit shorter than where she wants them to go. At her fourth chance to break, Gauff forces Gracheva to move around, forcing her to net.
*Gauff 6-2 Gracheva (*denotes server): Gauff takes the first set! Another double fault seems to let her down but she closes out with an ace. Her service game has been inconsistent but the good ones have bailed her out as it is obvious that she is still hesitant to go all out with her forehand.
Gauff 5-2 Gracheva* (*denotes server): So good from Gauff. A beautiful crosscourt backhand return puts her 30-15 ahead and you can really see in the replay how technically perfect her movement is, and the follow-through with the shoulder return. On break point she forces Gracheva to volley or perform an exceptionally hard forehand and in return she gets an unforced error from her opponent. A double break for the defending champion.
*Gauff 4-2 Gracheva (*denotes server): Guaff starts with a double fault but then a pinpoint serve makes up for it. But Gracheva makes it 40-30 after another double fault from Gauff, her fourth of the match so far. They are all hitting the bottom area of the net, which means that her legs are already lacking power – a worrying sign this early in the match. But the American holds with a strong backhand.
Gauff 3-2 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gracheva’s forehand is a bit shaky compared to her backhand. She tries to hit it with the same amount of power as her backhand, which is really solid, but her wrist often shakes and she lacks control. Gauff targets this successfully but the Frenchwoman’s serves are too precise at the end of the game. Gauff up next to serve with the break.
*Gauff 3-1 Gracheva (*denotes server): Gauff looks a bit shaky with a few slicing forehands but she is able to fend off the break with a couple of smart placed serves.
Gauff 0-1 Gracheva* (*denotes server): Gauff does not come into this tournament on form after crashing out in Wimbledon and the Olympics in the round of 16. The home crowd love her though and cheer her on even if she starts off a bit slow.
Coco Gauff will begin her title defence soon. A look back on this time last year.
The American, who is adored by the New York fans, never looked like he was wavering in the first round. An astonishing 91% first serve points won and 34 winners compared to Thiem’s 11 led to victory. Thiem, who will retire after this season and won this tournament in 2020, is cheered on by all the fans with Shelton himself leading the ovation.
There was a wobble from the world No 4 but he is through to the second round. Marterer’s head seemed to go down in that third set and Zverev took the chance with both hands.
*Marterer 2-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 2-5 Zverev (*denotes server): This match is quickly slipping away from Marterer. He is at four double faults in this set and Zverev easily takes the break and is now serving for the match.
Marterer 2-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 2-4 Zverev* (*denotes server): Fourth set here on Granstand and Zverev goes up 30-0 with a speeding ace, his 20th of the match. He goes up to 40-0 with a backhand after only one return from Marterer and he sees out the game fairly quickly.
Let me take you through what is happening around the courts. Shelton is currently 2-1 up against Thiem in the third set after taking the first two 6-4, 6-2. Ruud just managed taking the first after a 7-2 tie-break against Bu.
A few more of the women’s matches have finished with Svitolina beating Carlé 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 while Diane Perry moves on to the second round after winning Wang Xiyu 7-6(2), 7-6(5).
The first match in the men’s side finishes with the Frenchman winning his first victory at the US Open since 2020 after three consecutive eliminations in the first round.
Zheng speaks after her win on coming back after the first set:
Amanda was hitting the ball really good in the first set. Every ball was going to the side and I couldn’t do anything. But in the second set, I got more into the rhythm; hit my shots and serves better.
On her Olympic gold and leaving her medal with her parents in China:
I went through five tough matches without stop. It was unbelievable journey. Like you said, I don’t have my gold medal with me but I know Novak Djokovic has his. But I am here in New York and want to focus on this tournament.
Her 12th ace of the match takes her to 40-15 in the final game and at match point she seals it with a fantastic serve that her opponent can’t reach.
An exciting one that would not have looked out of place in the second round at Flushing Meadows but the Olympic champion goes through.
The Russian, ranked 75th in the world, takes her first round match in straight sets against the world No 37. It marks Andreeva’s second slam in a row with a main draw win.
*Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 4-2 Anisimova (denotes server): At 30-0 for Zheng, Anisimova steals point in a 10-shot rally but again she does thing where she does even move for a shot she thinks may go out. Zheng hits a forehand that is obviously going in with the dip but the American – maybe because of the pain in her foot – stays put. Zheng sees it out with an ace, which she really needed to steady the ship.
Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 3-2 Anisimova* (denotes server): A stunning crosscourt forehand right on the paint from Anisimova makes it 40-15 but Zheng follows it up with one of her own. But the American is finally finding her stride in this set and another pinpoint forehand seals the game. She gets huge cheers from her home crowd with plenty of “Lets go, Amanda!” chants ringing out.
*Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 3-1 Anisimova (denotes server): The American breaks! She is still obviously struggling, even hitting a couple of backhands with only one hand but her team urges on with “one point at a time”.
And Shelton has taken the first set against Thiem. His 77% first serve rate in quite incredible compared to his opponents 39%.
Zverev has lost the second set against Marterer. It went to a tie-break and while the fourth seed went up 4-2, his counterpart came through to take it 7-5.
*Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 2-0 Anisimova (denotes server): The American nets on the first serve immediately and the camera cuts to her team who do look a bit anxious. Zheng then hits a fantastic slice but then Anisimova drops her racquet and shakes her right wrist around. May have been just a hand cramp as she hits a beautiful return that is just in straight after. From there it is smooth sailing for Zheng.
Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 Anisimova* (denotes server): Excellent start for Zheng. Clear the movement is coming into play here. The Chinese is better defensively and as the rallies prolong that is going to go in her favour. She goes up 40-15 and she breaks in a very short game.
Thanks, Will. Hello again, everyone! Bit of a hold up on Louis Armstrong as Anisimova is getting her foot wrapped. It seems she jammed the ball of her foot in the middle of the second set.
