With four wins and eight losses, the tricolor record of the first day of the US Open is very mixed. But a young Frenchman, Titouan Droguet, out of qualifying, created a sensation by eliminating the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (18th in the world) during his first match on the big circuit.
[Updated August 29, 2023 at 10:16 a.m.] This is certainly the great story of this start to the New York fortnight. Frenchman Titouan Droguet, who played the first game of his career on the main ATP circuit on Monday, achieved the feat of beating Lorenzo Musetti, 18th in the world, in the first round of the US Open. Already very happy to have gotten out of qualifying – after beating three former members of the Top 100 – the 22-year-old Habs ignited court 13 for more than three hours – 3:40 precisely – to finally obtain the most beautiful victory of his young career (6-3, 0-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2). Accustomed until then to scouring the Challenger circuit, the Val-de-Marnais, ranked 171st in the world, is therefore pursuing his dream in the land of Uncle Sam. And he can hope to extend it for a few more days since his next opponent, the Czech Jakub Mensik, only 17, is also playing his first Grand Slam tournament in New York.
He also eliminated a Frenchman on Monday, Grégoire Barrère who, like Richard Gasquet, Quentin Halys, Enzo Couacaud, Alexandre Muller, Alizé Cornet, Fiona Ferro and Varvara Gracheva, did not make it past the first round. On the other hand Adrian Mannarino, Benjamin Bonzi, who fell for his compatriot Halys, and Hugo Gaston, who like Droguet came from qualifying, continued the adventure. On the side of the favorites, Novak Djokovic, for his big return to New York after having received the authorization to return the American territory, did not make a detail against the Frenchman Alexandre Muller (6-0, 6-2, 6- 3). A success that ensures the Serbian to regain the place of world No. 1, now occupied by Carlos Alcaraz, at the end of the last Grand Slam lift of the season.
Holger Rune, 4th in the world, already eliminated
Among the top seeds, note the victories for the men of Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz. The surprise of the day came from court n°5 where the Dane Holger Rune, 4th in the world, tripped over the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2). In the women’s draw, the Polish Iga Swiatek, seeded n°1, gave up only one game for her entry into the running against the Swedish Rebecca Peterson (6-0, 6-1). Coco Gauff, despite losing a set, Elena Rybakina, Victoria Azarenka also passed, as did the returning Caroline Wozniacki, who became a mother twice before coming out of retirement this summer. The only surprise came from the premature elimination of the Greek Maria Sakkari, released by the Spaniard Rebeka Masarova (6-4, 6-4).
Tuesday, the second day will see in particular the entry into the running of Carlos Alcaraz, defending champion, but also of Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur and the Frenchman Gaël Monfils who, after some encouraging results in recent weeks, hopes to confirm his return to form against the Japanese Taro Daniel.
The last Grand Slam of the year will be played from Monday August 28 to Sunday September 10, 2023.
Holder of the TV rights to the majority of tournaments on the ATP circuit, including two of the four Grand Slam rounds (Australian Open and US Open), Eurosport broadcasts the US Open on its two channels as well as its additional channels.
Here are the men’s US Open records for the past 15 years:
