Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz survive US Open wobbles as Naomi Osaka weeps on return

NEW YORK – Tennis’ young stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are expected to progress far at the US Open but nothing is for certain, especially at a Grand Slam.

On Aug 27, the duo survived first-round wobbles to stay on course for a semi-final showdown, as two-time champion Naomi Osaka made a tearful and colourful return to Flushing Meadows.

World No. 1 Sinner fought back from a set and break down to defeat 140th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald in his first match since being embroiled in a doping test controversy.

Alcaraz, the third seed and 2022 champion in New York, overcame a second-set blip to defeat 186th-ranked qualifier Tu Li of Australia 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Italy’s Sinner battled to a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win over his American opponent on Arthur Ashe Stadium, racing away with 18 of the last 22 games.

The 23-year-old was returning to action just a week after it was revealed he had failed two drug tests in March. However, he escaped a lengthy ban when officials decided he was not at fault for the presence of banned anabolic agent clostebol in his system.

“The response from fans, I feel it has been great, also throughout when the news came out, in the practice sessions, there was a lot of support,” said Australian Open champion Sinner.

“It’s still a little bit not easy. I was curious to see how the reaction of the fans has been, but it has been very positive.”

The 21-year-old Alcaraz, who won the first of his four Grand Slam titles here in 2022, opened the night session against Tu, who has not won a match on the main tour this season.

However, the Australian thrilled the crowd as he went about his task of facing a player who is attempting to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year.

After being outplayed in the opening set, Tu levelled the tie on a fifth set point in the second. But Alcaraz crushed any hint of a shock result by running away with the clash to record his 15th successive Grand Slam match win.

“He surprised me a little bit. In the first set, he was nervous but after that he grew into it and played great tennis,” said the Spaniard, who won silver at the Paris Olympics behind Novak Djokovic.

“I love playing here. The crowd gives you an energy that probably you don’t feel in other courts.”

Fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who won the 2021 US Open, went through with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Dusan Lajovic.

But Greek 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has never made it to the second week here, was stunned 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 by Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.

In the women’s draw, Osaka, who missed the 2023 tournament after giving birth to her daughter Shai, clinched a win over 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko.

The former world No. 1, now ranked 88th, came through 6-3, 6-2. The Japanese star crunched nine aces in her 19 winners and committed just five unforced errors to her opponent’s 21.

Her outfit was as striking as her tennis. Osaka arrived on court with a brightly coloured, giant bow on the back of her jacket and a frilly skirt over her playing dress.

To complete the ensemble, the 26-year-old attached small bows to the heels of both shoes.

“Last year I was watching Coco (Gauff) play and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again,” said a tearful Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner. “I didn’t know if I could... so to win this match and just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me.”

World No. 1 and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek overcame 104th-ranked Kamilla Rakhimova.

The French Open champion, chasing a second New York title to add to her four triumphs in Paris, saw off the Russian lucky loser 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) to extend her season-leading record to 54 match wins.

Two former women’s champions were knocked out.

Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 winner, lost in three sets to fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini while 2021 champion Emma Raducanu fell to 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin. AFP, REUTERS