The 2024 US Open is currently underway, and there have been some thrilling moments, with several unexpected upsets shaking up the tournament.
Notable first-round surprises included Men’s No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who fell to unranked Thanasi Kokkinakis in four sets. Tsitsipas has struggled at the US Open historically, never advancing past the third round, and any hope that this year will be different has been dashed.
Similarly, Women’s No. 11 Danielle Collins was ousted by Caroline Dolehide, marking a disappointing end to her major career, after announcing earlier this year that this would be her last year playing pro tennis.
Also in the women’s draw, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova suffered a shocking defeat to Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who entered the event as a qualifier, in straight sets, solidifying Ruse’s status as an underdog to contend with.
Among the players advancing, defending champion Novak Djokovic started strong, defeating Radu Albot in straight sets despite showing some rust after a long break from competitive play. Defending champion, Coco Gauff also cruised through her match against Varvara Gracheva, winning 6-2, 6-0, and will face Tatjana Maria next.
Grand slam debutant Ben Shelton made headlines by defeating former champion Dominic Thiem, proving his potential as a dark horse challenger for the title.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both advanced to the second round of the US Open, overcoming early challenges. Sinner, ranked number one, came back from a set and a breakdown to defeat Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, despite recent doping test controversies.
Alcaraz, the third seed and 2022 champion, won against Australian qualifier Li Tu 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, acknowledging Tu’s surprising performance. Both players are on track for a potential semifinal clash, adding excitement to the tournament
It’s only been a few days, and the US Open is already shaping up to be what we expect from it. For now, it’s nearly impossible to say which way things might go, as we can still expect some upsets to happen. But it is all part of what makes it a solid event and one loved by players and fans alike.
