Swiatek, Sinner cruise as expanded U.S. Open serves off tennis feast

Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner made commanding starts at the U.S. Open on Tuesday, easing past their opponents at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Wimbledon champion Swiatek, fresh from her Cincinnati title, needed just an hour to dispatch Emiliana Arango 6-1, 6-2 without facing a single break point.
The 2022 U.S. Open winner said she continues learning to cope with the tournament’s intensity.
“Every year is tough because New York is just so loud,” she said. “But I’m probably better at dealing with it than most.”
Swiatek will face Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands in the second round.
Men’s top seed and defending champion Sinner crushed Czech Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in a dominant performance that delighted the New York crowd.
The Italian is playing with renewed focus after the 2024 doping controversy, in which he avoided a ban despite two failed drug tests.
Sinner next meets Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in the second round.
With both early matches ending quickly, organisers shifted Linda Noskova’s match to centre court.
The 21st seed overcame Hungary’s Dalma Galfi 6-4, 7-5 to reach the next round.
Coco Gauff needed three sets to defeat Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 in a dramatic night session on Ashe.
Gauff double-faulted twice while serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set but held her nerve to close it out.
The American recently split from mentor Matt Daly and hired Gavin MacMillan to help fix her serve.
“Honestly, it’s been really tough,” Gauff said. “But I’m trying. It wasn’t the best today, but it worked when it mattered.”
She will next play Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic of Croatia.
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka marked her return with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen, dazzling fans in a custom red, crystal-studded Nike outfit.
“I just thought it would be fun under the lights,” Osaka said. “Hopefully, I wear my day outfit next time.”
Elsewhere, Lorenzo Musetti outlasted France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(3) 6-3 6-4 6-4 at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
He will face Belgian veteran David Goffin in the second round.
American Amanda Anisimova, seeded eighth, cruised past Australia’s Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 6-2 to advance.
Marin Cilic became the latest former champion to exit, losing 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 to 23rd seed Alexander Bublik on Grandstand.
Earlier, U.S. 14th seed Tommy Paul beat Denmark’s Elmer Moller 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to set up a clash with Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
Third seed Alexander Zverev ended the day’s action with a 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
Zverev now faces British qualifier Jacob Fearnley in round two.
(Reuters/NAN)
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