Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic advanced to the U.S. Open second round on Sunday, but the day ended in mayhem as Daniil Medvedev erupted at the umpire and a rowdy crowd during a five-set loss to Benjamin Bonzi.
Medvedev was furious after chair umpire Greg Allensworth gave Bonzi a replayed first serve when a photographer entered the court during match point. The 2021 champion raged at the official and stirred up the fans, who jeered and delayed play for six minutes.
Medvedev saved match point, won the third set in a tiebreak, and swept the fourth. But Bonzi kept his composure in the decider, sealing a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4 victory. “The energy was wild,” Bonzi said. “That’s a crazy win.”
Sabalenka, Djokovic through
World No. 1 Sabalenka shook off a slow start to beat Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova 7-5, 6-1. Djokovic, chasing a record 25th major, battled past 18-year-old American Learner Tien 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2. His win made him the first player in the Open Era to claim 75 straight first-round Grand Slam matches.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton also advanced. Fritz, last year’s finalist, beat Emilio Nava 7-5, 6-2, 6-3, while Shelton eased past Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Both are seen as major hopes to end the U.S. men’s 22-year title drought.
Raducanu breaks drought
Emma Raducanu won her first U.S. Open match since her 2021 title run, defeating Japan’s Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2. Leylah Fernandez, her former final rival, also advanced.
Other winners included Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, last year’s finalist Jessica Pegula, and former French Open champ Jelena Ostapenko.
There were surprises too: Indonesia’s Janice Tjen scored the nation’s first Grand Slam main-draw win in 22 years, upsetting 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova. The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala pulled off a stunning comeback from 1-5 down in the final set to beat 14th seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(11).
