US Open 2024 Day Two Recap

The opening round at the 2024 US Open is complete and concluded with the top half of the draw playing on Tuesday.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alacaraz were in action, with both men needing four-set wins to kick off their title ambitions in New York. Daniil Medvedev also overcame a mid-match wobble to eliminate the tricky Dusan Lajovic.

While the three highest seeds in this section progressed, there were some high-profile casualties, as Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime, Tabilo, Khachanov, and Tabilo were all sent packing.

Khachanov’s loss was notable. The Russian blew a 4-0 lead in the fifth set to lose to Dan Evans in the longest match in US Open history: five hours and 35 minutes: 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-4. 

Day Two US Open 2024 Round of 128 Results

Sinner Overcomes Slow Start

Most fans wondered how Jannik Sinner would start his US Open campaign after the doping scandal. While he took a little while to find his footing, he eventually found his game to secure a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 win over Mackenzie McDonald.

The American started strongly, effectively using the pace and angles from the baseline to put the Italian on the defensive.

Mackie has one of those imperious college tennis records, and he’s a super crisp ball striker from both wings. Federer often used him as a hitting partner, a testament to his ability. He took the first set 6-2, breaking Sinner three times.

However, Sinner wasn’t on the back foot for long and soon adapted to the match. Once he’d got into a better rhythm, his ball-striking got the job done. Ultimately, he has too much in all areas for McDonald, who doesn’t have that big weapon to bag himself cheaper points.

I started not in the best way, but the first match in every tournament is not easy. You have to accept it. He played well initially, and I tried to stay there mentally and get into a rhythm. I did that at some point in the second set and tried to keep going, so I’m very happy to be in the next round. It’s the first time I won here on this court after some attempts, so I’m very happy about this. We go day by day. Tomorrow I have a day off and we will try to get a little bit more rhythm and try to improve for the next match. I definitely have room to improve, so I’m looking forward to the next one. Let’s see what I can do. Sinner on his opening round win.

Alcaraz Needs Four Sets to Grab Opening Victory

Carlos Alcaraz’s opener looked straightforward on paper, but he didn’t have it all his own way on Tuesday night. He was forced to overcome a mid-match dip in form to secure a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory against Australian qualifier Li Tu.

Alcaraz has now won 15 straight matches at Grand Slam level and is looking to be the third man in the Open Era to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same year.

The Spaniard started confidently in front of a packed Arthur Ashe crowd, but he’s not infallible when it comes to going off the boil and still has moments where his shot selection goes haywire. This happened in the second set, where he committed 18 unforced errors, and Tu started returning well to break at 4-5 to level the match.

However, just as quickly as his game can wander, he can tighten things up equally as fast. He regrouped in the third, using his inside-out forehand to dictate play.

By the time the match had concluded, the Spaniard had won 80 per cent of his first-serve points and delivered 50 winners throughout the two-hour, 42-minute contest.

Alcaraz’s next match is a second-round clash with 2021 US Open quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp, who defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

First, I’m really happy to get through and [have] a chance to improve in the next round. I felt well on the court. I think I hit the ball well. I moved well. [There are] a few things that I have to improve to keep going in the draw, but obviously, I have to give credit to him as well. He played really good tennis and slightly surprised me in the second set. I leave the court happy with my performance. Alcaraz on his opening round win.

Tsitsipas Can’t Handle Kokkinakis

Stefanos Tsitsipas is in a bit of a rut. His US Open series has been an unmitigated disaster, with him winning just one match across three tournaments.

His latest blunder came at the hands of Thanasi Kokkinakis, who pulled off a significant 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory in a lengthy three-hour, 55-minute match. 

We all know Thanasi can play, but this is the first time he’s progressed past round one in New York. Even though quicker courts are not his forte, you have to chalk this one up as a disaster loss for the Greek.

Stefanos has played in seven US Open tournaments yet has failed to progress past the third round. His record is 6-7 win/loss, which is abysmal for a guy of his ability. 

Kokkinakis banged down 47 winners compared to Tsitsipas’ 44. The win sets him up for a second-round clash against Nuno Borges, and I pick the Portuguese to come through.

Other Matches of Note

Evans Cracks Khachanov: Daniel Evans defeated Karen Khachanov in a record-breaking match at the US Open, overcoming a 0-4 deficit in the deciding set to win 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 after five hours and 35 minutes—the longest match in US Open history. Evo’s biggest win in a while, and he’s like kryptonite for Karen, 5-0 in the H2H.

Mensik Mauls Auger-Aliassime: Jakub Mensik scored a significant upset, taking out Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to secure his third Top 20 win. The Czech youngster dominated the match, winning 89% of his first-serve points and hitting 25 winners. Felix continues to head backwards.

Paul Proves Too Good for Sonego: Tommy Paul bagged a 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Winston-Salem champion Lorenzo Sonego. The American started strong, winning the first two sets without dropping serve and saving all four break points he faced. Sonego, however, mounted a comeback in the third set, but it was the 14th seed who reasserted himself in the fourth to get the job done.

Medvedev Downs Dusan: Former champion Daniil Medvedev began his tournament with a hard-fought victory over veteran Dusan Lajovic. Despite a winless hard-court summer leading up to the Open, Medvedev secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win after overcoming a second-set setback. The Russian hit 14 aces, converted six of 11 break points and appeared to handle the warm conditions better to break Lajovic’s resistance.

US Open 2024 Day Three Round of 64 Matches