Millman Duckworth out on day one as fans return to US Open

By Amy TenneryUpdated August 31, 2021 â€" 8.13amfirst published at 4.17am

The US Open welcomed fans back for the first time since 2019 as day one of the crown jewel of American tennis started in warm and sunny weather at Flushing Meadows on Monday.

Australian John Millman was an early first-round casualty, bundled out by Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.

John Millman was no match for Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen in the first round of the US Open.Credit:AP

Millman was later followed by James Duckworth, who was two sets up against Pedro Martinez of Spain before surrendering the third in a tie-breaker despite having five match points. He eventually lost 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, 6-2.

The pair were among five Australians in action on day one, with Alexei Popyrin and Nick Kyrgios playing later on Tuesday morning (AEST). Qualifier Astra Sharma proved no match for French Open champion and eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova, falling 6-0, 6-4.

Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Spanish ninth seed Garbine Muguruza held off a second-set fightback from Croatia’s Donna Vekic to secure a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) win in just over two hours.

Former world No.1 Simona Halep, of Romania, also won through to the second round, winning a tough opener against Italian Camila Giorgi to claim an impressive 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) win and set up a second-round meeting with Slovakia’s Kristina Kucova.

James Duckworth looked unstoppable early against Pedro Martinez but eventually lost in five sets.Credit:Getty

Halep missed the French Open and Wimbledon â€" the two majors she has won â€" with a left calf injury.

Former champion Sloane Stephens overcame best friend Madison Keys’ aggressive play to secure a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (9-7) win.

The 2017 winner quickly took control of the first set on Arthur Ashe Stadium, putting up a strong defensive performance to fend off three break points as Keys committed 15 unforced errors.

But Keys roared back in the second, winning all of her first-serve points and fired off 11 winners compared to just three from Stephens, who struggled to find her power.

After trading breaks in the third set, they headed into a tiebreak, where Keys’ unforced errors proved to be her undoing. After fending off two match points, she shouted in frustration as she whacked the ball into the net to set up a third.

A packed house at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the all-American showdown between former champion Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys.Credit:AP

It was the first time the pair had met on Ashe since Stephens defeated her in the final four years ago for her first - and thus far only - major title.

“We’re both looking to get back that form we had in 2017. Maddy is my best friend on tour and it is always difficult for us but we’re always able to separate the match and come out and compete,” said Stephens.

“I thought today we played a really solid match.“

The year’s final grand slam has been stripped of some of the sport’s marquee names, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams injured.

The tournament was also beset by a wave of late withdrawals, including Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady, of the US, and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, of Latvia, who both pulled out of the women’s draw for medical reasons before play started on Monday.

On the men’s side, 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, from France, withdrew with a leg injury.

Even so, the tournament still promises to be a major draw after playing to empty stands a year ago.

It will be the first US Open to allow spectators since the COVID pandemic began. Fans are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before entering the stadium.

Australia’s World No.1 Ash Barty, the top seed, will play unseeded Russian Vera Zvonareva on Tuesday.

“It’s certainly nice to be back here now,” said Barty. “This week is going to be exciting. It’s got fans. That’s going to bring a lot of energy to this tournament. This is a tournament that thrives with the energy.”

Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic is attempting to complete a calendar-year slam. The Serb needs to triumph in New York to become only the third man â€" and the first since Rod Laver in 1969 â€" to accomplish the feat.

Reuters, AP

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