Debutant and 22nd seed Victoria Mboko fell in straight sets to two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova and looked hampered by the wrist injury she picked up in Montreal.
In the biggest upset of the tournament so far, sixth seed Madison Keys lost to Mexican Renata Zarazua in three sets. Regardless of this result, however, 2025 will go down as a career-season for the 30-year-old American.
Taylor Townsend beat Antonia Ruzic in straight sets on a busy Court 11, in a display packed variety and court craft. Townsend will face fellow doubles specialist Jelena Ostapenko in round two.
Clervie Ngounoue showed incredible heart to recover from a bagel first set before falling in three to 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya. The 19-year-old American has an exciting future ahead.
Frances Tiafoe did his thing against Yoshihito Nishioka on Arthur Ashe, beating the Japanese in straight sets. Big Foe threw down 19 aces and ended the match in style with two unreturnables in a row.
Venus Williams, “the inventor of tennis”, gave the Arthur Ashe crowd a show in a thrilling three-set defeat to 11th seed Karolina Muchova. Lucy was in awe.
In a late one on Court 12, Gabriel Diallo handled business against Damir Dzumhur in four sets. The Canadian 31st seed managed the match superbly after a lapse in concentration cost him in the second set.
Finally, Alycia Parks was ruthlessly dispatched by fifth seed Mirra Andreeva in a match the American struggled to get in to.
Listen out for post-match press snippets from Keys, Townsend and Tiafoe.
Credits: US Open Tennis Championships.