5 shocking results from Day 2 at US Open 2024: Danielle Collins makes a quick exit in her final appearance, Emma Raducanu bites the dust as well
The first-round matches were done and dusted on Day 2 of the US Open 2024. Top seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek were tested by their opponents but managed to overcome them to begin their campaigns on a winning note.
Naomi Osaka made a triumphant return to New York as she beat World No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2 in her opener. It marked her first win at the venue since 2021, and her first over a top-10 player since January 2020.
Jessica Pegula, Karolina Muchova, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur, and Sebastian Korda were some of the other winners on Tuesday. However, some of the big names failed to make it past the opening hurdle. Here's a look at five of the most shocking results from Day 2 of the US Open:
#5 - Karen Khachanov
23rd seed Khachanov was sent packing by Dan Evans in the first round. The latter was a massive underdog to win the match as he had a dismal 4-17 record for the season leading up to the US Open.
However, Evans played much better than he had in recent months. The two traded devastating blows from start to finish. The engaging battle lasted for five hours and 35 minutes, with the Brit coming out on top to win the match 6-7 (6), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4. It set the record for the longest match in the tournament's history.
Khachanov reached the semifinals here two years ago but has now lost in the first round for the second straight year. Evans, meanwhile, will now try to reach the third round for the fourth consecutive year.
#4 - Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas continued his poor showing at the US Open for yet another year as he was knocked out in the first round by Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Australian beat the 11th seed 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Tsitsipas now has a 6-7 record at the US Open, and has bowed out in the first round on three occasions. This is in stark contrast to his performance at the other hardcourt Major, the Australian Open. He has a 24-7 record Down Under, including a runner-up finish last year.
Aside from winning the Monte-Carlo Masters, this has been a rather turbulent season for Tsitsipas, who has also fallen out of the top 10. He lost in the second round of Wimbledon as well, and concluded the North American hardcourt swing with a 1-3 record.
#3 - Felix Auger-Aliassime
19th seed Auger-Aliassime slumped to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 loss to Czech teen Jakub Mensik. After an average start to the season, the Canadian found his footing on clay, reaching the Madrid Open final, and the fourth round of the French Open.
Auger-Aliassime also won the bronze medal in mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics, and came in fourth place in singles. However, he has disappointed on hardcourts once again. A semifinalist at the US Open three years ago, he has won only one match here since then.
#2 - Emma Raducanu
Raducanu enthralled audiences all over the world with her run to the US Open title three years ago, that too as a qualifier and without losing a set. That remains a career highlight as recurring injuries have left her trying to play catch up with her peers time after time.
Raducanu faced Sofia Kenin in the first round of the US Open, and it was always going to be an uphill battle, even with the American's hot-and-cold performance. The Brit put up a fight but came up short as her opponent beat her 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
This marked another first-round exit at the venue for Raducanu, who has only won matches here during her title-winning run in 2021. The Brit participated in only one warm-up event before the US Open, and the lack of match play did make a difference here.
#1 - Danielle Collins
Collins, who's in the midst of her farewell season, didn't get to end her Grand Slam career on a high as she crashed out in the first round of the US Open. She won the first set against Caroline Dolehide 6-1, and it looked like it would be smooth sailing for her after that.
However, Dolehide had other plans, and used her retrieval skills to great effect to wear down Collins and beat her 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. The latter rushed off the court after the loss, and didn't linger for the on-court farewell ceremony planned for her, though she did elaborate on her reasoning for the same.