A popular veteran became one of four Australians safely through to the second round on Day 2 of the US Open – with a fifth fighting tooth and nail against a top seed.
Meanwhile, a viral racquet smash has created a new tennis meme; while a former three-time grand slam champion had an ugly end to his final appearance at Flushing Meadows.
All that and more in today’s edition of US Open Daily!
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AUSSIE’S CLUTCH SAVE AS 30TH SEED BUNDLED OUT
Australian veteran James Duckworth sprung one of the first major upsets of the 2026 US Open, taking out 30th seed and French Open semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi in a rollicking four-set encounter.
The 34-year old lost the first set 7-5 before roaring back into the contest to win the second and third 6-3, 6-2.
But he was forced to dig deep in a thrilling fourth set, coming back from 4-1 down and saving six set points before eventually outlasting the Italian.
Duckworth looked destined to need to win in five when down 5-6, 0-40 on his own serve in the dying stages of the set, but rallied to force it to a tie-breaker, which he claimed 10-8.
The world No. 71 continues a strong season in which he has made it to the second round at all four grand slams.
He faces China’s Wu Yibing in the round of 64 looking to reach the third round at a major for just the second time.
‘EXTRA FLOWERS’: AUSSIE’S WEDDING REVEAL AFTER COMEBACK WIN
Kim Birrell plans to use her US Open winnings to help fund her upcoming wedding – and her mortgage – after recovering from a set down to defeat Petra Marcinko and progress to the second round at Flushing Meadows.
Birrell was forced to endure a nervous wait to complete her match after rain late on Day 1 forced a number of encounters to be put on hold overnight.
But resuming on the morning of Day 2, the Australian overcame a mini-break in the second set tiebreaker to claim a hard-fought victory 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
It is the 28-year old’s first victory at the US Open, having previously lost in the first round in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
She nets a cool $265,000 for making it to the last 64 – and it could be more if she can upset world No. 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Birrell, who is set to marry coach Matt Fraser in December, said she already had an idea of how to spend some of her mega payday.
“I’ll definitely save some of it. We’re getting married at the end of the year so that helps a lot,” she told AAP.
“Maybe I’ll buy some extra flowers.
“And we’ve got a mortgage. Yeah, the mortgage.”
The win will take Birrell at least to a career-best 55th spot on the WTA rankings, overtaking Daria Kasatkina and Talia Gibson as the top-ranked Australian women’s player.
Up-and-comer Maya Joint also won her way through to the second round after coming from a set behind to overwhelm Liudmila Samsonova.
The 20-year old, who briefly rose to No. 28 in the world earlier this year, won 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 off the back of a strong service game, landing 78 per cent of her first serves, and converting four out of five break points.
However, she next faces world No. 9 and four-time grand slam semi-finalist Elina Svitolina in the second round.
The Ukrainian star reached the last four at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Alexei Popyrin became the fourth Australian safely through after coming from a set down to oust 2019 US Open semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov in four sets.
Having been eliminated in the first round of all three grand slams before Flushing Meadows in 2026, the 27-year old looked in danger when the Bulgarian claimed the first set 6-3.
But the veteran’s service game deteriorated, landing barely half his first serves as Popyrin fought back to win the second and third sets.
Dimitrov broke from nowhere as the Australian served for the match at 5-2 in the fourth to keep the contest alive, but it would prove a minor blip, with Popyrin converting at the second time of asking to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Compatriot Rinky Hijikata is finding the going tougher against 3rd seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
After spurning an early break to lose the first set 7-5, Hijikata fought back to win the second, only to go two sets to one down when the Canadian claimed the third set 6-3.
Hijikata looked down for the count when Auger-Aliassime served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth, only for the Aussie to save two match points and threaten at a miraculous comeback.
However, the Canadian would find his best tennis at the most crucial time, breaking back immediately before calmly holding serve at the second time of asking to secure a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory.
‘NOT GOOD’: UGLY ACT AFTER VIRAL RACQUET SMASH CREATES NEW MEME
American Emma Navarro’s tense three-set win over Frenchwoman Lois Boisson has quickly become a viral sensation, after the pair’s polar opposite reaction to the result spread across social media.
The 26th seed delighted home fans at Flushing Meadows after a tight 7-6 (8), 6-7 (1), 6-3 victory saw the 2024 US Open semi-finalist reach the second round.
But after the pair shook hands at the net, broadcasters captured Navarro raising her fists in triumph … while in the background, Boisson took her frustrations out on her racquet.
Boisson’s reaction spread like wildfire across social media to create an instant tennis meme.
However, vision from spectators showed the tantrum had an even uglier postscript, with the 23-year old leaving her pair of smashed racquets behind for ballkids to clear up.
Boisson stunned the tennis world at the 2025 French Open when she reached the semi-finals as a wildcard ranked 361st in the world – the lowest player to do so since the unranked Justin Henin at the 2010 Australian Open.
However, she has struggled with injury and form in 2026, dropping to a ranking of 237 and needing a protected ranking to qualify for the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
‘REALLY MEANINGFUL’: FORMER CHAMP OUT AFTER FEDERER DEJA VU
Former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka has bade farewell to grand slam tennis after losing in straight sets to Italian Matteo Berrettini.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion who will retire after 2026, fought neck and neck with the Italian for the first two sets before his level dropped in a quickly-played third set to go down 7-6, 7-6,6-0.
Cheers of “Let’s Go Stan!” and “We love you, Stan” emanated from the crowd.
But Wawrinka – alone with Andy Murray as the only players to win multiple Grand Slams in a period dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – couldn’t mount a comeback.
In an unwanted coincidence, the 41-year old’s grand slam career ended on an identical note to close mate and fellow Swiss champion Federer: with a 6-0 bagel.
Federer had lost in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2021 to Hubert Hurkacz, which proved to be his final professional singles match.
“This opportunity to finish here was really meaningful for myself,” said Wawrinka, who became a bit teary in a short speech following a brief on-court celebration of his career.
“I’m going to miss it for sure,” he added after the match on the Grandstand stadium, the third biggest court at the US Open.
Wawrinka, currently ranked 127th, was only able to play at the US Open after being granted a late wildcard when original wildcard recipient Patrick Kypson withdrew with injury.
The crowd cheered loudly at a replay of match point from the 2016 final when Wawrinka lifted his arms after an overhit return from favourite Djokovic gave the Swiss player the trophy.
OSAKA DAZZLES BEFORE ‘ONE OF THE WORST SETS’
Naomi Osaka has again lit up social media and left her US Open crowd gasping with her latest fashion statement at Flushing Meadows.
The four-time grand slam champion has become renowned for her attire when stepping out on court at major events, having first turned heads with a “jellyfish” dress at the Australian Open in January.
The latest creation might be her strangest yet: rocking a grey hoodie and white skirt, plus added newspaper clippings, inspired by NBA icon Allen Iverson, the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium were left shocked.
Adding to the Iverson tribute, Osaka had her hair styled in cornrows.
However, the former World No.1 was far from her best on the court, making 17 unforced errors and needing to edge a tense first-set tie-breaker to take the lead over Russian opponent Anastasia Zakharova.
“One of the worst sets I’ve seen Naomi play all year,” tennis journalist Jose Morgado wrote on X.