NEW YORK, August 31, 2026– The 2026 edition of the US Open draw commenced at Flushing Meadows with plenty of drama and brilliance on day one, providing a perfect preview for what to expect in the grand finale of the season. Playing under the hot late-August sun in Queens, top contenders coexisted with major early-round upsets, reinforcing how unpredictable New York’s hard courts can be.
Opening the tournament in Arthur Ashe Stadium, third-ranked player Jessica Pegula overcame early baseline tension to earn a clear 6-3, 6-2 victory over Romanian player Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The 32-year-old, the highest-ranked American domestic player across either singles draw, secured the first-round win in 85 minutes. Overcoming initial break-point struggles to fire 26 winners, Pegula demonstrated steady baseline consistency built upon her recent run to the Cincinnati Open final.
Former champion Daniil Medvedev also enjoyed a routine start. Seeded seventh in the men’s draw, Medvedev needed just over two hours to beat French qualifier Hugo Gaston in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Demonstrating composure that contrasted with early-round stumbles during the summer hard-court swing, Medvedev won 83 percent of his first-serve points and neutralized Gaston’s drop shots with deep return positioning. This result is a promising start for the 2021 champion as he targets another deep run at Flushing Meadows.
However, the opening day was marked by high-profile upsets. British 29th seed Cameron Norrie suffered a premature exit, being outplayed by France’s Luca Van Assche. Although Norrie is recognized for his physical endurance as a former Grand Slam semi-finalist, he failed to withstand Van Assche’s heavy forehand strikes, losing in four sets, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in nearly three hours.
British hopes recovered on the outer courts. Katie Boulter advanced to the second round following an impressive three-set win against Carol Young Suh Lee after coming back from a second-set lapse to win decisively 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. Meanwhile, 23-year-old qualifier Toby Samuel produced one of the day’s major surprises by eliminating Czech contender Tomas Machac in straight sets.
Outside the playing areas, however, the tournament kept on attracting huge attendances through the various Fan Week events taking place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. With the start of night session star matches, the first day of the 2026 US Open was set for an interesting two weeks of championship tennis.
