Flavio Cobolli staged a remarkable comeback after being down two sets to avoid an upset in the men’s draw at the US Open. However, Maria Sakkari’s turnaround from a 6-2, 4-0 deficit against Robin Montgomery stole the show on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva and 2024 US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz cruised into the second round amidst rainy conditions that caused delays. Cobolli, the No. 5 seed, battled past Francisco Comesana in a grueling 4-hour, 12-minute match, coming back to win 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
In a surprising turn of events, Cobolli avoided an early exit, unlike other top seeds like Novak Djokovic and Arthur Fils. Jannik Sinner, another Italian player, had to withdraw due to a knee injury.
Reflecting on his victory, Cobolli mentioned making strategic changes during a bathroom break, which ultimately turned the tide in his favor. Fritz, the No. 9 seed, and Andreev also advanced smoothly into the next round with convincing wins.
Madison Keys was quick to secure her spot in the second round, defeating Alina Korneeva 7-5, 6-4. Despite the rain causing disruptions, play finally commenced outdoors later in the day, with notable players like Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff in action.
Keys, a former US Open runner-up, expressed her relief at overcoming the challenges posed by her young opponent and the pressure of the tournament. The day also saw other notable matches, including No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic’s loss to Yulia Putintseva.