US Open 2023: Holger Rune exits after shock defeat, France Tiafoe, Beatriz Haddad Maia ease into Round 2
Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena pulled off a huge upset after beating No.4 seed Holger Rune in the first round of the US Open 2023 men’s singles. The Spaniard won the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 42 minutes. It was also the first time that Baena defeated a top 10 opponent on the ATP circuit.
Rune, one of the most promising young stars, made as many as 43 unforced errors, 22 more than his opponent and that led to his downfall. He smashed 37 winners, but that was not enough for him to make his way through to the second round.
As far as Baena is concerned, he is next scheduled to lock horns with the winner of the match between Jiri Lehecka and Aslan Karatsev.
TIAFOE DOMINATES TIEN
Frances Tiafoe, who took down Rafael Nadal last year in the US Open, beat 17-year-old Learner Tien 6-2, 7-5, 6-1. The American took two hours and eight minutes to advance to the second round. Tien tried his heart out, but the power of Tiafoe was too hot to handle for the teenager.
Tiafoe smashed 37 winners, 17 more than his opponent to stamp his authority on the match. However, he will be looking to cut down on the 41 unforced errors he made. Tiafoe will next face Seabastian Ofner, who defeated Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
In the women’s singles, Beatriz Haddad Maia beat Sloanne Stephens 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 57 minutes. Both players fought hard, with one of the games lasting as long as 13 minutes. Haddad Maia, who retired from Wimbledon earlier this year due to a back injury, will next be up against USA’s Taylor Townsend in the second round.
