Victoria Mboko’s introduction to the U.S. Open was cut short by a 6-3, 6-2 defeat against Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia in the first round of the women’s singles on Monday. Coming off her recent triumph at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Mboko, a promising talent from Toronto who will turn 19 on Tuesday, entered Flushing Meadows as the 22nd seed in the women’s draw.
The Canadian faced a tough opponent in Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam champion and the reigning Wimbledon women’s singles titleholder. The Czech, a former world No. 2, took an early lead and secured the victory in just over an hour and 23 minutes. Reflecting on the match, Mboko expressed some disappointment but acknowledged Krejcikova’s exceptional skill and experience.
Mboko, known for her agility on the court, mentioned feeling a bit rushed during the game and highlighted the need to find a better rhythm to showcase her own playing style effectively. She also addressed a wrist discomfort that seemed to bother her during the match, explaining that she had previously injured her wrist in Montreal and had it taped up for the U.S. Open.
Looking ahead, Mboko emphasized the importance of taking care of her fitness during the upcoming break before the Asia swing. Despite the loss, she remains positive about her progress, especially considering her rapid rise in the rankings following her first WTA title win.
In another match on Monday, Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo secured a victory in the men’s first round by defeating Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina in four sets. Diallo, seeded 31st, is set to face Jaume Munar of Spain in the next round on Wednesday.
Furthermore, Petra Kvitova bid farewell to her professional tennis career at the U.S. Open after suffering a first-round exit against Diane Parry. The two-time Wimbledon champion, who had previously announced her retirement, expressed her disappointment with her performance and was visibly emotional as she concluded her final match.
Additionally, Venus Williams made a pain-free return to Grand Slam tennis despite losing her match against Karolina Muchova. The veteran player, who hinted that this might be her last match of the year, received overwhelming support from the crowd and reflected on her journey back to competitive play after battling various health issues.
Moreover, various other players made headlines at the U.S. Open, including Carlos Alcaraz’s impressive victory over Reilly Opelka and Coleman Wong’s historic win as the first player from Hong Kong to triumph in a Grand Slam men’s singles match in the Open era. Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion, faced a shocking defeat due to a high number of unforced errors against Renata Zarazua.
Looking ahead, Day 3 of the tournament promises an exciting lineup with Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Jannik Sinner scheduled to compete at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauff, who recently started working with a biomechanics coach to enhance her serve, will face Ajla Tomljanovic in what is anticipated to be a captivating match.