US Open 2021 – Goffin and Khachanov eliminated in 1st round, Opelka, Hurckacz, Karatsev and Nishikori qualified

Goffin swept away, Nishikori will face his executioner

David Goffin is already eliminated from the US Open. Opposed to local Mackenzie McDonald in the 1st round, the Belgian was simply swept away by his rival in the 1st round in three short sets (6-2, 7-5, 6-3).

Only in contact during the 2nd set, the 30th world did not exist overall. He therefore ended the worst year of his Grand Slam career with no victory in the major tournaments in three appearances at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open. He was absent at Wimbledon.

It is a symbolic defeat for him. The Rocourt player remained on four appearances in a row in the round of 16 in New York since 2017. A sure bet for him, the American Grand Slam has also dropped him.

Mackenzie McDonald will meet Kei Nishikori in the second round. The Japanese defeated Salvatore Caruso in four sets (6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3).

Khachanov released after a big fight

It was the best game of the start of the day in New York. Karen Kachanov, Olympic runner-up in Tokyo, was eliminated after a huge five-round fight against Lloyd Harris. Already a striker of Rafael Nadal in Washington, the South African was clearly one of the players to avoid at the start of the tournament. And it did not fail.

Led two innings to one by the Russian, Harris raised the tone in the last two innings to get a great success (6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2). He will face the American Ernesto Escobedo in the second round.

Hurkacz starts well

The Pole, semi-finalist of the last Wimbledon, where he beat Roger Federer in the quarter in particular, started his US Open well with a success in three sets against Egor Gerasimov (6-3, 6-4, 6-3).

Opelka assures and will play Musetti in the 2nd round

Finalist in Toronto in August, Reilly Opelka made a successful debut in New York. The American giant smothered the threatening Soon-woo Kwon in three sets (7-6, 6-4, 6-4) after 2:13 of the match. Opelka was well tuned to serve: he threw 33 aces on court 17. In the second round, he will face Lorenzo Musetti.

Qualified Karatsev

The Russian held his rank against Jaume Munar. The semi-finalist of the Australian Open qualified for the second round after a success in four sets against the Spaniard (7-5, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2).