Tomás Etcheverry secured his first victory of the North American hardcourt swing at the US Open, defeating Czech player Vít Kopriva in straight sets to advance past the opening round at Flushing Meadows. The Argentine ATP 32nd seed triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 on Court 10 in a match that lasted two hours and two minutes.
Straight-Set Relief on Court 10
Halting a Difficult Summer Slump
The win halts a difficult stretch for the La Plata native. He suffered three consecutive opening-round exits earlier in the summer across Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati.
His previous deep run came on the clay courts of Kitzbühel. This transition to the New York hardcourts marks a crucial turning point for his tour confidence.
Weather conditions in Queens featured a mix of high heat, humidity, and rain delays that impacted several matches across the grounds on opening day.
Dominance on Serve and Baseline
Statistics highlighted Etcheverry’s control. The Argentine struck 10 aces, won 77% of his first-serve points, and converted seven break opportunities.
He finished with 21 winners and 10 unforced errors. Kopriva recorded 19 winners and 25 unforced errors.
“Vine entrenando bien toda la semana y quería trasladar eso al partido,” Etcheverry told reporters in his post-match press conference. He emphasized the importance of winning in straight sets to conserve physical energy during the two-week Grand Slam.
He also addressed his recent form, noting a desire for greater consistency following a series of fluctuating results throughout the season.
Davis Cup Absence and Upcoming Rivals
Beyond the tournament, Etcheverry discussed his absence from the upcoming Davis Cup series against Turkey in Neuquén. He confirmed that the roster selection was made by captain Javi Frana, expressing support for the team despite his personal disappointment at missing out on the tie.
In the next round of the US Open, Etcheverry will face the winner of the match between Spain’s Martín Landaluce and Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.
Elsewhere in the tournament, fellow Argentine Thiago Tirante had his opening match against France’s Adrian Mannarino suspended due to rain while Mannarino held a lead. In the women’s draw, Solana Sierra was eliminated by Elina Svitolina in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
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