New York, USA – The world’s biggest tennis festival, the US Open, kicked off Monday (August 28th) with record crowds in attendance, over 73,000 people streaming into the National Tennis Center.
Team Yonex boasts 57 players in total, with 19 men and 38 women making it the second most-used racquet at the Open this year. The group got off to a strong start in the first two days of play.
Americans show off for home fans
Home hopes with Yonex racquets in their hands took center stage in the city that doesn’t’ sleep, with 2022 semifinalist Frances Tiafoe featuring on Arthur Ashe Stadium. He had little trouble with 17-year-old compatriot Learner Tien, and is enjoying his moment in the spotlight: “Everybody's pretty excited to come out and watch me play,” he said. “Everybody wants to see me do well, [so] obviously there's a level of expectation, too.” He’s now won six of his last seven matches in New York.
In the women's draw, American number one Jessica Pegula won with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over hard-hitting and always-dangerous Camila Giorgi. "I just played really solid, I had a lot of depth on my shots, which is important against her because she's someone who plays very aggressive and can attack”, the No.3 seed Pegula said.
Tomy Paul and Ben Shelton also won their first-round matches with the home support on their side.
Recharged Rybakina Draws Inspiration from a Legend
Even though Elena Rybakina (KAZ) had a tough schedule in Montreal and Cincinnati, she looked fresh on the 6,000-seat Grandstand stadium, beating a tricky opponent in Marta Kostyk (UKR), 6-2, 6-1. "Well, I wasn't feeling the best physically after Montreal and Cincinnati, but we had time to recover and then practice again, so I'm feeling good now and hopefully it will stay that way," Rybakina explained.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner also watched the New York Red Bulls soccer game last weekend and was inspired by witnessing a legend in person.
Stan the man is still the strong man
Stan Wawrinka (SUI), using a new model PERCEPT, overpowered his Yonex teammate, the lefty Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN), in a match that also was played on Grandstand. Wawrinka has been sidelined the past couple of years due to repeated injuries and surgeries, but he has come back strong this season, up from world No.300 to climb inside the top 50.
Nishioka, on the other hand, tore his ACL the week their first meeting – way back at Indian Wells in 2017. The Japanese player was off the tour for about a year, but has continued to improve since his return and is currently ranked 44th.
Wawrinka prevailed 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-4. The 2016 champion has good memories here – but is staying focused on the present: "I'm not trying to compare from the past because it's never a good idea to compare what I did a few years ago,” the 38-year-old said. “I know where I am now. I know I can beat some really good players.
Nishioka said of Wawrinka: "I've always said he's a guy who hits the heaviest ball on the tour and I felt the same this time. The quality of his shots has not diminished at all.”
Can Wawrinka make more magic this US Open? We will find out.
Frances Tiafoe (USA) | VCORE PRO 97[LINK] / POLYTOUR PRO 125[LINK]
Jessica Pegula (USA) | EZONE 98[LINK]
Camila Giorgi (ITA) | VCORE 98[LINK] / POLYTOUR STRIKE 125[LINK] / ECLIPSION[LINK]
Tommy Paul (USA) | VCORE 98[LINK]
Ben Shelton (USA) | EZONE 98[LINK] / POLYTOUR STRIKE 125[LINK] / POLYTOUR PRO [LINK]
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) | VCORE 100[LINK]/ POLYTOUR FIRE 125[LINK] / New York Collection[LINK]
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) | PERCEPT 97[LINK] / ECLIPSION[LINK] / New York Collection[LINK]
Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) | VCORE 98[LINK] / POLYTOUR PRO [LINK] / New York Collection [LINK] / FUSIONREV [LINK]
