The 2023 US Open Championship is currently underway, and it’s been full of action from the get-go. This year’s edition is without the COVID restriction we have had in the past two years, meaning we have some faces that have been away in the previous editions. 

In the men’s side, three-time US Open winner Novak Djokovic is back to the US after being away due to vaccine mandate. The Serbian played his first US open game on Tuesday, where he beat Alexandre Muller in a solid game of three rounds. Aiming for a record 24th Grand Slam title, Djokovic beat Muller 6-0 6-2 6-3 there at Flushing Meadows as he continues his streak of match wins following his victory at the Cincinnati Open a week ago. With Tuesday’s win, Djokovic has now risen to the top of the ATP men’s singles ranking, although it will not reflect until next week when it is officially updated. 

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had an easy start to his defense bid. Into the second set, his opponent, Dominik Koepfer, had to exit the match after rolling his ankles. The scoreline was 6-2, 3-2 before the abrupt end. 

Elsewhere, former world number one and 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev cruised to the second round of the event after beating Attila Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0. The 27-year-old Russian is seeking to win his second Grand Slam title. 

Other men who have qualified for the next round include Christopher O’Connell, Matteo Berrettini, Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz, Alexander Zverev, and John Isner. 

In the women’s side, 19-year-old Coco Gauff, who is riding on her recent victory at the Cincinnati Open, has scaled through to the third round with a resounding two-set victory over Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday. The American, who made it up to the quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows last year, is hoping to progress farther in this year’s edition, hopefully landing her first Grand Slam title. 

Ons Jabeur fought hard to make it through to the second round on Wednesday after a grueling match. She managed to triumph over Camila Osorio with a 7-5 7-6 (7-4) victory. Jabeur later revealed after the match that she was down with the flu and encountered breathing issues while playing. But she persevered and would now have another round of play. 

Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, and Madison Keys have all qualified for the next round of the US Open. 

It has been an intense three days so far, but from the action we have seen, the best is yet to come as the players are ready to give it their all for one of the most prestigious events in Tennis.

Leon Osamor