Medvedev and Alexandrova Advance to US Open Second Round

NEW YORK — One year after a dramatic first-round exit, former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev cruised into the second round at Flushing Meadows on Sunday, defeating French qualifier Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 14 minutes. The seventh-seeded Russian's victory came in stark contrast to his 2023 performance, when he lost his temper in a five-set defeat to Benjamin Bonzi, smashing his racquet after a controversial call involving a photographer's intrusion. Medvedev acknowledged the challenging lead-up to this year's tournament, saying, "Last couple of weeks were not easy, but you know how it is -- sometimes you lose matches, sometimes you win." He added, "I'm happy that today I managed to produce a high level of tennis. I felt like I did everything I wanted to do well. I finished the match strong. I started the match strong. I'm really glad the way I played."

In the women's draw, Ekaterina Alexandrova, seeded 18th, also advanced, defeating unseeded American McCartney Kessler 6-2, 6-2. Both Russian players are competing under a neutral status, as are all Russian tennis players in international tournaments.

The 2026 US Open is being held on outdoor hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York from August 30 to September 13, with a total prize fund of $90 million. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz is the reigning champion.