US OPEN, N.Y. By Leo Canaparo. Photo courtesy USTA
American Tommy Paul overcame a difficult opening set to produce a convincing victory in his US Open debut campaign, defeating China’s Coleman Wong 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
Paul had opportunities to close out the first set, but a combination of his own errors and some impressive play from Wong dramatically changed the direction of the match. The American lost the tiebreak and suddenly found himself facing an unexpected challenge.
However, from the beginning of the second set, everything changed.
Paul recovered the confidence he had briefly lost during the opening stages of the match and began to take complete control of the action. One of the most important factors was a significant improvement in his first-serve percentage, which allowed him to dictate points more effectively and put constant pressure on his opponent.
The second set was a clear statement of intent. Paul won it 6-1 and left little doubt about who would control the rest of the match. From that point on, the American maintained his authority, taking both the third and fourth sets 6-3 to complete a solid and convincing opening victory.
For Paul, playing in New York always carries special significance. As one of the leading American players of his generation, he has experienced important moments at the US Open, including reaching the fourth round in 2023, his best performance at his home Grand Slam at that point. The tournament has also represented an opportunity for him to perform in front of a demanding American crowd and continue his development as one of the country’s leading hopes in men’s tennis.
Meanwhile, another player who enjoyed a comfortable start was seventh seed Daniil Medvedev. The former US Open champion defeated French qualifier Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in a match in which he rarely found himself under serious pressure.
Medvedev controlled the match with his characteristic consistency from the baseline and his ability to neutralize his opponent’s attacks. The Russian remained composed throughout the contest and never allowed Gaston to build enough momentum to seriously threaten the outcome.
The US Open, of course, brings back special memories for Medvedev. He won his first Grand Slam title in New York in 2021, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final and preventing the Serbian from completing the calendar-year Grand Slam. Medvedev had already made a memorable run to the US Open final in 2019, where he became one of the tournament’s biggest stories before losing an epic five-set final to Rafael Nadal.
Those experiences have made the Russian one of the most accomplished players on hard courts and a familiar presence in the later stages of the US Open.
Both Paul and Medvedev now move forward with different objectives but the same positive beginning. For the American, the victory represented a recovery from an early moment of doubt and an encouraging start in front of his home fans. For Medvedev, it was another professional and efficient performance at a tournament where he has already written some of the most important chapters of his career.