Hyeon Chung led the #NextGenATP charge on Monday, beating Horacio Zeballos 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, 6-3 at the US Open. The Korean hit 63 winners and saved 12 of the 13 break points he faced to top the Argentine and reach the second round, where he will face No.10 seed John Isner.
Jared Donaldson carried the #NextGenATP torch for the Americans on Monday, downing Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). It looked like the first-round affair would head to a fifth set after Basilashvili broke to open the fourth, but Donaldson drew level and eventually converted his second match point in the ensuing tie-break. The Rhode Island native, who stunned David Goffin in last year's opening round, will look to pull another upset over a Top 20 seed when he faces No. 16 Lucas Pouille. He will have history on his side, having defeated Pouille in straight sets at the Coupe Rogers earlier this month.
American #NextGenATP player Ernesto Escobedo was not as successful in his campaign start, falling to Moldova’s Radu Albot 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Albot next faces Yen-Hsun Lu, who won 83 per cent of his first serve points to notch a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 25 seed Karen Khachanov.
[ALSO LIKE]Denis Shapovalov scored his first Grand Slam main draw win, prevailing in an all-#NextGenATP clash over Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.
“I think I played a very good match,” said Shapovalov. “I stayed very solid from beginning to the end. I had a couple fall-throughs, being a break up, having him break back. I did a good job of staying mentally solid in those situations and getting the break when I needed it.
“I don't feel any pressure. At the end of the day, I play for myself, for my team and for my country. Those three things I always take with me on the court. I play with my heart. At the end of the day it's a sport. I can win and I can lose.”
The Canadian World No.69, who scored his best result on home soil in Montreal three weeks ago when he beat Rafael Nadal and eventually reached the semi-finals (l. to A. Zverev), will next face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.
The eighth-seeded Frenchman eased through his first round match with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Marius Copil in one hour and 51 minutes.
“I’m feeling good,” said Tsonga. “The last two tournaments were difficult for me because I was playing good tennis, [at a] good level, and I had a good opponent in front of me. I didn't have the results I expected [the] last couple of weeks, but I know I did the job.”