The US Open is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, and this year’s event has already seen some exciting matches. Britain’s Harriet Dart has made a strong start, racing into the second round with a convincing victory over Chloe Paquet of France. However, it was a different story for qualifier Jan Choinski, who ran out of steam in a five-set thriller against Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.
Harriet Dart’s Impressive Start
Dart, the British women’s number three, claimed an assured 6-1 6-2 victory over Paquet, dominating her opponent’s service games while stubbornly clawing her way through her own. The 28-year-old opened up a 4-0 lead in the first set, saving three break points along the way, before Paquet eventually held serve in the fifth game.
But Dart’s momentum carried her through, and she broke for a third time to wrap up the opener. The Briton suffered a brief blip in the second set, allowing her opponent to break back at 3-1 before regaining control to win the next three games and secure her spot in the second round after 76 minutes.
Dart’s victory was all the more impressive given her lack of success at the US Open in the past. She has never gone beyond the second round in New York, but she will be hoping to change that this year. The British number three has been in good form of late, reaching the third round at Wimbledon in July, and she will be looking to build on that momentum at the US Open.
Jan Choinski’s Disappointing Defeat
Choinski, on the other hand, was playing in the main draw of the US Open for the first time in his career, and he will be disappointed to have come up just short. The British men’s number 10 ultimately paid the price for making too many unforced errors, particularly in the opening two sets.
Despite trailing by two sets and a break, Choinski looked to be heading for a quick exit as Carballes Baena’s doggedness and ability to put lots of balls back from the baseline led him to make a flurry of wild unforced errors. However, the British player suddenly began to find his range midway through the third set, and winners started to outweigh the mistakes.
Demonstrating his physical and mental toughness, Choinski recovered from early breaks to win the third and fourth sets, levelling the match and forcing what had seemed an unlikely decider. However, Carballes Baena left the court for an extended bathroom break, returning calmer and more composed as Choinski again became erratic on the way to losing in four hours and 31 minutes.
Choinski’s Post-Match Reaction
“All in all, I’m happy how I performed in this match and it’s something I can build on in the future for sure,” said Choinski, who added he had battled a “full-blown cold and sinusitis” in the build-up.
Choinski, ranked 276th in the world, was the first British player in action on day one at Flushing Meadows. The loss will be disappointing, but he can take heart from the fact that he pushed a higher-ranked opponent to five sets.
The Road to Recovery
Choinski will now need to recover from the physical and mental exertion of the match. He admitted that he was struggling with a cold and sinusitis in the build-up to the tournament, and the hot conditions in New York will not have helped.
“There have been days where I have felt better than how I feel right now, especially fresher after that match in 32C [heat],” said Choinski. “That puts some stress on the body, but I’ll survive.”
The US Open: A Wide-Open Tournament
The US Open is known for its unpredictable nature, and this year’s tournament is shaping up to be no exception. With several top players struggling with injuries and form, the door is open for lower-ranked players to make a deep run.
Dart and Choinski are just two examples of British players who will be looking to make an impact at the US Open. Four other Britons – Jack Draper, Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, and Dan Evans – play their opening matches on Tuesday, and they will all be hoping to join Dart in the second round.
The US Open is the first major tournament since former world number one Andy Murray retired at the Olympics last month. Murray’s retirement has left a void in British tennis, but players like Dart and Choinski are showing that there is still plenty of talent coming through the ranks.
As the tournament progresses, we can expect to see more exciting matches and upsets. The US Open is always a thrilling event, and this year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.