Daniel Elahi Galan stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas in an amazing first-round encounter, defeating him 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 on the ninth match point.
On the men’s side, two top-10 seeds were knocked out early on the first day of the US Open.
In slightly over three hours, American qualifier Brandon Holt, the son of two-time US Open winner Tracy Austin, defeated compatriot and 10th seed Taylor Fritz 6-7 (3), 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-4.
Tsitsipas Failed To Find His Rhythm
Galan, who was playing in the main tournament for the first time, seemed completely at home on tennis’ grandest stage, winning the first 11 games as Tsitsipas struggled to find any of his customary elegance and won only five of his serve points in the opening set.
Tsitsipas had his right arm treated by a trainer before the sixth game of the second set, when he ultimately broke Galan, and again during the break before the third set, when he broke Galan in the second game.
Tsitsipas, who has never advanced beyond the third round in New York and had hoped to do better this year after reaching the Cincinnati final, missed only four of his first-serve points in the third set and appeared to have the momentum when he broke Galan again in the first game of the fourth set.
But Galan maintained his cool throughout the competition, sending 41 wins and refused to give in to his strongly favoured opponent.
“I just kept my cool. I lost the set, but I thought I was getting better “Galan, who broke through in the eighth, agreed.
In the second round, Galan will face Australian Jordan Thompson.
