Daniil Medvedev Secures 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 First-Round Win at US Open

Daniil Medvedev launched his pursuit of a second New York title with a straight-sets victory over Hugo Gaston, while Tommy Paul overcame a slow start to advance.

Daniil Medvedev defeated Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the opening round of the US Open on Sunday. The 2021 champion entered the tournament following a 1-3 record during the North American hard-court tuneup swing, yet he managed to dispatch his French opponent in exactly three sets. This victory marks a significant stabilization for the Russian, who had struggled for rhythm in the weeks preceding the final Grand Slam of the calendar year.

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"Last couple of weeks was not easy," Medvedev stated during his post-match press conference. "But I'm happy that I managed to produce high-level tennis." The former world number one utilized his signature baseline depth to neutralize Gaston’s variety, ensuring he did not drop a single set during the two-hour encounter. His performance served as a rebuttal to critics questioning his form after early exits in recent Masters 1000 events.

American Tommy Paul also progressed to the second round after overcoming a first-set deficit against Coleman Wong. Paul dropped the opening frame in a tiebreak, losing 6-7 (3), before finding his range to take the next three sets 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. Wong, representing Hong Kong, had previously made history as the first man from his region to win an Open-era Grand Slam singles match during a run to the round of 32 one year ago, but he could not sustain that momentum against the 14th-seeded American.

Inclement weather impacted the opening day schedule, resulting in seven matches that could not be completed due to rain. Even in venues equipped with retractable roofs, play faced interruptions that tested the patience of both athletes and spectators. At Louis Armstrong Stadium, a mechanical issue involving one of the sensors caused a significant delay that halted the flow of the afternoon session.

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Tournament officials were forced to manually dry the court surface even after the roof was successfully closed to prevent moisture buildup. Following these technical adjustments and a lengthy pause, No. 15 seed Alexander Bublik defeated J.J. Wolf to move into the next round. The delay highlighted the logistical challenges faced by organizers during the Sunday session, which saw the schedule pushed deep into the night.

The men's draw saw the departure of two high-profile players before they even stepped onto the court. Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion, and Casper Ruud, the 2022 runner-up, both withdrew from the competition citing injuries. These late scratches forced lucky losers into the main draw and significantly altered the projected path for several top seeds in the bottom half of the bracket.

Looking ahead to Monday, several prominent seeds are scheduled to take the court to complete the first-round fixtures. Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, and Felix Auger-Aliassime are set for their opening matches across the main show courts. They will be joined by American Frances Tiafoe and three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka as the tournament intensifies. The Associated Press contributed to these reports as the event moved past its initial Sunday slate at 12:47 AM ET on August 31, 2026.

Statistically, Medvedev’s efficiency was the story of the day, as he converted five of his twelve break point opportunities. He limited his unforced errors to just 22, a stark contrast to the 38 committed by Gaston. Paul’s recovery was equally impressive, as he won 82% of his first-serve points following the first-set tiebreak loss. The American finished the match with 42 winners, overwhelming Wong’s defensive efforts in the final two sets of their four-set battle.