Rublev, Auger-Aliassime advance on humid day one at US Open

The Russian and the Canadian avoided an early exit with strong performances in the first round

Andrey Rublev

August 31, 2021

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Heat and humidity made life difficult for everyone on the opening day of the US Open but fifth seed Andrey Rublev and No 12 Felix Auger-Aliassime both claimed first-round wins.

Russian Rublev, trying to get beyond the quarter-finals of a slam for the first time, saw off 42-year-old Ivo Karlovic, earning a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 win and potentially sending the 6ft 11in Croat into retirement.

Karlović on retirement: I have to decide now. My rankings is not that high now (around 210), which means that I would have to play challengers. Now I have to decide whether I want to do that or not. #USOpen
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) August 30, 2021

Karlovic said it’s 50-50 whether he carries on or not, and that he’ll decide when he goes home. If it’s the end of his career, then it’s probably fitting that his last serve should be an ace, the Croat having banged down more than 13,700 of them in his career.

Auger-Aliassime, who reached his first slam quarter-final at Wimbledon earlier this summer, survived a bruising encounter as he overcame Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.

Félix Auger-Aliassime survives a marathon first-round against qualifier Evgeny Donskoy! 🥵

The Canadian No. 2 advances 7-6(0), 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(8) at the #USOpen in just under four hours.

What a match. pic.twitter.com/saH7kbdAic
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) August 30, 2021

Ruud, Schwartzman through as Anderson finds serving boots

Eighth seed Casper Ruud cruised through with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Yuichi Sugita of Japan while No 11 Diego Schwartzman was too good for Ricardas Berankis as he won 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 and the No 15 seed Grigor Dimitrov also advanced, moving past American Sam Raffice in straight sets.

Kevin Anderson, a former finalist at the US Open, hammered 49 aces on his way to a 7-6, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 victory over Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic, Christian Garin, the No 16 seed, won in four sets against Norbert Gombos while Dan Evans, seeded No 24, battled past Thiago Monteiro in a gruelling four-setter.