Next generation falls short again as Tsitsipas and Auger-Aliassime join Rune in first-round defeats

With Roger Federer‘s racquets stashed away for good and Rafael Nadal close to the end of his career, it had been thought that this might be the time for some of the younger generation to step up and perform at the majors.

But while Carlos Alcaraz already has four slams to his name, and Jannik Sinner picked up the first of many, surely, when he won in Australia at the start of the year, others are struggling to keep up.

After Holger Rune suffered a shock defeat on Monday, beaten in straight sets by Brandon Nakashima, Tsitsipas and Auger-Aliassime followed him out the door on Tuesday. Tsitsipas was ousted in four tight sets by Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis while Auger-Aliassime was way below his best as he went out in straight sets to Czech youngster Jakub Mensik.

Rune apologises FOR PERFORMANCE

Rune, who reached a career-high ranking of No 4 in 2023, took to social media on Tuesday to apologise to fans for his listless performance, saying he played “extremely bad tennis”.

Rune has now lost in the first round of the US Open three times in his four visits and after an injury-interrupted year, perhaps this defeat was not the biggest surprise. But the manner of it was, the Dane barely able to string together more than one good point at a time.

AUGER-ALIASSIME’S SLAM RECORD STILL POOR

Auger-Aliassime looked to have rediscovered some of his best form lately, narrowly missing out on a medal at the Olympics, losing out to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in the bronze-medal match.

But the Canadian was all at sea against Mensik, the young Czech with a big serve and big game. The match disappeared in a flash, leaving Auger-Aliassime unsure where that kind of performance came from, as he told The Athletic.

The defeat was Auger-Aliassime’s second first-round loss in slams in a row, following on from Wimbledon and he’s now lost in the first round in five of his last eight majors. While some of his bad results in 2023 were down to injury, he expected better of himself and many expected more of him here, where he reached the semi-finals in 2021, his best effort at a slam.

Tsitsipas struggles in New York again

Tsitsipas was the biggest casualty of the lot, even if Kokkinakis has always had the talent to achieve this kind of win. The Aussie held his nerve under pressure after four hours in the hot sun to claim what he called “my best ever win at a slam”, reward for his improving attitude, physical and mental strength and dedication to the cause in recent months, after a career beset by injuries and doubts.

For Tsitsipas, it was another disappointing US Open outing. The Greek, who has reached two slam finals in his career, has won just six matches in seven visits, two third-round showings his best efforts. After a second-round loss at Wimbledon and most recently, after announcing that his father would no longer be coaching him, his form is clearly not there.

“It’s my best win in a Grand Slam for sure,” Kokkinakis said. “Just a lot of hard work into it, staying positive and competing my nuts off, really.”

Tsitsipas will be back on court in the mixed doubles with Paula Badosa, his girlfriend and the former world No 2, who’s been showing top form again herself recently after injury.

But while Alcaraz, Sinner and the evergreen Novak Djokovic continue to set the standards, the chasing pack continues to fall short.

You might also like this

US Open: Kokkinakis upsets Tsitsipas in four sets, moves into second round

tennis majors

US Open: Rising star Mensik outclasses Auger-Aliassime in big upset to reach second round

tennis majors

Nakashima delivers first big upset of US Open, thrashing Rune in straight sets

tennis majors