The US Open 2026 opened with a mix of strong performances and early exits, as Jessica Pegula, Daniil Medvedev and Katie Boulter progressed while 29th seed Cameron Norrie was knocked out in the first round.
The US Open 2026 began with several notable results on day one. Jessica Pegula advanced with a straight-sets victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse, while seventh seed Daniil Medvedev defeated Hugo Gaston in three sets. Katie Boulter also secured her place in the second round after overcoming Carol Young Suh Lee in a three-set contest.
Key Highlights
- Jessica Pegula defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2 to reach the next round.
- Daniil Medvedev beat Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in a straight-sets victory.
- Katie Boulter defeated Carol Young Suh Lee 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 after raising her intensity in the deciding set.
- Cameron Norrie, the 29th seed, lost to Luca van Assche 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
- British qualifier Toby Samuel recorded his first main-draw Grand Slam singles win by defeating Tomas Machac 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
Jessica Pegula Starts With a Straight-Sets Win
Third seed Jessica Pegula made a convincing start to her US Open campaign by defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2. The result put Pegula through to the next round without dropping a set.
Her victory was one of the day’s notable results as the women’s singles draw began to take shape.
Daniil Medvedev Advances in Three Sets
Seventh seed Daniil Medvedev also progressed comfortably. The Russian defeated Hugo Gaston 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, finishing the match with his 10th ace of the contest.
Medvedev’s straight-sets victory secured his place in the second round and added another strong result for one of the tournament’s seeded players on the opening day.
Katie Boulter Wins Deciding Set Against Lee
Katie Boulter survived a competitive opening-round match against Carol Young Suh Lee, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. The British No. 1 raised her aggression significantly in the deciding set and took control of the contest.
Boulter broke early in the third set and continued to pressure Lee with powerful groundstrokes. One game lasted more than 10 minutes before Boulter eventually extended her advantage to 4-0.
Lee attempted to stay in the match, but Boulter continued to dictate play. She moved to 5-0 before serving out the match to complete a decisive final set.
Cameron Norrie Knocked Out by Luca van Assche
Cameron Norrie’s US Open campaign ended in the first round after the 29th seed was beaten by Luca van Assche 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Norrie took the opening set in a tiebreak, but van Assche responded strongly. The Frenchman won the next three sets and eventually closed out the match after repeatedly putting Norrie under pressure.
Van Assche’s victory marked his first main-draw match win at the US Open. The 22-year-old was described in the supplied match report as impressively consistent and accurate with his serving.
Toby Samuel Records First Main-Draw Grand Slam Win
British qualifier Toby Samuel produced another notable result by defeating Tomas Machac 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. The world No. 110 secured the victory with his second match point.
Samuel’s win was his first main-draw singles victory at a Grand Slam. He defeated a player who had reached the US Open fourth round in each of the previous two years, according to the supplied report.
Other Day-One Results
| Player | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Pegula (3) | Elena-Gabriela Ruse | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Daniil Medvedev (7) | Hugo Gaston | 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 |
| Jasmine Paolini (19) | Veronika Erjavec | 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 |
| Katie Boulter | Carol Young Suh Lee | 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 |
| Luca van Assche | Cameron Norrie (29) | 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 |
| Toby Samuel | Tomas Machac | 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 |
Jaume Munar Completes Five-Set Comeback
Jaume Munar also produced a dramatic comeback on the opening day, recovering from two sets down to defeat Terence Atmane in a match lasting 4 hours and 53 minutes.
Munar eventually won 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 7-5, completing the comeback after Atmane had taken the opening two sets.
What Happened on Day One
The opening day delivered contrasting results for the seeded and British players featured in the supplied report. Pegula, Medvedev, Paolini and Boulter advanced, while Norrie was eliminated by van Assche.
The day’s action also produced a first main-draw Grand Slam victory for Samuel and a five-set comeback from Munar, setting up further competition as the tournament progresses.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Editor at The Nation Bulletin. With over 3 years of experience in digital journalism and news reporting, he covers national affairs, governance, and breaking current events with a commitment to factual accuracy and verified reporting.
