2025 US Open Day 1: Four Chinese Women Fail to Advance, Mei Saves Match Point but Exits in First Round, Djokovic Opens with a Win

On August 24 local time, the 2025 US Open began its main draw play, where the four Chinese players competing today met strong opponents in the first round. Wang Yafan, Zhang Shuai, Wang Xiyu, and Zhu Lin were all defeated, resulting in first-round exits.

Wang Yafan, playing third on the Grandstand court, once had a chance to serve out the first set but missed three set points, eventually losing 6-7(9)/3-6 to local favorite and 10th seed Navarro. Having reached the fourth round last year and made her first Grand Slam round of 16 at the US Open, Wang’s ranking has dropped out of the top 300 after failing to defend those points this year. She will also compete in the women’s doubles alongside Japan’s Shuko Aoyama.

Wang Yafan

Photo: Visual China

Zhang Shuai, who appeared last on Court 17, faced Swiss star Bencic for the first time in 12 years, losing 3-6/3-6. Zhang qualified for the main draw this year, marking her 49th Grand Slam singles main draw appearance. She will also participate in the women’s doubles event with partner Alexandra Llovet.

Zhang Shuai

Photo: Visual China

Also coming through qualifying, Wang Xiyu was defeated 4-6/3-6 by 25th seed Ostapenko, losing all three of their career meetings. Zhu Lin, in good recent form, battled Potapova for 2 hours and 3 minutes but ultimately lost 4-6/6-4/2-6, ending her run in the first round.

Wang Xiyu

Photo: Visual China

Zhu Lin

Photo: Visual China

Two seeded players were eliminated in the women’s singles. 20-year-old left-hander from the Philippines, Ella, staged a remarkable comeback from 1-5 down in the final set, winning 6-3/2-6/7-6(13-11) after 2 hours and 36 minutes to knock out 14th seed Townsend. She became the first Filipino woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles main draw match. Three years ago, Ella won the 2022 US Open junior girls’ title, becoming the first Filipino to claim a Grand Slam junior singles championship. Supported passionately by Filipino fans at Flushing Meadows, she said after the match, “Being Filipino is something I am very proud of. I don’t have any home tournaments to play, so having these fans here at the US Open cheering for me means a lot and makes me feel at home.”

Ella

Photo: Visual China

Janice Tjen, a 23-year-old Indonesian-Chinese player who qualified, defeated 24th seed Kudermetova 6-4/4-6/6-4 to earn her first Grand Slam main draw victory as well as her first win at the tour level. She became the first Indonesian player since 2002 to win a Grand Slam main draw match. Her next opponent will be former champion Raducanu, who cruised past qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1/6-2 to claim her first US Open win since her 2021 title.

Sabalenka

Photo: Visual China

Pegula

Photo: Visual China

Paolini

Photo: Visual China

Top women’s seeds advanced smoothly. World No.1 Sabalenka defeated Masarova 7-5/6-1 to start her title defense successfully. Last year’s runner-up and 4th seed Pegula overcame a 1-4 deficit in the second set to beat Sherif 6-0/6-4. Seventh seed Paolini defeated qualifier Ajawa 6-2/7-6(4) to move past the first round.

Novak Djokovic

Photo: Visual China

Taylor Fritz

Photo: Visual China

Shelton

Photo: Visual China

In men’s singles, four-time champion and 7th seed Novak Djokovic faced some challenges but ultimately defeated local rising star Learner Zhang, who recently started working with coach Michael Chang, 6-1/7-6(3)/6-2.·Qian, who has reached the second round in all 19 of his US Open appearances, along with local favorites Fritz and Shelton, both won their opening matches in straight sets.

Two seeded men’s singles players were knocked out. 29th seed Griekspoor was eliminated in three sets by French veteran Mannarino. Former champion and 13th seed Medvedev saved match points but still lost in five sets to French player Bonzi, marking his third consecutive Grand Slam first-round exit this year.

Medvedev

Photo: Visual China

The most dramatic match of the day was the night session between Medvedev and Bonzi. Bonzi held match point in the third set at 6-3/7-5/5-4 (AD-40) when a photographer unexpectedly entered the court as Bonzi was preparing for his second serve. The umpire (Greg Allensworth) enforced the rule requiring Bonzi to replay the first serve. Medvedev was visibly upset and argued with the umpire, triggering boos from the crowd and causing a roughly six-minute delay. After play resumed, Medvedev saved the match point and took the third set, then bagelled Bonzi in the fourth to force a decider. However, Bonzi regained composure in the final set and won 6-3/7-5/6-7(5)/0-6/6-4, having also defeated Medvedev in the first round of the 2025 Wimbledon.

2025 US Open Day 1 Results

2025 US Open Men’s and Women’s Singles Draw Updates