Tenth seed Lorenzo Musetti rallied from a set down to beat Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the US Open, even as Carlos Alcaraz mauled big-serving American Reilly Opelka and veteran Venus Williams made an emotional exit.
Tenth seed Lorenzo Musetti rallied from a set down to secure a 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Italian struggled to make inroads against the Frenchman's serve in the opener but gradually wore him down, breaking once in each of the next three sets to complete the comeback.
The win was a welcome response for the Italian after his first-round exit at Wimbledon last month and followed a deep run to the Roland Garros semi-finals in May, where he was forced to retire.
"Against Perricard you have to stay really calm, every game can be really difficult, you have to take the few chances he gives with his serve," he said.
"Thanks to all the Italians who are here supporting me. I know there is a large Italian community in New York, and we receive a lot of support every day."
"Today I was really focused on what I had to do and I'm really proud to take this win."
There were no break-points in a tense opener as both players dominated on serve, with few extended rallies. A tie-break was needed to separate them, and it was the Frenchman who gained the edge with a single minibreak to claim the set.
In the second, the Italian finally earned his first break at the very first opportunity, while conceding only three points on serve as he raced through the set in just under half an hour to level the match.
Musetti seemed poised to ride his momentum into the third set, earning break-points that he failed to convert in the opening game. He eventually broke in Perricard’s fourth service game, aided by two double faults from the 22-year-old that handed the Italian the advantage.
While Musetti remained implacable on serve, the Frenchman continued to falter, facing break-points in each of his service games in the fourth set. Musetti finally converted his third chance at 3-2 and then held to consolidate what proved to be a decisive lead.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the second round with a straight-sets mauling of big-serving American Reilly Opelka, while veteran Venus Williams made an emotional exit at the hands of 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
Alcaraz, sporting a new buzz cut that has sparked plenty of chatter on social media, dismantled Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up a second-round encounter with Italian Mattia Bellucci.
Williams, back at Flushing Meadows at the age of 45 after a year's hiatus, fought bravely against Muchova, forcing a deciding set before bowing out 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
"I'm very proud of how I played," said Williams, who was beaten 6-1, 6-1 on her last US Open appearance in 2023.
"I think for me getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy," added Williams, who disclosed in 2011 that she had been diagnosed Sjogren's, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.
"When you play unhealthy, it's in your mind. It's not just how you feel. You get stuck in your mind too. So it was nice to be freer."
Talented teen Mirra Andreeva crushed Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-1 with a near-flawless performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium but an error-strewn showing from Madison Keys saw the Australian Open champion upset 6-7(10), 7-6(3), 7-5 by Renata Zarazua in the first match on Arthur Ashe.
At number six, Keys is the highest seed to fall so far.
Zarazua, the only Mexican player in the main draw, saved seven break-points across the match for her first win over a top-10 player in a gruelling, three-hour and 10-minute affair.
"Coming into the match I was like almost crying because I was really nervous but I think the crowd made it so chill for me," she said. "I could hear some Mexican (fans) cheering so that was very nice."
She will hope to recreate the magic in the second round against Frenchwoman Diane Parry, who had no problems eliminating twice Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova 6-1, 6-0 in her final professional match.
Two-times major winner Barbora Krejcikova has struggled with injuries this year but looked strong in knocking out Victoria Mboko 6-3, 6-2, just weeks after the promising Canadian teenager's career breakthrough in Montreal.
Krejcikova next plays Japan's Moyuka Uchijima.
Men's 17th seed Frances Tiafoe lifted the home fans after Keys was sent packing, beating Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-3 and closing out the afternoon programme on Ashe with his 19th ace.
The twice semi-finalist, who plays US qualifier Martin Damm next, joins fourth seed Taylor Fritz and sixth seed Ben Shelton in the second round as they aim to become the first American man to lift the US Open trophy in 22 years.
Jack Draper, a semi-finalist last year, dismissed Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-2 and plays Belgian Zizou Bergs next.
The British fifth seed is joined in the second round by compatriot Cameron Norrie, who advanced after American Sebastian Korda retired when trailing 7-5, 6-4. He will next play Argentinian Francisco Comesana.
Joao Fonseca brought the thrills to the Grandstand crowd as the 19-year-old Brazilian fan favourite kept his dream 2025 season on track with a 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic, setting up a meeting with 21st seed Tomas Machac.
Norwegian former finalist Casper Ruud, the 12th seed, beat Austrian Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(5), while Danish 11th seed Holger Rune battled past Dutchman Botic van De Zandschulp 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(2).
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