September 1, 2026 — 5:50am
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Facing a fourth straight first-round defeat at the US Open, Australia’s Kim Birrell reversed her fortunes with a typically gutsy performance to overcome Croatia’s Petra Marcinko in three sets and win for the first time in New York.
The 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 triumph booked a second-round clash with 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and propelled Birrell to a live ranking of No.55, which would be a career high if she maintains it.
Australia’s Kim Birrell is into the second round at the US Open for the first time.Getty Images
Birrell, who overcame two career-threatening elbow surgeries before she even threatened to be a top-100 player, has now won at least one match at all four grand slams, highlighted by her round-of-32 run at the 2019 Australian Open.
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James Duckworth took an even bigger scalp, outlasting Italy’s No.30 seed Matteo Arnaldi 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) in three-and-a-half hours for his first US Open victory in four years.
Duckworth hit 16 aces and rallied from a 4-1 fourth-set deficit, including staving off Arnaldi’s six set points. Three of those came consecutively from 0-40 in the 12th game of the set.
The 34-year-old unleashed a tirade of forehands at eight-all in the tiebreak to earn his second match point – this time on serve – before putting away an overhead, after which he let out a guttural roar as his latest resurgence continued.
They join day-one winner Taylah Preston, who made the most of her wildcard to down American Alycia Parks in straight sets. Preston faces Taylor Townsend, who defeated Roland-Garros finalist Maja Chwalinska.
But Aleks Vukic could not replicate her feat, going down in five sets – 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 – to new Japanese rising star Rei Sakamoto, who ended his great countryman Kei Nishikori’s grand slam career in qualifying and appears poised to become a tour force in the years ahead.
Former junior world No.1 Sakamoto looked on the verge of collapsing physically when the fifth set started a day earlier, but re-energised his hopes with a series of big and bold shots to break Vukic in the opening game.
The 20-year-old never let Vukic back in, not offering the Australian even a single break point in the decider, including returning to complete the match on Tuesday (AEST) after rain forced the fifth set to be held over with Sakamoto serving at 4-3.
Aleks Vukic could not hold off his 20-year-old rival Rei Sakamoto.Getty Images
Like Vukic, Birrell had plenty of time to think about her plight when her match was suspended overnight while she was a set down to Marcinko and locked at three-all in the tiebreak, having already saved a match point.
The 28-year-old lost the first point on resumption to edge closer to defeat, but that only sharpened her resolve against an opponent who boasted more power but arguably less willingness to fight. Birrell reeled off four consecutive points to level the match and set up a fierce battle.
The key moments came early in the final set.
Marcinko dragged a forehand wide to concede serve in the third game, but menacingly brought up a break-back point on three separate occasions, only for Birrell to have an answer each time.
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The Queenslander staved off the last two with rare aces before going 3-1 up when Marcinko dumped a forehand volley into the net. It was not the last time she would have to fend off a Marcinko rally.
Already 15-30 down trying to push 4-2 ahead, Birrell had to hang in as Marcinko aggressively ripped groundstrokes at her. The problem for the Croatian was she could not find a way through the dogged Australian, who absorbed her rival’s best then capitalised once she inevitably faltered.
Birrell was spared from having to serve the contest out when Marcinko double-faulted to go match-point down before putting one last forehand into the net to send Team Birrell into raptures.
The schedule is full of Australians again, with Rinky Hijikata, Alexei Popyrin and Maya Joint all still to come, while seven-time major quarter-finalist Alex de Minaur starts his campaign on Wednesday.
Hijikata has enjoyed a solid American hardcourt swing, but faces a tough opener against third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, while Popyrin and Joint meet Grigor Dimitrov – who had to qualify as his injury comeback continues – and Liudmila Samsonova, respectively.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka’s bid for a title three-peat began with a 6-2, 6-4 demolition of Camila Osorio, but her world No.1 ranking remains under serious threat from Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff.
Seven-time grand slam champion and 2025 winner Carlos Alcaraz beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in his first match since April after an extended layoff with a wrist injury.
The day’s biggest upset so far came courtesy of Greek former world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who defied his run of outs to shockingly oust Cincinnati Masters champion and title fancy Arthur Fils in four sets.
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