Jacob Fearnley was the sole British winner as Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal exited the US Open first round, the latter losing a bizarre match against Beatriz Haddad Maia in which both players suffered with cramp.

On a tough Tuesday in which qualifier Fran Jones and lucky loser Billy Harris also made first-round exits on their US Open debuts, each losing in straight sets, Fearnley salvaged some British pride with a 7-5 6-2 5-7 6-4 victory against Roberto Bautista Agut.

The Scot joined Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie in round two.

“I’m pretty tired right now,” said Fearnley, who served 18 double faults in a debut victory. “I don’t really know what to make of it. Obviously to get over the line is really good. I was playing great first two sets and then got a little bit nervous and Roberto makes you earn it. When you’re nervous, that’s going to have its effect.”

Fearnley’s service woes began early on but reached a nadir in the third set, where he was broken three times and hit eight double faults, nearly all at crucial moments.

But he responded very well and eventually made it across the line after three hours and 24 minutes – the longest match of his career.

He believes more experience will help address the double-fault issue, saying: “Even though I’ve had some pretty big match experience, it’s still all relatively new for me and being in these kind of moments and these matches, it still gives me a lot of nerves.

“Maybe more than it necessarily should. I’m sounding like I’m a nervous wreck, I’m not, I’m fine. Just sometimes in those big moments, I need to be a little bit more clear and that will come with experience. It’s not something I’m worried about.”

Kartal edged out in dramatic tussle

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Highlights of the US Open match between Sonay Kartal and Beatriz Haddad Maia

In what was also Kartal’s main draw debut in New York, the British No 3 was edged out by Haddad Maia in a tight opening set 6-3, before she battled back in impressive fashion to take the second 6-1, only to be the first to struggle with cramp early in the decider.

With Kartal limited, Haddad Maia raced into a 4-0 lead with a double break, and was 30-0 up on her next service game before she suddenly also cramped up.

It led to Kartal taking the next four points to claim one break back, Haddad Maia barely able to move, but the Brazilian summoned the strength from somewhere to take the next two games and clinch victory.

Both of the final two games went to multiple deuces as the two players struggled to move freely; Kartal had opportunities in both, but Haddad Maia eventually converted her third match point to secure a 6-3 1-6 6-1 win.

Boulter’s Grand Slam struggles continue

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Highlights of the US Open match between Katie Boulter and Marta Kostyuk

Boulter’s Grand Slam struggles continued as she was beaten by Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk in straight sets, 6-4 6-4.

Boulter has not been in the third round of one of the majors in eight attempts, the 2023 US Open the last time she did so, and the British No 2 is now set to drop outside of the world’s top 50 with her latest defeat.

Boulter’s only previous match against Kostyuk came in the final of the San Diego Open last spring in which she secured her maiden WTA 500 title.

Here, Boulter battled back from a break down in both sets, only to hand the advantage back immediately to her opponent on each occasion.

The 29-year-old showed further fight when saving five match points on her own serve down 3-5 in the second set, while she then quickly went 0-40 on Kostyuk as she threatened to restore parity and kick-start a comeback bid.

But Kostyuk repelled that threat, taking the next six points to secure her safe passage through to the second round.

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Boulter lost a point against Kostyuk as her shot bounced off the top of the net and she walked away not realising the ball was still in play!

Jones and Harris beaten on New York debuts

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Highlights of the US Open match between Francesca Jones and Eva Lys

After a nervous start, Jones showed fight in the second set of her defeat to Eva Lys before going down 6-0 7-5 to the German, ranked 59th in the world.

Jones lost all of her opening five service games but at least broke Lys twice to start the second set to finally get herself on the board.

Things stayed on serve for the remainder of the second set until, with Jones serving to force a tiebreak, was broken decisively by Lys, who clinched victory with her second match point.

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Highlights of the US Open match between Billy Harris and Felix Auger Aliassime

Harris also went down in straight sets to Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-4 7-6 (10-8) 6-4, albeit that does not tell the whole story in a match lasting just short of three hours.

Harris battled back from a break down in both the first and third sets as he made Auger-Aliassime sweat, while he was a break up and spurned three set points when crucially losing the second.

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