US Open tennis 2026: Pegula, Boulter and Medvedev advance while Norrie exits on day one

Key events

Boulter wins through to the second round after an impressive deciding set where she upped the tempo. Lee tried to hang in but was unable to keep up with Boulter’s aggression.

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Lee 4-6, 6-4, 0-5 Boulter A booming backhand sees Boulter hold to 15 and move to one game from the second round.

Lee 4-6, 6-4, 0-4 Boulter The finish line is in sight for Boulter after a crushing forehand brings a game that lasted over 10 minutes to an end.

Lee 4-6, 6-4, 0-3 Boulter The Briton is playing much more aggressively in this set, frequently pushing Lee back. It brings three break points but the American is hanging in there. We’re on the fifth deuce.

Lee 4-6, 6-4, 0-3 Boulter An excellent second serve at 40-30, which Lee returns beyond the baseline, consolidates Boulter’s lead.

Lee 4-6, 6-4, 0-2 Boulter Lee faces two break points after a powerful Boulter forehand. She saves the first with her eighth ace but goes long during a rally in the next point. Boulter has bounced back after the disappointment of the second set.

Lee 4-6, 6-4, 0-1 Boulter The Briton holds to 15 at the start of the third set.

Lee 4-6, 6-4 Boulter The American levels. Lee has set point but Boulter’s aggressive return forces an error. Lee bounces back with an ace then Boulter can only return the next serve into the net. We’re going into a deciding set.

Carol Young Suh Lee prepares to serve against Katie Boulter. Photograph: Robert Prange/Getty Images

Lee 4-6, 5-3 Boulter The Briton is taken to deuce in a scrappy game and Lee takes advantage to move one game from winning the second set.

Lee 4-6, 4-3 Boulter: Lee holds to 30 to keep pushing for the deciding set. She definitely feels the stronger player, if only by a touch, at the moment.

That is me done for the night. Stephen Flynn is your man to take you through to the close. Enjoy!

Lee 4-6, 3-3 Boulter: Boulter still throwing in the odd double fault for her fifth of the match but Lee throws in an unforced error that the Briton punishes to level the second set.

Lee 4-6, 3-2 Boulter: Lee showcases some more guile with slice carving Boulter out wide and the American finishes the game off.

Lee 4-6, 2-2 Boulter: The American has the bit between her teeth taking on Boulter by forcing her to move as much as possible but a couple of cheap points help keep this on serve.

Lee 4-6, 2-1 Boulter: Boulter fails to convert a break point with an unforced error and makes another as Lee holds serve nicely with lots of changes of pace using her slice and slower serving.

Shout out to Jaume Munar who just beat Terence Atmane in five sets after going two down to start the match. The Spaniard won in 4 hours and 53 minutes 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6, 7-5. Never say die.

Lee 4-6 Boulter: A wild forehand from Boulter puts her in an early deficit and one in the net doubles the arrears. A big backhand finishes off a long rally, good composure from Boulter. An unforced error from Lee sets us at 30-all. Forehand miss number three of the game and Boulter is looking nervy until she sends a rocket down to save the break point.

Deuce. A backhand in the net brings another break point. Saved. Big serve out wide, set point. Lee stays patient and charges the net to take it back to deuce. Boulter finds her range with the forehand to bring up another set point but Lee latches on to the first serve and catches Boulter cold. Deuce. Bombs away, advantage Boulter. Lee charges forward again and saves again. Oooh forehand hits the tape from Boulter but Lee finds the net after a long rally. Deuce. Would you believe Boulter misses another forehand that was on a plate. Fourth try at a break for Lee. Massive serve down the T. Boulter finally gets over the line on her fourth try.

Phew.

Lee 4-5 Boulter: Three misses from Boulter and Lee says thank you very much after a fourth which keeps the American in the set.

Lee 3-5 Boulter: Katie Boulter gets through another service game but Lee makes it tricky after fighting back from 40-0 down to deuce. 10 winners off the Boulter forehand in the match but two double faults in the game so not all smooth sailing.

Lee 3-4 Boulter: Lee has no answer for more punishing groundstrokes from Boulter who forces the game to deuce with a big crosscourt forehand. Break point but Lee saves with a strong forehand of her own and another puts the American on top with the advantage. Game.

Lee 2-4 Boulter: The British no 1 holds to love with some bully behaviour crushing the ball past Lee at every opportunity.

Lee 2-3 Boulter: Lee races out to a 40-0 lead with an ace and an unreturnable serve and stays ahead to close out the game from 40-30.

Lee 1-3 Boulter: The big hitting shows no signs of stopping. Lee staying in touch in that game but unfortunately mistimes a second serve return and sends it out to lost the game. Should probably have gone to deuce.

Lee 1-2 Boulter: Boulter is attacking the second serve of Lee but the American’s heavy spin is countering the dynamite coming her way. From deuce Lee struggles to contain a big forehand but saves the break point with a serve straight at Boulter’s head. A cheeky drop shot winner is followed up by a double fault to send it back to deuce.

Ace. Next Boulter batters a second serve and keeps her foot down. Deuce. Massive crosscourt forehand winner from Boulter gives the shot for a double break. Overcooks a forehand. Deuce. Wow. Boulter wins the battle of the big forehands, a 16-shot epic where neither were trying for any angle at all just smoking it down the middle. Another miss from Boulter. Deuce. Error from Lee. Fourth break point of the game and Boulter misses a crosscourt inside out forehand. Deuce. Two good firsts and Lee holds. Gritty.

Lee 0-2 Boulter: Lee stays in the rallies and Boulter goes too big on two points but the Briton forces an error to take it to 30-all. Boulter imposes herself to move into the net and finish the point for 40-30. Too much again sends it to deuce. Positive just not quite finding her range so far. Advantage Lee after another ball flies out the back. Deuce. Bang, bang. Game, Boulter.

Carol Lee to serve first against world No 62 Katie Boulter. The Briton makes early inroads with some power hitting an a lovely lob to set up two break points to start the match. A couple of tricky serves drags it back to deuce for Lee. Boulter crushes a weak second serve to make a third break point. Job done. 1-0 Boulter after a shank.

Pliskova break Wandewinkel again for a 4-0 in the final set. Meanwhile, Katie Boulter is warming up on Court 5 now for her match against world no 140 Carol Young Suh Lee of America via the Northern Mariana Islands.

Where to now?! Well, former women’s world No 1 Karolina Pliskova is on court. One of those weird No 1s who hasnt’t won a grand slam. Top player though. The Czech leads Hanne Wandewinkel 6-2, 5-7, 3-0. Bit of work still to be done to make the second round, lets see how she goes.

Norrie sends what should have been an easy winner wildly long and that about sums his day up. Take nothing away from the Frenchman who wins his first main draw match at the US Open. Truly a breakout moment for the 22-year-old, stunningly consistent play and accurate serving.

Luca van Assche plays a forehand shot during his win over Cameron Norrie. Photograph: Sarah Yenesel/EPA

And that is that. The world No 110 and British qualifier Toby Samuel beats Tomas Mahac with his second match point. He has been so impressive in beating a seasoned pro for the first main draw grand slam win of his career. Well played.

Toby Samuel celebrates his first-round win over Tomas Machac. Photograph: Javier García/Shutterstock

Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 5-2 Mahac: Samuel breaks again and is serving for the match!!!

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 3-5 Van Assche: Norrie fluffs a drop shot at 40-15 up to put a bit of needless pressure on himself. Incredible rally from the pair who gets to deuce from 40-0 down. Danger for Norrie. The internal monologue will be cooking. But so is the backhand and he has the advantage. Deuce again though. The Van Assche forehand is too good. Norrie’s is too bad. Huge chance for the Frenchman with a break point. RELENTLESS hitting draws the error from Norrie. He is just everywhere on the court. Van Assche serving for the match.

Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 4-2 Mahac: The world No 110 survives a marathon service game to move two games from his first main draw singles win against a player who has made the US Open fourth round in both of the past two years. Keep going!

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 3-4 Van Assche: The Frenchman gets his nose in front with an easy hold to stop the rot. Pressure back on Norrie to stay in the match.

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 3-3 Van Assche: Norrie keeps the pressure up with an impressive hold. The serve is looking better by the game for the veteran 29th seed. Can he break again?

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 2-3 Van Assche: Did I say it was going one way? Erm, Norrie breaks back for 3-2. Egg on my face.

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 1-3 Van Assche: Big trouble for Cam as he is down 0-30. Shank. 0-40. He is struggling mightily behind is forehand. Game. Too easy for Van Assche. This is going one way.

Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 3-2 Mahac: Quick hold from Samuel is just what the doctor ordered. Then a stunning winner down the line on the Mahac serve puts him 30-0 up. A crosscourt passing shot sets up three break points. Here we GO! And Mahac sends a ball well wide. WOW! 2-0 down, 3-2 up …

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 1-2 Van Assche: No inroads at all right now for Norrie on the Van Assche serve. The Frenchman finds the line with a forehand to take the game.

Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 1-2 Mahac: Samuel fires back with a break of his own just like that. Superb. Horrible error from Mahac to dump a short ball into the net with Samuel at sixes and sevens.

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 1-1 Van Assche: Good recovery from Norrie to level the fourth set with a strong service game of his own.

Samuel 6-2, 6-3, 0-2 Mahac: Samuel saves two break points but succumbs to the third. Was never going to go all his own way.

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6, 0-1 Van Assche: It is difficult to overstate how well Luca van Assche is playing right now. He escapes two of the most punishing rallies of the match with the plaudits for 30-0 after looking in trouble in both. He holds to love. What a start. This is a breakout moment for the 22-year-old if he knocks off the 29th seed.

The big Russian serves it out for a handy straight sets win to make the second round in the Big Apple. He dials up his 10th ace in the final game. Nostrovia!

Norrie 7-6 (6), 2-6, 2-6 Van Assche: The passing shots are in full flow from the Frenchman and so are more and more and more unforced errors from Norrie. Out again. Set over. 10 unforced errors from Norrie plays one from Van Assche in that frame. He is now one set from his first main draw win at Flushing Meadows.

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