US Open 2023: Holger Rune stunned, Dominic Thiem tames Alexander Bublik for first Grand Slam win in over two years

Updated 29/08/2023 at 13:23 GMT

Holger Rune suffered a shock first-round exit at the 2023 US Open, losing to Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena in four sets. Dominic Thiem, meanwhile, made light work of Alexander Bublik in his first-round tie, completing a straight-sets victory in less than two hours. The 2020 champion will play Ben Shelton of the United States in the next round after the American beat Pedro Cachin in four sets.

Holger Rune

Image credit: Eurosport

Holger Rune suffered a shock first-round exit at the US Open, losing 3-6 6-4 3-6 2-6 to Roberto Carballes Baena.

The fourth seed was expected to feature in the latter stages of the final Grand Slam of the year but was stunned by his Spanish opponent.

Carballes Baena, ranked 63rd in the world, took advantage of Rune's error-strewn display to capture one of the biggest wins of his career.

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Rune recovered to level the match after losing the first set, but continued to struggle on his serve and eventually succumbed to the pressure.

In total he was broken seven times and hit 43 errors as he was beaten in four sets.

Dominic Thiem turned back the clock at Flushing Meadows as he completed a 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over 25th seed Alexander Bublik in the first round of the US Open.

Thiem, the 2020 champion, started tentatively before breaking Bublik to move 4-2 clear in the first. He was broken straight back but recovered immediately to re-establish his advantage before serving out comfortably for a one-set lead.

The second followed a similar pattern as Thiem further asserted his dominance with an early break to move 2-1 ahead.

Bublik was powerless to halt the momentum and was broken again as Thiem raced two sets clear.

Thiem then secured another break at the start of the third before overcoming a late wobble to see out his first Grand Slam victory in over two years.

"It's amazing. Today is pretty special because I hadn't won a match since Australia [the Australian Open] in 2021, so that's a very long time," Thiem said in his on-court interview.

"I couldn't have wished for a better place like here with all the memories and past experiences - some good ones, some rough ones, especially on this court. I'm super, super happy."

The pair split 53 winners, but the match was ultimately decided by the mistakes that flowed from Bublik’s racquet.

Bublik served 17 double faults and notched up 44 unforced errors in an erratic display that consigned him to a third consecutive first-round Grand Slam exit.

Thiem will play America’s Ben Shelton next, who beat Pedro Cachin in four sets.

The highly rated 20-year-old got to the quarter-finals on his Grand Slam debut in Australia and showed all his battling qualities on his first appearance in the main draw at Flushing Meadows.

After losing the first set to the Argentine, he recovered to win 1-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 in just over two hours.

Casper Ruud held off Emilio Nava to come through his first round encounter 7-6(5) 3-6 6-4 7-6(5). The fifth seed was on the receiving end of 72 winners and coughed up 11 break points but eventually prevailed in four tight sets and will take on Zhizhen Zhang next.

On a good day for the American contingent, world No. 9 Taylor Fritz stormed to a 6-2 6-1 6-2 victory over Steve Johnson. Fritz hit 10 aces, 34 winners and just 10 unforced errors in a clinical performance.

He is joined in the second round by Tommy Paul, who beat Stefano Travaglia in four sets, and Frances Tiafoe, who completed a 6-2 7-5 6-1 victory over fellow American Learner Tien on Arthur Ashe.

Richard Gasquet was beaten in five sets by Fabian Marozsan.

Gasquet, 37, fought back to force a decider but went down 6-3 6-1 6-7(5) 6-7(1) 6-2.

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