the French Caroline Garcia and Ugo Humbert eliminated in the first round; Grand Slam victory for Arthur Fils

It’s a double blow for the French camp at the US Open. Caroline Garcia, 7^e world player and semi-finalist last year, and the French number 1, Ugo Humbert, 33ᵉ world player, both lost on Tuesday August 29, in the first round. On the other hand, the young Arthur Fils, won his first match at a Grand Slam.

Eliminated by the Chinese Yafan Wang (114^efrom qualifying) 6-4, 6-1 in 1 h 10, Caroline Garcia was the best French chance in the tournament even if, since the start of the season, the 29-year-old Lyonnaise has not been able to find the level of 2022.

After an explosive American summer last year (title at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati then semi-final at Flushing Meadows, her first Grand Slam), she had won the Masters at the end of the year in Fort Worth (Texas) and had risen to 4^e world rank.

On Tuesday, she committed too many unforced errors (34) to worry her opponent, to whom she offered the match on a sixth double fault. Wang, who has lost twice in the second round in three appearances in New York, will face Briton Katie Boulter (61^e) to try to advance to the third round, which would be his best Grand Slam result.

The French number 1 ends her Grand Slam season with her worst result, in a tournament where she had nevertheless achieved her best performance last year.. In 2023, Garcia lost in the round of 16 at the Australian Open, in the second round at Roland Garros and in the third at Wimbledon.

The regrets of Ugo Humbert

Luck did not smile more on the French number 1, Ugo Humbert who nevertheless approached the US Open as the top seed (number 29). It was not enough for him to get rid of the Italian Matteo Berrettini, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. For Messin, the first round was a trap against the Roman, former world number 6 who fell to 36ᵉ place. Because the muscular giant (1.96 m for 95 kg) remains a threat on a fast surface, as evidenced by his recent round of 16 at Wimbledon, during which he took a set from the future winner, Carlos Alcaraz.

Throughout the meeting, the Italian imposed his game, all in variations, and showed that he was still capable of high-class shots and dazzling acceleration on the forehand. “He played a good game, although I think I helped him”noted Humbert.

Under pressure from the Italian’s game, Humbert showed signs of annoyance, throwing his cap to the ground at the break after the second set was lost. “What really hurt me was that I had opportunities to come back to the first [set], then to break at the start of the second. But on these points, I did not play, so I have many, many regrets.reacted the Frenchman.

The Messin nevertheless noted reasons for satisfaction in his American tour, which saw him notably reach the semi-finals in Newport and Atlanta. “I feel that I have made enormous progress in many things, physically, tennis, I am sometimes starting to play at a very good level.he explained. But I miss the little trick to try to play well in big tournaments and beat good players. »

In the second round, Berrettini will come up against another Frenchman, Arthur Rinderknech, easy winner of the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman on Tuesday.

First Grand Slam victory for Arthur Fils

For his part, the young Frenchman Arthur Fils triumphed, for his first match at the US Open, over the seeded number 24, the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, after a marathon match, won 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.

This is the first Grand Slam victory in the career of the 19-year-old Ile-de-France resident and considered a great hope for French tennis. Once successful, the 48^e world player fell on his back, his arms crossed. After a warm embrace with his opponent, he let out a long, victorious cry. “It’s my best victory (…) I learned that I could last five sets against a very good opponent”he estimated.

Led one set to nothing, then two sets to one, Arthur Fils managed to get back into the game each time, mastering his nerves to win after 3 hours 58 minutes of play. In the second round, the one who was still pointing at the 252ᵉ world place in January will face the Italian Matteo Arnaldi, 61ᵉ world player, qualified after the abandonment of the Australian Jason Kubler.