Top seed Alexander Zverev is facing a battle to survive his first round clash at the US Open.
Zverev won the first set against Lorenzo Songeo 6-4, only for the Italian to respond by taking the second and third sets 6-3 7-6.
The last top seed to be knocked out in the first round of a men’s singles grand slam was Lleyton Hewitt at the 2002 Australian Open.
Zverev, who won his maiden grand slam title and was runner-up to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, is looking to win a second grand slam after Sinner withdrew with injury, while Carlos Alcaraz is back from a long lay-off with a wrist injury.
Kokkinakis admits career at crossroads
Thanasi Kokkinakis has conceded he may have played the US Open for the final time after pulling out of his first round match due to injury.
Kokkinakis used his protected ranking to ensure he had a place in the US Open main draw, but he didn’t even make it onto court for his match against Spanish young gun Rafael Jodar on Wednesday (AEST).
The 30-year-old suffered a nasty ankle sprain last month at the Cincinnati Masters, that left him writhing on the court in pain.
Kokkinakis had been aiming to recover in time for the final grand slam of the year, but he was unable to be fit for his match in New York.
After years of dealing with countless injuries, Kokkinakis has grown frustrated with his body letting him down.
Kokkinakis said it’s a “possibility” he may have played his final US Open match.
“I’m not going to say never,” he told AAP. “The thing is I feel like the tennis part, I’ve still got a lot of good tennis left in me.
“On the limited matches that I’ve played, I’ve shown that I’m more than good enough to still compete and then beat some good players.
“But, to be honest, I’m sick of going into tournaments not feeling like I can do it physically and everyone asks me how my body is.”
He said he planned to focus on being fit for next year’s Australian Open and would reassess his career after that.
Aussies win, secure huge paydays
Alex de Minaur’s first round match against Italy’s Andrea Guerrrieri was scheduled for Wednesday (AEST) but has been postponed to Thursday (AEST) due to rain in New York.
It means the sixth seed, Australia’s highest ranked player, will be playing his first round match on the fourth day of the US Open and will have a condensed schedule going forward in the tournament.
Australia’s strong start to the US Open continued with Dane Sweeny and Tristan Schoolkate winning through to the second round at Flushing Meadows.
Sweeney defeated France’s Corentin Moutet 7-6 6-4 3-0 in a walkover — he was well on top when his opponent retired midway through the third set.
Moutet wanted to retire before calling for the physio, but after being told by the umpire he couldn’t retire, Moutet called for the physio and received treatment before stopping the match soon after.
Schoolkate defeated the USA’s Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 3-6 6-3 6-4, firing 25 aces to move into the second round.
Sweeny and Schoolkate join fellow Australians Alexei Popyrin, James Duckworth, Kim Birrell, Taylah Preston and Maya Joint in the second round.
The successful Aussie contingent will pocket $190,000 (AUD$265,000) each for reaching the second round.
Retiring Frenchman Gael Monfils defeated Dani Vallegjo 2-6 6- 6-2 6-0 to reach the second round on his 40th birthday.
Monfils turned back the clock in a blistering performance which featured a trademark mid-air forehand rocket winner.
Originally published as US Open: Top seed’s huge scare in 24-year first, Kokkinakis’ brutal admission after withdrawal