Australians Shine at US Open Opening Days

On a humid New York day that belonged to the heavyweights, it was the Australians who stole the show.

Five of them are into the second round of the US Open, a haul worth at least $AU265,000 each and a combined $1.325 million already banked. The money is a nice headline. The tennis was better.

Duckworth stuns Arnaldi

James Duckworth delivered the upset that shook the men’s draw, taking out 30th seed and French Open semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi in four gripping sets.

He dropped the opener 5-7, then flipped the match on its head.

The 32-year-old, riding a hot streak of form, began to lean into his serve, step up on returns and bully the Italian off the baseline. He reeled off the next two sets 6-3 6-2, and suddenly Arnaldi, a player tipped for a deep run, looked short of answers.

The fourth set turned into a knife-edge tiebreak. Duckworth, who has known more than his share of injuries and setbacks, refused to blink. He edged it 10-8 to complete a 5-7 6-3 6-2 7-6 victory and one of the biggest wins of his career.

A boilover, and a statement that his form is no mirage.

Popyrin floors Dimitrov

If Duckworth’s win rattled the seeds, Alexei Popyrin’s result sent another jolt through the locker room.

Facing former World No.3 and grand slam semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov, the World No.130 walked into Arthur Ashe country with a battered recent history — injuries, poor results, long weeks of doubt. He walked out with a 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 triumph and his first grand slam win in a while that truly looked like the old Popyrin.

Dimitrov controlled the opening set, his variety and experience telling. Then the match flipped. Popyrin tightened his game, cut the errors, and started unloading from the back of the court. His serve grew heavier, his forehand more savage.

The Bulgarian, usually so fluid, began to look rushed. Popyrin swept the last three sets, 6-3 6-2 6-2, to underline that his ranking does not match his ceiling when his body finally cooperates.

Birrell’s sleepless breakthrough

For Kim Birrell, this was about more than a second-round cheque. It was about finally cracking a tournament that had repeatedly turned her away.

The World No.71 arrived in New York with three first-round US Open exits behind her — 2023, 2024 and 2025. This time, Petra Marcinko stood between her and that elusive first win.

Marcinko took the opening set 6-3 and forced Birrell into a tiebreak in the second. Then the rain came, suspending the match overnight and gifting both players a restless night and a reset.

Birrell returned with a different edge. She saved a match point, dragged the contest into a tiebreak, and took it 7-4 to level the match. With that, the tension broke. She rolled through the deciding set 6-3 to seal a 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory and her maiden US Open singles win.

There is a practical side to the triumph too. Birrell is due to marry her coach Matt Fraser at the end of the year, and the $AU265,000 payday will travel home with her.

"Oh my gosh, I don't think I'll be spending it here," she said in New York. "I'll definitely save some of it. We're getting married at the end of the year so that helps a lot and maybe I'll buy some extra flowers. And we've got a mortgage. Yeah, the mortgage."

A career milestone and a wedding fund boost, all wrapped into one gritty comeback.

Joint turns season around

Maya Joint kept the Australian momentum rolling with a composed three-set win over Liudmila Samsonova, 3-6 6-2 6-2.

Samsonova, higher-ranked and more established at this level, looked in control early. Joint, though, refused to let a poor start define her afternoon. She reset, began to dictate with depth and angle, and dragged Samsonova into longer, more physical rallies.

The match swung sharply. Joint stormed through the second and third sets by identical 6-2 scorelines, a powerful answer to what has been a brutal beginning to 2026. From a “horror start” to the season to knocking off a dangerous Russian at a grand slam — that is how a campaign can change direction in a single match.

Preston sets the tone

All of it followed Taylah Preston’s early work.

Preston had already booked her place in the second round on Monday, the first Australian to move through and the one who quietly set the tone. By the end of day two, she had company — four compatriots joining her to make it five Australians alive in singles after the opening hurdle.

Each of them now guaranteed that $AU265,000 prize money, with the prospect of significantly more if they can reach the third round.

Not all smiles for Australia

It was not a perfect day.

Rinky Hijikata ran into the third seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and bowed out in four sets. He battled, but the Canadian’s class and power told in the key moments.

Aleksandar Vukic endured a marathon against Rei Sakamoto that stretched over two days due to another overnight postponement. He pushed it to a deciding set but fell short in five, a punishing way to leave a major.

Alcaraz and Sabalenka pass first tests

While the Australians were making noise, the stars at the top of the game quietly took care of business.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returned to grand slam action after a four-month layoff with a wrist injury and looked instantly at home again on Arthur Ashe Stadium. He handled Roman Safiullin 6-4 6-4 6-4, a clean, controlled performance that answered the biggest question: how would the wrist hold up?

"It's been a really tough five months for me," Alcaraz said. "Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn't decide to come back in a better tournament. It's a really special place for me."

Aryna Sabalenka, chasing a rare US Open three-peat, began her campaign with a straight-sets win over Camila Osorio, 6-2 6-4. She hit through the Colombian’s resistance, yet still had to work.

"She brought the fight," Sabalenka said. "She battled really well and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible.

"I think I played great. She's a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point, so I'm happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets."

The champions are moving, the favourites are through. And in their slipstream, a pack of Australians has turned the opening days in New York into something else entirely: an opportunity to reshape their seasons on one of the sport’s biggest stages.