Australia's top-ranked player Alex de Minaur progressed to the second round of the US Open on Wednesday following a commanding straight-sets victory over Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri. The world No. 7 defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-2, 6-4, though his path to the win was complicated by scheduling disruptions and adverse weather conditions that have created a significant backlog at the tournament.
De Minaur's opening match had already been postponed to day four of the competition, and once play finally began, a two-hour rain interruption further delayed proceedings. Despite these obstacles, the Australian displayed clinical tennis throughout, breaking Guerrieri's serve twice in each of the three sets. He surrendered his own serve only once, during an attempt to close out the match at 5-2 in the final set. According to live match records, the contest took place on Court 11 on 2 September 2026.
The scheduling complications stemming from New York's persistent rainfall have created a demanding situation for de Minaur. To capture the championship, he must win seven best-of-five-set matches within a 12-day window—an ambitious timeline that requires consecutive victories with minimal rest. His next opponent will be Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, ranked 70th, in a second-round fixture scheduled for Thursday, with the possibility of another match on Friday should he prevail.
How has the weather affected other competitors?
The tournament's weather-related delays have had varying impacts across the draw. Former champion Daniil Medvedev and American home favourite Alex Michelsen both advanced to round three before de Minaur even took to the court for his opening match. When de Minaur finally commenced his campaign, he moved swiftly through the opening stages, establishing a commanding 6-2, 4-2 advantage in just 49 minutes before rain forced both players from the court. Upon returning to Court 11, he completed the victory in under an hour.
Which Australian players have been eliminated?
Australia's women's contingent has suffered early exits from the tournament. Taylah Preston, the 20-year-old wildcard who became the first Australian woman to reach round two, was also the first to depart. According to tournament records, Preston fell to American Taylor Townsend in a lopsided 6-1, 6-1 defeat completed in just 48 minutes on 2 September 2026. Townsend, ranked world No. 96, dominated the encounter against Preston, who held a ranking of world No. 100.
Australian women's No. 1 Daria Kasatkina also exited the draw, though her departure came only after an extended battle against Spain's Paula Badosa. The pair's match was interrupted by rain early in the second set while Kasatkina trailed 6-1, 1-2. Officials suspended play immediately after Kasatkina saved a third match point, forcing a resumption 15 hours later. According to live rankings data, Kasatkina held a WTA ranking of No. 59 while Badosa was ranked No. 83 at the time of their encounter.
When the match resumed, Badosa held a 5-4 advantage and deuce in the second set. Kasatkina mounted a spirited resistance, saving her first two match points during an extraordinary 22-point game while serving at 3-5 in the second set, then fending off six additional match points. She also created two break-point opportunities to level the score at 5-5, but Badosa, a former world No. 2, ultimately prevailed to secure a second-round meeting with 2023 champion Coco Gauff.
What lies ahead for remaining Australian competitors?
Two Australian women remain in contention at the tournament. Maya Joint faces ninth seed Elina Svitolina in her second-round match, seeking to reach the third round in New York for a third consecutive year. Kim Birrell takes on Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, believing she can upset the Russian after her impressive victory over world No. 5 and 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula at the French Open earlier in the year.
Key Facts
- De Minaur's first-round match was postponed to day four and further delayed by a two-hour rain interruption before his 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Guerrieri
- The Australian must win seven best-of-five-set matches in 12 days to win the championship due to weather-related scheduling backlog
- Taylah Preston became the first Australian woman to reach round two and the first to exit, losing 6-1, 6-1 to Taylor Townsend in 48 minutes
- Daria Kasatkina's first-round match against Paula Badosa was interrupted by rain and resumed after 15 hours, with Kasatkina saving multiple match points before losing
- De Minaur's next opponent is Botic van de Zandschulp, with matches scheduled for Thursday and potentially Friday if he advances
