Can our Aussie women rise to the occasion as they learn their first round US Open opponents?
- Brett Phillips
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Five Australian women have learnt their first round fate in the US Open main draw ahead of Sunday's start to the final major of the year, with some qualifying hopefuls wanting to join them.
Here is the breakdown of the match ups:
Kasatkina in a very patchy season on tour (17-19) has saved her best runs for the majors - 4th round AO, 4th round French Open and 3rd round Wimbledon, so if that is anything to go by the newest Aussie might be able to string a few wins together and she has made the fourth round twice in New York. In saying that Ruse's best run at a major came a year ago here at the US Open making the the third, along the way taking the scalp of Wimbledon champion of 2024 Barbora Krejcikova. It will be their first meeting.
Maya Joint #43 vs. Qualifier
Here twelve months ago a then 18 year old Joint won her first main draw major singles match at the US Open.
This year she is yet to win a grand slam match at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, so would love to replicate what she did in New York. 42 match wins for the year, inside the top 50, two titles and a qualifier tbc as her first round opponent.
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Tomljanovic will compete in her 12th US Open main draw, her best result coming in 2022 making the quarter finals. In eight appearences since at the majors she hasn't gone past the second round. 20-19 win loss this year, taking on 2023 champion Gauff, who since winning Roland Garros has gone 5-4 on tour, struggles with her serve and making a coaching change right on the eve of the tournament. Gauff won their only previous meeting 6-3, 6-0 at last years Paris Olympics.
Birrell is making her 12th appearance at the majors, her best result a third round showing at the Australian Open in 2019. She is 0-7 across the last three years in the first round of gthe slams and faces a tough match against the recent Wimbledon finalist. It will be the pairs first meeting.
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Gibson has been given the reciprocal wildcard and is right on the cusp of entering the the top 100. It will be the 21 year olds fourth main draw and first in New York after losing in the final round of qualifying twelve months ago. Her opponent will play her fifth US Open as the 28th seed. Her best results have come at the Australian Open the last two years making the 4th and 3rd round respectively. A first meeting.
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