Thiem Earns First US Open Win Since 2020 Title, Shelton Advances
Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem earned his first match win at a major since 2021 on Monday, when he produced a clean-hitting performance to overcome 25th seed Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in New York.
The Austrian, who reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in 2021, played consistently throughout the one-hour, 54-minute clash. The 29-year-old struck 26 winners and committed 21 unforced errors, improving to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Bublik.
"It was a very good match, basically from the first moment," Thiem said. "It's a pretty special victory, because it's the first since two-and-a-half years at Grand Slams... It's great. Especially here at the US Open with all the past and all the memories I have here."
[ATP APP]
Thiem has tasted success in New York before, having defeated Alexander Zverev in the 2020 final to win his maiden major title. With his victory against Bublik, Thiem snapped a six-match losing streak at Slams. He lost his first-round match in New York in 2022. His best result this season was a run to the final in Kitzbühel in August.
The former World No. 3 Thiem will play #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton in the second round after the 20-year-old defeated Pedro Cachin 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Shelton is making his second appearance at the US Open, having fallen in the first round last year. The American is aiming to earn a series of wins in New York to boost his chances of qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals for the first time. The 20-year-old is currently fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah.