AMERICAN talent Sofia Kenin survived a three-set thriller against Emma Raducanu in what was a battle of two young former Grand Slam winners who have overcome obstacles since their wins to rise back into the Top 100. Kenin won in front of home fans 6-1 3-6 6-4 to advance through to the Round of 64, with Flushing Meadows of course the destination of Raducanu’s jaw-dropping major title.

In what was only the second recorded time two Grand Slam winners have faced off in the first round of another Grand Slam, it was the American who raced out of the blocks to win the first set 6-1 in quick time. She broke three times from seven chances and saved all three break point opportunities in the first, winning the last six games of the set after Raducanu held her opening service game.

The Brit snapped Kenin’s run of consecutive games with a break in the first game of the second set, only for Kenin to break immediately back. At 1-2 down and back on serve, Raducanu reeled off five of the last six games to step up and level the match at a set apiece and give herself the momentum coming into the deciding set.

In eerily similar circumstances but with the script flipped, Kenin won four of the next five games from 1-2 down to secure a break and go ahead 5-3. Though Raducanu forced her to serve for the match, Kenin did just that, winning the final game to love with a couple of winners and two backhand unforced errors off the Brit’s racquet to secure the victory.

“It was a roller coaster match,” Kenin said post-match. “I’m just super happy to have won it.”

Kenin out-hit Raducanu with a massive 45 winners to her opponent’s 24, though also hit double the amount of unforced errors (40-20). That power helped her get on top when it counted, winning 50 per cent of her second serve points – compared to Raducanu’s 32 per cent – and winning a total of 44 per cent of her receiving points.

After her two-hour and 11-minute epic, the American will head into the Round of 64 against in-form compatriot Jessica Pegula. The sixth seed proved too good for retiring countrywoman Shelby Rogers in the clash.

AROUND THE COURTS

The biggest shock of the day was in another all-American clash where Caroline Dolehide showed little room for emotions, ending 11th seed Danielle Collins‘ US Open career with a come-from-behind victory. Despite being outplayed in the first set when Collins hit 16 winners to three and only eight unforced errors to seven, the higher ranked American went completely wayward in the second with 30 unforced errors – albeit to 17 winners – and Dolehide was able to work her way back into the match and eventually close it out in two hours and 45 minutes, 1-6 7-5 6-4.

In a battle between two former Grand Slam winners, Japan’s Naomi Osaka caused what could still be considered an upset, downing 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko on Louis Armstrong Stadium. That was on the same court as Dolehide’s upset win, while in between, fifth seed Jasmine Paolini avoided another former US Open winner causing an upset, defeating Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in three sets, 6-7 6-2 6-4.

Life was much more simpler for other number ones past and present with Iga Swiatek and Caroline Wozniacki racing into the second round. It was not as promising for the Australians with Destanee Aiava fighting hard but going down to Elena Rybakina in straight sets, while teenager Taylah Preston only won two games against 25th seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Fellow Aussies Arina Rodionova and Daria Saville also lost, while Mexican Renata Zarazua upset 28th seed Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.