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Stefanos Tsitsipas took full ownership of his disappointing second-round US Open loss to Dominic Stricker Wednesday, dismissing talk that a change in his coaching structure in recent weeks was to blame for his lackluster showing during the North American hard-court swing.

Now having failed to reach the second week of the US Open in his six career appearances in New York, the Greek said that his decision to elevate former US Open and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis to head coach over his father Apostolos this month was not a factor in his sluggish form and in his 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-3 defeat to Swiss World No. 128 Stricker.

“By no means I'm supposed to put any blame on any people or any members of my team. Everything on court is under my control and under my talents, and the way I can play this sport are shown out on the court. If I'm not able to deliver, then I'm not supposed to be doing well,” Tsitsipas said.

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“That's what happened this summer. I was not good enough to deliver and score good results. I won't blame it on anything. It's just poor performance after Los Cabos.”

Lloyd Harris and his coach, Anthony Harris, used to visit Juan Carlos Ferrero’s academy in Spain to prepare for the clay-court season. The South African would train with a 15-year-old Spaniard named Carlos Alcaraz.

“I was practising every day with Carlos. He was already hitting the forehand way bigger than me and I was like, ‘This is problematic. He's 15,’” Harris told ATPTour.com. “I was still able to beat him in sets, that was nice. But I think since then, it's been incredible to see the journey and what he’s capable of. You have so many factors that come together there. It's unbelievable, what a talent.”

On Thursday, Harris will play Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open. It will be their first ATP Head2Head clash, and Harris has plenty of respect for the top seed.

“The speed on the forehand was just incredible. The heaviness, the speed. That was definitely [his strength] at the time,” Harris said. “Obviously now you could say a lot of things. I don't want to give the guy too many compliments. I don't want to burst his bubble, but he's incredible, obviously.”

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Novak Djokovic continued his perfect record at this year’s US Open on Wednesday when he defeated Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the third round.

The Serbian won his opening match in straight sets to guarantee his return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday 11 September and was impressive again against Zapata Miralles, saving all six break points he faced to advance after two hours and two minutes. The 36-year-old has dropped just 11 games in his first two matches.

"At 36 years of age, after 20 years of coming to New York, I still have the hunger to play my best tennis on this court," Djokovic said. "I have the experience and understanding of what needs to be done in the important moments. Preserving the energy and focusing on the present moment."

Djokovic, who last appeared in New York in 2021 when he reached the final, will next meet Laslo Djere after the Serbian overcame Hugo Gaston 6-1, 6-2, 6-3.

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#NextGenATP Swiss Dominic Stricker earned his maiden Top 10 win on Wednesday at the US Open, where he upset World No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-3 to reach the third round at a major for the first time.

The 21-year-old, who is making his debut in New York, showed desire and quality throughout the four-hour, 10-minute epic to earn his second five-set win at a major. In humid conditions, the lefty rallied from 3-5 in the fourth set, while he was two points from defeat three times in the set.

"I came out today pretty well. I felt good from the first set on. It was a tough battle but I am just super happy right now," Stricker said. "I am going to enjoy the rest of the day and then I will recover for the next round.

"I was down 3-5 and then I came back in the fourth set. I don't know how, but I did it somehow and then I kept playing very high level tennis. I am a bit speechless but it is a great day."

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Taylor Fritz was one of the stars of Netflix’s hit tennis docuseries Break Point. The show followed him throughout the 2022 season as he hit highs and lows, from winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells to losing in the first round of the US Open.

With the American every step of the way was his girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, who has been committed to Fritz’s mission of helping expand tennis to the masses.

“The last couple years we’ve just developed such a good partnership,” Riddle said during a recent Break Point reunion, in conversation with Frances Tiafoe’s girlfriend Ayan Broomfield. “[With] what we’re both doing with my social stuff and his tennis, we’re just having this collective goal of him having the best career possible, and bringing tennis to a younger audience.”

Watch Full Reunion:

Riddle is very familiar with the world of content being a social media influencer. She was impressed with how Netflix producers handled the filming process.

Carlos Alcaraz’s backhand is one the fiercest weapons on the ATP Tour. The Spaniard’s devastating proficiency with two hands off that wing probably explains why his dalliance with a one-handed version of the shot did not last long.

“When I was young, I loved to try new things,” said Alcaraz on Tuesday as he clarified a journalist's suggestion that coaches had considered developing his one-hander as a kid. “Probably the one-handed backhand was one of those things that I practised for just one day. I love to do different shots, different things on court. Probably that day I watched a Roger Federer match, and I tried to imitate him.

“I think my backhand, it was improving during these years. When I was young, my forehand was my best shot. It's still my best shot, but I feel really comfortable with my backhand.”

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Alcaraz’s backhand was among several facets of his game that appeared in fine fettle Tuesday on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the top seed led 6-2, 3-2 in his US Open first-round clash against Dominik Koepfer before the German retired with an ankle injury. Alcaraz hopes to maintain that level in his second-round meeting with Lloyd Harris as he continues his defence of his US Open crown.

Jakub Mensik’s family did not play tennis. But as a boy in Prostejov, Czech Republic, the sport surrounded him. Just 100 metres away was a school that had tennis courts next to the playground. Five-hundred metres away were private courts.

At that location, there was a sign that read they were looking for a new Petra Kvitova and Tomas Berdych.

“I was watching the guys from the neighbourhood playing and watching also the little kids. They also had practices, they were starting their tennis career,” Mensik told ATPTour.com. “So then I just came to my dad or my mom and just asked them if I can play also, and of course they always wanted me to do some sports. That's how I started.”

It was fitting that on Monday when Mensik served with a two-sets-to-one lead and a 4-2 advantage in the fourth set of his match against Gregoire Barrere at the US Open, Berdych himself walked by the court as he followed his charge, fellow Czech Jiri Lehecka, to his match. The former World No. 4 very briefly looked at Court 6, and no fans recognised him.

All eyes were on Mensik, now 17, who became the youngest man since Borna Coric in 2014 to win a main draw match at the US Open. The teen’s father, Michal, works in IT and played ice hockey while his mother, Katerina, works in marketing and PR, and skied.

US Open top seed Carlos Alcaraz had an unexpectedly early night inside Arthur Ashe Stadium Tuesday when opponent Dominik Koepfer retired with the Spaniard leading 6-2, 3-2 after 60 minutes. 

The German World No. 75 suffered a freak ankle injury just six points into the match when he rolled his left ankle while moving backwards as an Alcaraz stroke sailed over the baseline.

The 29-year-old received treatment at deuce in the first game and battled until midway through the second set, when eventually the pain and risk of further injury became too much to bear.

"It's obviously not the best way to get through to the next round," said Alcaraz, who debuted an artistic sleeveless match shirt. "It's very unfortunate for him but I was feeling really good on court. It's a court I love playing in. I felt the same energy I felt last year."

Alcaraz, who will next meet South African Lloyd Harris, is attempting to become the first player to successfully defend the men’s US Open title since Roger Federer won five straight between 2004-08.

Retirement will have to wait.

Buoyed by overwhelming support from his family, friends and fellow players, John Isner made a winning start to his farewell tournament at the US Open Tuesday night with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(1) win over Argentine Facundo Diaz Acosta.

Having struggled for form and fitness for most of the year, Isner produced perhaps his most positive and aggressive performance of the season. Post match he received running hugs from eldest sons Hobbs and Mack and he was later joined on court inside Louis Armstrong Stadium by wife Maddie and their two other children Hunter Grace and Chapel, his parents, Bob and Karen, and his brother Jordan.

Many current and former players were on hand for the match, including Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey, Daniel Nestor and Jackson Withrow.

Feted by close friend and former Davis Cup teammate James Blake during a post-match ceremony, Isner held back tears as he addressed welcoming U.S. fans.

Dominic Stricker began the main draw of this year’s US Open at No. 128 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, one spot lower than he was 12 months ago. However, the Swiss is far from the same player.

“I feel better on court than I did last year. I feel like my game has improved again,” Stricker told ATPTour.com. “I'm also getting fitter body-wise, so that helps for sure. And now I hope the ranking is going to increase as well. But I think if I keep on doing my things like I'm doing right now, it's going to go higher pretty soon.”

Stricker on Wednesday will have an opportunity to reach the third round of a major for the first time when he faces seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. It is a big chance for a player who needed to save match point in the second round of qualifying against Pablo Llamas Ruiz. The match put him in one of the craziest predicaments a tennis player could confront.

Facing match point at 8/9 in the final-set tie-break, Stricker got out of trouble with a big serve and walked towards his chair as he prepared to change sides of the court. Then it began to rain, sending the players off court.

“We tried to not talk about the match at all, just to be relaxed. We played some games just to not think about it too much,” Stricker said. “But of course, you're thinking about where to serve, what to do on the next point and everything. So you actually keep on playing the match during the whole time you don't spend on court.

Bernabe Zapata Miralles never cracked the Top 150 in the ITF Junior Rankings. The Spaniard played just one major as a junior, the 2015 US Open.

“I lost in the second round against Tsitsipas I remember,” Zapata Miralles told ATPTour.com. “I won the first round, but I played so nervous.”

Some of his lasting memories from the tournament were practice sessions with his countrymen, including Feliciano Lopez and Gullermo Garcia-Lopez. Zapata Miralles remembers fondly watching Garcia-Lopez play Tomas Berdych in the third round.

The junior players at the season’s final major use a locker room in an indoor building across the venue from Arthur Ashe Stadium. But Zapata Miralles remembers getting a chance to step into the pro’s locker room once. There, one of the competitors he saw was Novak Djokovic.

The Spaniard has never practised with the Serbian nor faced him in a match. But on Wednesday, that will change when Zapata Miralles takes on the 23-time major champion.

Former US Open champion Andy Murray earned his 200th major win on Tuesday, when he overcame Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the second round in New York.

The Scot coped with Moutet’s flamboyant shotmaking throughout the two-hour, 58-minute clash, combating the Frenchman’s touch with consistent depth to advance to the second round for the 16th time. The 36-year-old also moved forward frequently, winning 69 per cent (48/70) of net points.

"It was amazing. A brilliant atmosphere against one of the most skilful players on Tour," Murray said. "He has so many ways to disrupt you, he is an exceptional player and he moves extremely well and always causes a bit of chaos. I hope it was entertaining for everyone. There were some fun points in there. I am happy to get through in straight sets because the second set was very tight."

Murray, who defeated Novak Djokovic to triumph at the hard-court Slam in 2012, is just the ninth man in history to earn 200 match wins at the majors. He will aim to make it 201 when he faces Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian saved three match points to edge Alex Molcan 6-7(9), 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(11-9) in four hours and 40 minutes.

All-time Grand Slam Men’s Singles Win Leaders

#NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils advanced on his US Open debut Tuesday, clawing past 24th seed Tallon Griekspoor in a five-set thriller to reach the second round.

The 19-year-old battled hard throughout the three-hour, 58-minute match, striking 61 winners to advance 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. Fils will next face Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2022.

Fils has enjoyed a breakthrough season on the ATP Tour, winning his first title at this level on home soil in Lyon in May. The Frenchman is currently fourth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah (953 points) and is aiming to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the first time.

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The 19-year-old will be joined in the second round by fellow #NextGenATP star Alex Michelsen. The American wild card captured a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win against Spaniard Albert-Ramos Vinolas on his major debut.

Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev wasted little time in reaching the second round at the hard-court major on Tuesday, dispatching Hungarian Attila Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.

The third seed arrived in New York holding a modest 3-2 record at ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati, but quickly found his range on Arthur Ashe Stadium to earn his 50th tour-level win of the season after one hour and 16 minutes.

"It is always good to start well," Medvedev said. "I am happy with my performance. I am looking forward to the next matches and to play for as long as possible in New York. I hope I can play better and better each match as each one is going to be more difficult."

Medvedev was locked in from deep behind the baseline to limit opportunities for his Hungarian opponent. The World No. 3 committed just 13 unforced errors and did not face a break point to set a second-round meeting against Max Purcell or Christopher O’Connell.

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‘Triple Z’ was well on his way to triple heartbreak.

Zhang Zhizhen led home favourite J.J. Wolf two sets to love and 3-0 in the third set on Monday at the US Open and later in the set served for the match. After failing to close out the match, the Chinese star found himself in a deciding set and in danger of losing at the season’s final major.

It was eerily similar to two other matches he has played in the past 12 months. In the first round of the 2022 US Open, Zhang let slip seven match points against Tim van Rijthoven. In the opening round of this year’s Australian Open, he was unable to convert a match point against Ben Shelton, who eventually reached the quarter-finals.

“Those tough matches, when you lose, there are actually so many things you can learn and so many things you can improve, which just makes you stronger,” Zhang told ATPTour.com. “That's first, because from my mental [side], some people say I have a weak mental side. But I think I'm a tough guy, strong guy, because all the time I lost those tough matches, and it still couldn't break me.

“So it is a good thing and then you go the next step and just go looking for the next match and then you improve. Especially when you lose those [matches], you know how to deal with it.”

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Novak Djokovic made short work of his first-round clash against Alexandre Muller on Monday at the US Open, where the second seed raced to a 95-minute victory in his first match at the hard-court major since 2021. On the surface it appeared a routine opening triumph for the 23-time Grand Slam champion, but Djokovic later acknowledged there was something different about his 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 win on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I was excited to go out on the court,” said the 36-year-old in his post-match press conference. “I didn't care if I started after midnight because I was looking forward to this moment for few years, to be out on the biggest stadium in our sport, the loudest stadium in our sport, playing a night session.

“It was a great joy to be stepping out on the court. I think the performance explains how I felt tonight, particularly in the first two sets. It was kind of lights-out tennis really, almost flawless, a perfect first set.”

Djokovic fired 32 winners and converted eight of 13 break points he earned in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with the World No. 84 Muller. It was a continuation of the fine form the Serbian showed in Cincinnati, where he lifted his record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 crown eight days ago at the Western & Southern Open.

Novak Djokovic guaranteed his return to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings Monday night with a commanding opening-round win over Frenchman Alexandre Muller at the US Open.

Playing his first match at Flushing Meadows since Daniil Medvedev denied him a calendar-year Grand Slam in the 2021 final, Djokovic punished the World No. 84 with nine early forehand winners as he took the first eight games of the contest and soon after the match 6-0, 6-2, 6-3. 

“The first set I started tremendously well off the box,” said Djokovic in his on-court interview. “We started quite late. Obviously, there was a ceremony between matches and I knew that we might have a late start, but nevertheless I was excited to come out on the court. It’s been a couple of years, and to come out here in front of you guys is always an honour and a pleasure here on Arthur Ashe.”

What a way to kick things off in NYC ?@DjokerNole knocks out Muller 6-0 6-2 6-3.@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/dsiL0X3yRd

Watched by former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, Djokovic dominated from start to finish, clipping 32 winners to Muller's 11 and excelling at net, winning 20 of 23 approaches.  He also dropped just five points on first serve.  

Five hours and 15 minutes. A tournament-record 2:50 a.m. ending. Last year’s US Open quarter-final clash between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner had it all.

The battle was even one point from ending with a different result, which would have changed the course of tennis history. Alcaraz triumphed that evening — morning, really — 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 to advance. The Spanish sensation eventually won the title and by doing so became the youngest World No. 1 in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history.

Sinner was potentially one shot from flipping that script. Serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set, he missed a crosscourt backhand wide off a backhand return from Alcaraz.

“My match point I still have it now a little bit in the mind, that I missed the backhand cross,” Sinner said. “But if you don't cancel these situations, you will always think about this, so now it's enough. I don't want to talk anymore about this match.

“It was a good and entertaining match. Not only [that] we really enjoyed to play, but I think all the fans watched it, so it was good. But in the other way, hopefully I can face him some more times throughout my whole career and then we'll see.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a catastrophe 12 months ago when he took to Louis Armstrong stadium for his opening match of the US Open.

Then World No. 94 Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan swung for the fences and took the racquet out of the Greek’s hand, winning the first 11 games of the match and ultimately prevailing in four sets after clubbing 41 winners.

The seventh seed could be forgiven for feeling a little trepidation as he walked back to Armstrong Monday night to face dangerous Canadian Milos Raonic, who owned a 2-0 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series and who dropped 49 aces in two matches at Wimbledon this year.

Coached solely on the night by Mark Philippoussis, Tsitsipas was also looking for a confidence booster, having won just one match in Toronto and Cincinnati on the heels of capturing his first title of the year in Los Cabos at the beginning of this month.

The former Nitto ATP Finals champion dropped just five games in the opening two sets and responded with back-to-back breaks in the third after Raonic opened a 4-2 lead to close out a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win. The 25-year-old two-time major finalist limited Raonic to just eight aces and played a tidy match himself, hitting 25 winners to 20 unforced errors, while his opponent conceded 48 unforced errors and five service breaks.

Top 10 stars Casper Ruud and Holger Rune were both involved in four-set matches Monday at the US Open but only Ruud survived his first-round test at the hard-court major in New York.

The 2022 finalist Ruud held off home qualifier Emilio Nava 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) on Court 17 at Flushing Meadows for his 200th tour-level victory. The fifth seed overcame an uber-aggressive performance from the 21-year-old Nava, who struck a remarkable 72 winners to Ruud’s 27 but was unable to find the consistency required to pull off an upset.

Aware of his opponent’s desire to dictate, Ruud stayed cool and offered up just 21 unforced errors to Nava’s 49 across the four sets. That approach was particularly key in the tie-breaks he won in the first and fourth sets, as Ruud’s greater experience told under pressure.

Ruud is now 10-5 at the US Open, where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s championship match. His next opponent as he seeks another deep run at Flushing Meadows will be Zhang Zhizhen, after the Chinese star defied a J.J. Wolf comeback for a 7-5, 7-5, 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-3 first-round win.

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