US Open ATP Day Two Round-Up | Stefanos Tsitsipas shocks Fils as Alcaraz and Shelton advance

Tuesday, 01 September 2026 at 06:51

Stefanos Tsitsipas touches his ear and encourages the crowd.

Day two at the US Open delivered one of the first major surprises of the men's draw, with Stefanos Tsitsipas recovering from a set and a break down to defeat Cincinnati champion and No. 10 seed Arthur Fils in four sets. The Greek produced his best tennis when the match began to turn against him, while Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return to Grand Slam singles action after more than four months away from the court.

There were also convincing victories for Jakub Mensik and Ben Shelton, who both recovered from difficult spells to move into the second round, while Matteo Berrettini ended Stan Wawrinka's Grand Slam career with a straight-sets victory featuring two more tiebreaks between the pair. Félix Auger-Aliassime also survived a demanding four-set battle against Rinky Hijikata to complete another busy day in New York.

Tsitsipas overturns Fils comeback

Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4 Arthur Fils

Tsitsipas produced the comeback of the day against the No. 10 seed, recovering from a set down and then overturning a 5-2 deficit in the second set before taking control of the match. Fils had looked comfortable early on, protecting his serve and eventually finding the only break he needed to take the opening set 6-4. The Cincinnati champion then appeared to be in position to take command when he moved 5-2 ahead in the second.

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Instead, Tsitsipas refused to let the set disappear. The Greek raised his level in the rallies, began finding more authority with his forehand and dragged Fils into a tiebreak, where he completed the turnaround to level the match. From there, the momentum belonged almost entirely to Tsitsipas. Fils struggled to maintain the same level on serve and was broken five times across the match, while Tsitsipas used his experience to keep the pressure on.

The fourth set remained competitive, with both players exchanging breaks before Tsitsipas established the decisive advantage. He then held firm behind his serve to close out the 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory after three hours of play. The result gives Tsitsipas a significant win over the newly crowned Cincinnati champion and puts him into the second round against Lloyd Harris. He will be looking to reach the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time in five years.

Tsitsipas raises his right arm celebrating a victory in Monte Carlo

Alcaraz passes first US Open test

Roman Safiullin 4-6, 4-6, 4-6 Carlos Alcaraz

There was plenty of attention on Alcaraz's opening match in New York, with the Spaniard returning to competitive singles at a Grand Slam for the first time in more than four months. Safiullin was a tricky first opponent, capable of taking the ball early and disrupting rhythm, but Alcaraz handled the test with a level of control that should give him confidence as his campaign develops.

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The Spaniard took the opening set with a single break and looked increasingly comfortable as the match progressed. Safiullin did manage to create some uncertainty early in the second set, breaking Alcaraz and moving ahead, but it proved to be a brief spell of trouble. Alcaraz immediately responded by becoming more aggressive from the baseline, finding the court with greater depth and eventually turning the set back in his favour.

From there, the match never truly escaped his control. Alcaraz was not flawless — he finished with 28 winners and 27 unforced errors — and his first serve averaged around 181 km/h, meaning there is still room for the level to rise. But he faced only one break point in the entire match and dealt with the important moments efficiently to complete a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

For a player playing his first singles match in over four months, it was an encouraging return. Alcaraz now moves into the second round with his confidence intact and will next face Jaime Faria

Berrettini ends Wawrinka's Grand Slam career

Matteo Berrettini 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 Stan Wawrinka

Berrettini and Wawrinka produced another chapter of their memorable rivalry, but this time the Italian was the one left celebrating. Their previous meeting at Wimbledon was decided by four tiebreaks, and this encounter again required two shootouts before Berrettini finally pulled away.

The opening two sets were fiercely contested, with neither player willing to give the other much room. Berrettini held his nerve in both tiebreaks, while Wawrinka had chances to change the course of the second set after moving into a 5-3 position. The 41-year-old could not convert those opportunities, and Berrettini eventually took the set to move within one of victory.

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The third set was a completely different story. Wawrinka could no longer sustain the level that had kept him competitive earlier, dropping serve three times as Berrettini accelerated towards the finish. The Italian did not allow any late opening and completed the victory with a 6-0 set.

The result is particularly significant for Wawrinka, marking the end of his Grand Slam career at the tournament where he made so many deep runs. Berrettini advances to the second round, where he will face Mariano Navone, the Argentine who stunned Novak Djokovic on day one.

Stan Wawrinka during practice at US Open 2026.

Mensik starts with authority

Jakub Menšík 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 Shintaro Mochizuki

Mensik wasted little time establishing the difference in quality against Mochizuki, producing an aggressive opening that immediately put the Japanese player on the back foot. The Czech won the first nine points of the match and quickly moved 3-0 ahead, setting the tone for a first set in which he rarely allowed Mochizuki to settle.

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A second break completed a dominant 6-1 opener, but Mochizuki found more resistance in the second. Mensik still created the decisive separation with a break in the fifth game and then had to work harder than the score suggested to protect it. He saved several break points and held his nerve to take the set 6-4.

The third set became much more competitive, with both players trading breaks and Mochizuki even breaking when Mensik served for the match at 5-4. That brief setback did not change the outcome. Mensik won eight of the final nine points, including a final break, to close out the 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 victory and avoid a deciding set.

Shelton survives rough start to surge through

Ben Shelton 1-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-2 Tallon Griekspoor

Shelton's opening set was almost the opposite of what he would have wanted. Griekspoor immediately put pressure on the American's serve and took advantage of every opportunity, collecting three breaks without offering Shelton a single break point in return. The Dutchman raced through the set 6-1 and appeared to have established control.

Shelton responded immediately in the second. This time it was the American dictating the exchanges, taking an early break and refusing to allow Griekspoor back into the set. Three breaks followed as Shelton levelled at 1-1, completely resetting the match after his slow start.

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The third set was the turning point. Neither player offered a break chance and the set inevitably reached a tiebreak, where Shelton produced his best tennis to win 7-3. He then carried that momentum directly into the fourth, breaking twice at the start to race into a 4-0 lead.

With the pressure finally off, Shelton managed the advantage and closed out a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-2 victory. The comeback showed both his ability to recover from a disastrous start and the level he can produce once his serve and forehand begin working together.

Ben Shelton celebrating his second Canadian Open title.

Ben Shelton of United States celebrates his victory after winning his Men's Singles final match against Brandon Nakashima of United States on day 13 of the ATP Masters 1000 National Bank Open

Auger-Aliassime survives Hijikata battle

Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 Rinky Hijikata

Auger-Aliassime had to work considerably harder than the final scoreline might suggest against Hijikata. The Canadian was frequently tested from the baseline, with the Australian producing 48 winners to Auger-Aliassime's 25. Felix also finished with 50 unforced errors, making his ability to win the key points particularly important.

Hijikata looked set to take control of the opening set when he moved 5-3 ahead, but Auger-Aliassime responded with four consecutive games to steal it 7-5. The Australian did manage to level the match in the second after finding a break, but Auger-Aliassime again responded when it mattered.

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The Canadian took an early advantage in the third set and, after Hijikata briefly recovered the break, immediately restored his lead. The fourth remained close for a long time, but with the score at 5-5, Auger-Aliassime finally found another gear and secured the decisive break before serving out the match.

The 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory sends Auger-Aliassime into the second round after a match in which he had to withstand considerable pressure and a higher winner count from his opponent.

Felix Auger-Aliassime made it out of the group phase in the 2025 ATP Finals

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Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist

Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.

Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.

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