US Open: Cobolli stages remarkable comeback, all seeds advance

The first day of the 2026 US Open witnessed impressive performances from the top seeds. Taylor Fritz, Elena Rybakina, and Mirra Andreeva all won easily, while Flavio Cobolli produced an incredible comeback after losing the first two sets. This was a successful day for the highly-rated players, but it also raised questions about fitness and mentality for the upcoming rounds. The US Open is one of the four most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments in the world, played on hard courts at Flushing Meadows, New York. The tournament is known for its electric atmosphere, long matches, and unpredictable surprises. This year, the tournament features all the top players, promising high-level clashes. With Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz both present, the men's singles title race promises to be extremely competitive. Meanwhile, in the women's singles, the return of veterans and the emergence of young talents create a fascinating picture. American ninth seed Taylor Fritz had little trouble overcoming Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The match lasted less than two hours, showing the complete dominance of the home favorite. Fritz lost only nine games in total, a number reflecting the class gap between him and his young American opponent. This is a perfect start for Fritz's quest for his first Grand Slam title. The 27-year-old is in great form after reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals this year. He is expected to go deep at his home tournament, where American fans always give him passionate support. With his powerful attacking play and strong serve, Fritz is one of the strong contenders for the title. He reached the US Open quarterfinals in 2026 and is eager to go further. This win gives him extra confidence ahead of tougher opponents in later rounds. In the women's singles, second seed Elena Rybakina took just 75 minutes to defeat Thea Frodin 6-3, 6-2. The 2026 Wimbledon champion showed consistent form with powerful serves and agile movement. Rybakina, who reached the US Open final in 2026, is having a successful season with two WTA 1000 titles. She showed high concentration from the first round, not giving her opponent any chance to cause an upset. With her ideal physique and all-round technique, Rybakina is considered one of the leading contenders for this year's title. She will need to maintain this form to overcome bigger challenges in later rounds. Rybakina's strengths are her serve and powerful forehand. She is also very calm in crucial moments, an important quality at Grand Slams. Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, nicknamed "Little Sharapova," was even more impressive, needing only 69 minutes to beat Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-2. The young Russian showed confident attacking play, leaving her opponent no chance to keep up. Andreeva, just 18 years old, made a big splash by reaching the Roland Garros semifinals this year. The nickname "Little Sharapova" not only reflects her appearance but also her powerful style and fighting spirit. She is receiving huge expectations from fans and experts. However, the pressure from this nickname could become a burden if she fails to stay focused. With this easy win, Andreeva sent a strong message that she is ready to compete with the world's best. She is considered one of the brightest young talents in women's tennis today. If she continues this form, Andreeva can go deep in this tournament. The most notable match of the day belonged to Flavio Cobolli, the fifth seed in the men's singles. The Italian, runner-up at Roland Garros 2026, had a terrible start, losing the first two sets 3-6, 2-6 to Francisco Comesana. However, Cobolli showed the character of a top player by staging a remarkable comeback, winning the next three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The match lasted 4 hours and 14 minutes, a true battle of fitness and spirit. This win not only helped Cobolli advance to the second round but also confirmed his ability to handle pressure in the toughest moments. This is the first time in his career that Cobolli has come back from 0-2 sets down to win at a Grand Slam. The 23-year-old is having a breakthrough season with his first ATP 500 title in Rotterdam. He is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Italian tennis. This performance will certainly boost his confidence for the upcoming rounds. However, playing over four hours could affect his fitness in the next matches. The demanding schedule of the US Open will be a big challenge for the Italian. Looking at the results, it is clear that all seeds completed their task in the first round. Fritz, Rybakina, and Andreeva all won easily, facing no significant challenges. This shows they are in good form and ready for tougher rounds. As for Cobolli, his comeback was the highlight. Coming back from 0-2 sets to win 3-2 shows a resilient fighting spirit, an important quality to go deep at Grand Slams. However, it should be noted that the match lasting over four hours could affect Cobolli's fitness in the next round. The busy schedule of the US Open will be a big test for the Italian. Meanwhile, Andreeva with the "Little Sharapova" nickname is receiving a lot of media attention. The young girl needs to stay mentally strong amid growing expectations. If she fails to control the pressure, she could struggle against more experienced opponents. With current form, Fritz, Rybakina, and Andreeva are expected to continue winning in the second round. As for Cobolli, recovery from the long match will be key. If he can maintain focus and fitness, he can certainly cause surprises at this year's tournament. The 2026 US Open is unfolding with great promise. The impressive performances in the first round show that the top players are in high form. Fans have every right to expect great matches in the upcoming rounds. With the presence of top stars, this year's tournament promises to deliver dramatic and emotional matches. Young players like Andreeva and Cobolli are proving they are the future of world tennis. The combination of experience from veterans and the energy of new talents will create an unforgettable tournament. Players will have a day off before entering the second round, and recovery time will be crucial. According to the schedule, the second round will take place over the next two days.