Fourth seed Alexander  Zverev got his US Open off to a winning start on Monday with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 defeat of fellow German Maximilian Marterer. 

Zverev fired 21 aces and broke six times from 16 chances, taking just under three hours to advance  at Flushing Meadows.

Zverev, winner of 22 career titles and losing finalist in 2020 to Dominic Thiem here, improved to 15-3 at the four Grand Slams this season.hiem.

He is seeded behind No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

Beleaguered former titleholder Thiem ended his Grand Slam career in the opening round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 loss to hard-charging US young gun Ben Shelton.

Thiem is set to retire in October at his home Vienna event after a wrist injury several seasons ago effectively put an end to his career.

2023 New York semi-finalist Shelton, son of a former ATP pro, advanced to the second round in less than two hours.

Thiem 30, who once stood third in the world, came from two sets down in his final here four years ago to defeat Zverev in the final. 

The Austrian received a standing ovation from the opening day crowd as he took to the court.

“It has been 10 years since I first played here. It is actually a really important moment for me, because I had my greatest success here on this court,” four-time Grand Slam finalist Thiem said.

“In that weird 2020, in strange and different circumstances. I had this success unfortunately without any of you here (Covid edition behind closed doors).

” It was an amazing moment but on the other hand a bit sad, so I am super happy I got the chance to play my last US Open match on this court.”

Shelton paid his respects to Thiem: “Four finals and a title is something only kids can dream about, sitting on the couch at home, which was me not too long ago. 

“I always see Domi’s face smiling and your team does it the right way. I am sorry this is that way this ended but congrats on everything. You have so much to be proud of.”

The 13th-ranked Shelton arrived at  the final major of the season with a quarter-final at the Cincinnati event; he moved into a match with Roberto Bautista Agut.

2022 finalist Casper Ruud beat Chinese qualifier Buyunchaokete 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 but now faces a test against ageless Frenchman Gael Monfils woh almost certainly ended the Grand Slam career of fading Argentine Diego Schwartzman

6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.

Norway’s Ruud won his 45 match of the season.

Matteo Berrettini left it late before earning his first win on hardcourts this season with a booked his first tour-level win on hard courts as he put out Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-3. 

Italy’s former semi-finalist who has endured two seasons of injuries, came back in 2024 with ATP clay titles in Marrakech as well as the alpine summer double in Gstaad and Kitzbuhel,

The former Wimbledon finalist lined up a match with US 12th seed Taylor Fritz, who accounted for Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

Australian Alexei Popyrin, surprise titleholder this month in Montreal, advanced to the second round s he played a major for the first time as a eed, defeating Kwon Soon-Woo of Korean 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win; Popyrin fired 37 winners in victory.

Should he win one more round over Pedro Martinez, Popyrin could likely find himself playing 24-time grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.

“I’ve had a lot of scenarios in my career where I had one more match, and then I would play a big match so I’ve kind of gotten used to focusing on the match that I’ve got in hand,” Popyrin said. 

“Then if I win that, then, yeah, obviously I’ve got Novak in the third. But, honestly, I’m just thinking of this match and not thinking about Novak.”

 Cincinnati semi-finalist Holger Rune was ambushed by American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. Wimbledon semi-finalist Lorenzo Musetti dealt Reilly Opelka a fourth consecutive loss in a comeback effort after two years of injury, sending the towering American out  7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev winning first round match by Mark Greenwood International Sports Fotos Ltd