British No1 Jack Draper secured his passage to the US Open second round following a demanding four-set triumph against Argentine qualifier Federico Gomez on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The victory marked Draper's return to competitive tennis after a 53-day absence since Wimbledon, with lingering concerns surrounding an arm injury that had threatened his participation at Flushing Meadows.
Gomez, making his Grand Slam main draw debut and ranked outside the world's top 200, provided stern resistance across three hours of entertaining tennis.
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The qualifier claimed the third set in a tiebreak after saving a match point, forcing Draper into an unexpected fourth set before the Briton ultimately prevailed.
Jack Draper was ultimately victorious in the opening round of the US Open
|REUTERS
Draper expressed considerable relief following his progression, acknowledging the uncertainty that had surrounded his tournament participation.
"I wasn't sure if I would make it here this year, but we have done a great job with the team since Wimbledon to get myself back on court," he stated after the match.
The 22-year-old remained measured about his tournament prospects, emphasising energy conservation given his limited recent match practice.
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There are concerns over the Briton's left arm
|REUTERS
"I'm not putting too many expectations on myself," Draper explained. "I haven't played loads, so I'm trying to conserve as much energy as I can."
Despite acknowledging his performance fell short of his usual standards, Draper credited his opponent's quality whilst expressing optimism about improving as the tournament progresses.
Former British No1 Tim Henman provided analysis of Draper's performance, highlighting both positives and concerns from the victory.
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"That was not easy. There will be questions about his arm," Henman observed.
"You cannot question his fighting spirit and fingers crossed his body and arm will pull up before his second round."
The former Wimbledon semi-finalist emphasised the significance of Draper's triumph given his extended absence from competition, suggesting the British player would derive considerable satisfaction from navigating such a demanding opening match after 53 days without competitive tennis.
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Federico Gomez played his part in a thrilling game
|REUTERS
Monday's action at Flushing Meadows delivered several notable results across both draws.
Australian Open champion Madison Keys suffered a shocking first-round elimination, falling to Mexico's Renata Zarazua in three sets.
The tournament bid farewell to two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who concluded her distinguished career with a straight-sets defeat to France's Diane Parry.
Former Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova progressed by defeating teenager Victoria Mboko, whilst Elena Rybakina handed 16-year-old Grand Slam debutant Julieta Pareja a comprehensive lesson.
In the men's competition, Cameron Norrie advanced to round two after his opponent, Sebastian Korda, was compelled to retire through injury.