Wawrinka's Emotional Farewell and Rising Stars at US Open
Stan Wawrinka’s US Open farewell had barely faded from the night air when the next wave of storylines crashed over Flushing Meadows.
On the grandstand court, an Australian underdog was busy turning a supposed mismatch into a problem for the world No.4.
Hijikata rattles Auger-Aliassime
Felix Auger-Aliassime burst out of the blocks like a man in a hurry, racing to a 2-0 lead within minutes. It looked ominous. The Canadian’s forehand was firing, his serve clean, and the script seemed set.
Rinky Hijikata tore it up.
The Australian settled on serve, started moving with real purpose and refused to be bullied off the baseline. Calm between points, sharp in his footwork, he dragged himself not just back into the set but in front. From 0-2 down, he flipped the momentum and surged to a 5-3 lead in the opening set, forcing Auger-Aliassime to confront a contest he probably hadn’t expected on day one.
It was Hijikata’s first outing on the grandstand court. He didn’t look remotely overawed.
Joint’s breakthrough on Court 9
Across the grounds, another Australian was writing a different kind of story.
Maya Joint, still at the start of her grand slam journey, dug herself out of a rough opening set and then took complete control. After dropping the first set 6-3 to Liudmila Samsonova, Joint found a new gear. The rallies stayed long, the intensity stayed high, but the balance of power changed.
She stormed through the second set 6-2, feeding off a crowd that backed both women but seemed to lift her just that little bit more. The third set was one-way traffic. Joint dominated from the back of the court, dictated with confidence and closed out a statement win: 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Match point brought the release. She could not hide her excitement. Nor should she.
A flashpoint and a joke in Wawrinka–Berrettini
Earlier, on the main stage, Stan Wawrinka’s last US Open match had offered a little bit of everything: nostalgia, drama, and a rulebook controversy.
Italy’s Matteo Berrettini led 7-6, 7-6 and 2-0 when a bizarre moment lit up the third set. Wawrinka flicked a ball over the net, appearing to hit it twice in two separate motions. Berrettini immediately challenged, arguing it should be called illegal.
“You could see his two motions,” he told the chair umpire, clearly frustrated.
The rule is straightforward: one continuous motion is legal; stopping and then hitting again is not. The point went to video review. Wawrinka, fully aware of the tension, defused it with a grin and a line at the net: “I’m 41, that’s why I am slower than you.”
The replay, shown at full speed as per US Open protocol, was deemed legal. Berrettini was livid. On Nine’s coverage, Australian great Jelena Dokic later pointed out that slow-motion angles showed the Italian had a case.
“It does show that he did hit it twice, so Berrettini is actually right. But when you look at it in normal speed, it doesn’t look like that,” she said.
Wawrinka took the advantage from the decision but still dropped that opening game of the third set. Berrettini never loosened his grip, closing out a 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 victory.
A champion’s goodbye
The result, though, was only half the story.
Once the final ball had been struck, the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium belonged to Wawrinka. Tournament organisers rolled a career highlights package across the big screens, charting the Swiss star’s rise from qualifier to three-time major champion, including his unforgettable 2016 US Open triumph over Novak Djokovic.
The crowd rose with him. Matteo Berrettini stayed on court, applauding a player he had grown up watching.
“It’s been more than 20 years since I first came here,” Wawrinka told the fans, voice cracking as he spoke. He recalled arriving to play qualifying, wide-eyed and overwhelmed, and explained why he had kept pushing his career into his 40s.
“One of the reasons I kept playing until I was 41 is to have these moments like you gave me tonight,” he said. “It was really special to me to finish my grand slam career here, 10 years after winning it.”
He fought back tears as he thanked the New York crowd for their support over the years. “I am going to miss it. I love the game so much,” he added, before soaking in one last ovation.
Berrettini, who has now faced Wawrinka in back-to-back majors, understood the significance.
“I’m delighted to have shared the court with this legend once again,” he said. “I was a kid when I was watching him play and win slams. It is a dream come true.”
For Wawrinka, this US Open ends with a first-round defeat and a 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 scoreline. His legacy, though, walks out of Flushing Meadows untouched.
Khachanov’s blunt verdict on Kyrgios
Away from the courts, another headline cut through the usual first-round chatter.
Karen Khachanov did not hold back when asked about Nick Kyrgios’ suspension for a positive cocaine test in June. Kyrgios had already taken to social media to accept responsibility, calling it a “huge mistake” and confirming he would step away from the spotlight to work through his issues.
Khachanov, who has faced Kyrgios before and watched him frequently weigh in on doping matters online, pointed to the Australian’s own history of strong opinions.
“Even when he wasn’t playing, he always liked to pick on someone, writing things on Twitter and so on,” Khachanov said at the US Open. “And now, when all that has turned against him… what do you want me to say? In the end, you reap what you sow.
“Honestly, it’s not just that I’m not surprised, but to some extent, I can’t feel too much pity either. What he got caught for was ultimately his choice. And in the end, look what happened. It backfired on him.”
No soft landing there. Just a blunt assessment from a rival who has heard Kyrgios’ commentary for years.
Popyrin, Dimitrov and a day that won’t slow down
On the outdoor courts, Alexei Popyrin found himself up against a sharp Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian started with authority, taking a 4-2 lead and setting an early tone that underlined his form.
All around them, the day refused to ease up. Maya Joint’s fightback on Court 9, Hijikata’s fearless stand against Auger-Aliassime, the emotional farewell of Wawrinka, the sting in Khachanov’s words about Kyrgios — it all fed into a single truth.
At this US Open, reputations mean nothing once the ball is tossed.
