Aussie Stars Struggle at US Open: Preston and Kasatkina Exit Early

Taylah Preston’s bright start in New York flickered out in brutal fashion, swallowed by the power and precision of Taylor Townsend on a grim day for Australia at Flushing Meadows.

The 20-year-old wildcard, the first Australian woman to reach the second round this year, was also the first to leave it, dismantled 6-1, 6-1 by the big-hitting American in just 48 minutes. No rhythm, no foothold, no time to breathe. Townsend dictated from the opening game, stepping inside the baseline, crushing returns and rushing Preston into error.

For Preston, this was a hard lesson in the unforgiving realities of the main draw at a major. The occasion, the opponent, the home crowd behind Townsend – it all came at once. Her US Open run ends early, but with a sharp reminder of the level she must reach to stay on this stage.

Kasatkina dragged into a marathon… and out

If Preston’s defeat was swift, Daria Kasatkina’s exit could hardly have been more drawn out.

Australia’s top-ranked woman resumed her first-round clash against Paula Badosa with the match already hanging by a thread after a stop-start opening day. Badosa had dominated the first set 6-1 and led 2-1 in the second when rain swept them off court on Tuesday morning (AEST).

Kasatkina then clung on in dramatic style. Serving at 3-5 in the second set, she saved two match points in a gripping, 22-point game, scrambling, defending, turning rallies on their head. When she fended off a third match point at 4-5, officials stepped in and called play for the night.

Kasatkina left the court relieved. Badosa left furious.

Fifteen hours later, the Spaniard had to walk back out and try to finish the job from 5-4, deuce in the second set, the tension reset but the stakes unchanged. Kasatkina, a renowned fighter, refused to fold. She saved another six match points and even carved out two break points to level at 5-5, threatening to flip a match that had looked gone.

Badosa, once ranked world No.2, finally slammed the door, closing out the contest to secure a second-round showdown with defending champion Coco Gauff. For Kasatkina, it was a loss soaked in effort, but a loss all the same.

Aussies still in the fight

The Australian campaign is far from over.

Maya Joint faces ninth seed Elina Svitolina this morning, chasing a place in the third round in New York for a third straight year. It is a stern assignment against one of the tour’s most seasoned competitors, but Joint has shown she can live with the traffic on these courts.

Kim Birrell also steps into a heavyweight contest, taking on Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Belief will not be an issue. Birrell toppled world No.5 and 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula at Roland Garros, proof that a seed beside an opponent’s name is no barrier when she swings freely.

De Minaur rides out the weather

On the men’s side, Alex de Minaur’s campaign finally has a scoreline to show for it after days of frustration under New York’s leaden skies.

Rain again played havoc with the schedule, pushing back the top-ranked Australian’s first-round clash with Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri while others surged ahead. By the time de Minaur took the court on day four, former champion Daniil Medvedev and American hope Alex Michelsen were already safely parked in the third round.

De Minaur responded with intent. No easing in, no sparring. He tore through the opening set 6-2 and broke early in the second, racing to a 6-2, 4-2 lead in just 49 minutes. His court coverage, his aggression on return, his willingness to step in – all of it pointed to a man trying to claw back lost time.

Then the heavens opened again.

Forced back to the locker room mid-charge, de Minaur had to reset once more. When play resumed, he picked up where he left off, closing out a composed 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory to move into the second round with minimal damage and maximum efficiency.

The weather has done its best to derail his rhythm. Now the question is whether de Minaur can turn all that pent-up energy into the kind of deep run Australia has been waiting for in New York.