New York, 03 September (H.S.): American Frances Tiafoe advanced to the third round of the US Open 2026 on Wednesday with a straight-sets victory over Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto. Meanwhile, Peru’s Ignacio Buse secured his first victory at the Grand Slam after an enthralling five-set battle, carrying forward the legacy of his grandfather Eduardo.

World No. 12 Tiafoe defeated Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 7-5 at Louis Armstrong Stadium, with strong support from the home crowd. Tiafoe is now aiming to end the United States’ 23-year wait for a men’s singles champion in New York.

The 28-year-old Tiafoe broke Sakamoto’s serve in the opening game and went on to claim the first set. He appeared to be on course for a comfortable victory in the second set, but two consecutive double faults gave Sakamoto an opportunity to fight back. The Japanese player forced the set into a tie-break, but Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist, won four of the opening five points in the tie-break to establish a two-set lead.

Sakamoto struck 18 aces during the match but also committed 40 unforced errors. Having battled through a five-set match in the opening round, Tiafoe would have been relieved to secure a straight-sets victory this time. He will face either Kamil Majchrzak or Valentin Vacherot in the third round.

Buse Carries Forward His Grandfather’s Legacy

Peru’s 32nd-seeded Ignacio Buse also recorded his first US Open victory on Wednesday, defeating American Marcos Giron 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(6-8), 6-1. The 22-year-old prevailed after a gruelling three-hour, 48-minute contest on Court 6, adding a new chapter to his family’s Grand Slam history.

Buse displayed remarkable mental strength in the deciding set to seal the victory. Speaking after the match, he said, “It is difficult to stay calm in such situations, but in the fifth set I tried to compose myself mentally. It was a mental battle, and I tried to remain calm. This is a very special moment for me.”

Buse never had the opportunity to meet his grandfather Eduardo, but his victory has revived a nearly seven-decade-old connection between his family and the US Open. Eduardo had made a name for himself in tennis alongside his twin brother Enrique and first competed in the tournament in 1942.

Eduardo recorded his final US Open victory in 1958, defeating American Edward Atkinson in five sets. At the time, the tournament was known as the US Championships and was played on grass courts at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York. The US Open has been played on hard courts since 1978.

Buse arrived in New York after winning the Winston-Salem Open title last week. He will now look to continue his winning run when he faces Benjamin Bonzi in the second round.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar