Junior Zhalgasbay loses US Open singles but advances in doubles

18-year-old Kazakh tennis player Damir Zhalgasbay (1128) has ended his run in the boys' singles at the 2026 US Open, falling to 17-year-old American Jack Secord (1923) 3:6, 4:6 in the first round. However, the athlete will continue in the doubles draw, reports infohub.kz.

The opponents knew each other well: they teamed up in doubles at the junior Wimbledon 2026. In the first set, the key moment came in the eighth game when Secord broke serve. In the second set, Zhalgasbay led 2:0, but the American won four consecutive games to turn the match around and clinch victory in 1 hour 37 minutes – 6:3, 6:4. Match statistics: aces – 1:6, double faults – 3:5, unforced errors – 18:20, total points won – 78:65.

This season, Zhalgasbay competed at junior Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open 2026. He was the only Kazakhstani in the US Open singles draw. In doubles, his partner will be another American, Safir Azam (2160).

Among the adults at the US Open 2026, Kazakhstan is still represented by Elena Rybakina, who could become world No. 1 after the tournament, and Alexander Bublik (in doubles). Last night in New York, the pair of Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic ended their run due to a knee injury to the Serbian player.

The US Open is an annual Grand Slam tournament on hard courts, the last of the four majors in the calendar year. The total prize money is $108 million – a record for Grand Slam events. Since 1978, matches have been held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

The defending men's champion is Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (3), who defeated Jannik Sinner in last year's final. The Italian, the world No. 1, withdrew from the 2026 US Open due to a knee injury. Alcaraz, after beating American Tommy Paul (21) 6:4, 6:3, 6:4, advanced to the quarterfinals of this year's tournament.

In women's play, the 2025 champion is Aryna Sabalenka (1), who defeated Amanda Anisimova of the USA in the final. The Belarusian has also reached the 2026 quarterfinals, defeating American Taylor Townsend (96) 6:4, 6:3.