Karen Khachanov, 11th in the world and semi-finalist at the US Open last year, was eliminated in the first round on Tuesday by American Michael Mmoh (89th and recipient of an invitation) 6-2, 6-4 , 6-2.
After his American half last year, his best result in a Grand Slam, the 27-year-old Russian had again reached the last four at the Australian Open in January, before losing in the quarterfinals at Roland-Garros and giving up. at Wimbledon due to injury.
Mmoh will play a second round in New York for the second time, after 2020, to try to match his best result in Majors, achieved at the start of the season in Australia. For this, he will face the Argentinian Facundo Diaz (94th) or the American John Isner (157th), former 8th in the world who is playing at Flushing Meadows, where he was twice quarter-finalists (2011 and 2018), the last tournament of his career.
