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Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem earned his first match win at a major since 2021 on Monday, when he produced a clean-hitting performance to overcome 25th seed Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in New York.
The Austrian, who reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in 2021, played consistently throughout the one-hour, 54-minute clash. The 29-year-old struck 26 winners and committed 21 unforced errors, improving to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Bublik.
Thiem holds fond memories in New York, having defeated Alexander Zverev in the 2020 final to win his maiden major title. With his victory against Bublik, Thiem snapped a six-match losing streak at Slams, having lost his first-round match in New York in 2022. His best result this season was a run to the final in Kitzbühel in August.
The former World No. 3 Thiem will play #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton in the second round after the 20-year-old defeated Pedro Cachin 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Shelton is making his second appearance at the US Open, having fallen in the first round last year. The American is aiming to earn a series of wins in New York to boost his chances of qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals for the first time. The 20-year-old is currently fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Jeddah.
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