Katie Boulter endured a crushing defeat at the US Open, falling to Karolina Muchova in straight sets in less than an hour at Flushing Meadows. The British No.1 was broken on every one of her seven service games, succumbing to a lopsided 6-1, 6-0 loss that lasted just 58 minutes on the iconic Louis Armstrong Stadium. The match began with Boulter managing a break of serve early in the first set, but Muchova, the 2026 Wimbledon finalist, quickly asserted her dominance and turned the encounter into a masterclass. Boulter’s game was riddled with errors: she double‑faulted eight times and committed 22 unforced mistakes, a performance that left her tournament hopes in tatters.
"It was a bad day at the office – times two," Boulter admitted afterward. "I struggled with the conditions, the roof, the noise – everything distracted me. I let it get to me and I wasn’t able to focus on my own game." Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Muchova’s all‑round abilities.
"Muchova deserved the credit – she’s a complete player. The highlight reel was full of incredible shots, clever short chip cross‑court strokes, and aggressive net volleys.
She’s reached the French Open and Wimbledon finals and, if she stays healthy, she has the experience, mentality and belief to win a Grand Slam someday." Laura Robson added, "Muchova showed every trick in the book and played with confidence, especially after a long lay‑off since Wimbledon. It wasn’t a good day for Boulter, but the focus should be on how well Muchova performed." Jonathan Overend noted, "Muchova has not yet captured a Grand Slam, but her tennis today was exceptional and indicates strong potential in this tournament. Boulter, on the other hand, simply wasn’t there – losing her serve seven times in a row makes a comeback virtually impossible." In other British news, Fran Jones secured a hard‑won victory in her first‑round match against Magda Linette after a rain‑delayed start. The 25‑year‑old qualifier had taken the first set before a downpour forced play to stop, leaving her shivering under a towel for 20 minutes while officials debated whether to continue.
When the match resumed 17 hours later, the weather opened up again almost immediately, but Linette managed to claim the second set in just 23 minutes. Jones fought back in the decider, clinching the final set 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the second round for the first time in her career. Jacob Fearnley’s US Open run ended after a valiant effort that saw him survive a precarious fourth‑set deficit against Argentina’s Tomás Martín Etcheverry. After losing in qualifying, Fearnley entered the main draw as a lucky loser.
He fought back from 5-2 down in the fourth set against Martin Landaluce, eventually forcing a fifth set, but ultimately fell 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, ending any hopes of a third chance. German‑born British player Jan Choinski also bowed out in the first round, despite making it to the tournament’s fourth day – a notable achievement for a British male player at Flushing Meadows. The 30‑year‑old was defeated in straight sets by Dutch opponent Botic van de Zandschulp, losing 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(5) in just under two hours. The match, delayed by rain, saw several competitors already through to round three by the time Choinski stepped onto the court.
He credited his girlfriend and coach, Sophia, for her constant encouragement from the players’ box, saying, "She always tries to keep me positive. The first set was competitive, but after that it got tough. He played aggressively and her support kept me fighting, but the match was difficult." In a separate development, Britain’s No.1 male player Arthur Fery announced a partnership with Joshua Paris for the men’s doubles event, adding another British duo to the competition.
The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports each day through September 13, with streaming available contract‑free via NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September, which will be shown live on Sky Sports.