2026 U.S. Open: Matteo Arnaldi Eliminated in the First Round
Matteo Arnaldi’s run at the 2026 U.S. Open came to an end in the first round. The Ligurian tennis player was defeated by Australian James Duckworth at the end of a long battle lasting three hours and 25 minutes, with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6. It was anything but an easy debut for Arnaldi, who even had the chance to take the match to a fifth set but failed to capitalize on the opportunities he had at the end of the fourth set.
It was a tough start for Arnaldi, who immediately gave up a break point and also committed a double fault. Duckworth capitalized and raced to a 3-0 lead, but the Ligurian fought back immediately and broke back in the fifth game on his third opportunity. In the next game, Arnaldi faced three consecutive break points but managed to save them all, coming back from 0-40 to hold a crucial service game. The match remained tightly contested until the eleventh game, when Duckworth made a series of errors and surrendered the break to love. Arnaldi didn’t let the opportunity slip away and closed out the first set 6-3.
In the second set, both players held their serves. Arnaldi had a chance to take the lead in the fifth game but failed to convert the break point. The deadlock is broken in the eighth game: Duckworth earns three consecutive break points and, on the third, manages to break the Italian’s serve. Arnaldi tries to respond immediately, reaching 15-40, but the Australian saves both break points and evens the score at 6-3.
The momentum shifts completely, and Duckworth starts strong in the third set as well, breaking serve right away. Arnaldi nearly fell behind 3-0 but fought back from 0-40 to save four consecutive break points. The Ligurian, however, was unable to turn the tide and lost his serve again in the fifth game, allowing the Australian to take a 4-1 lead. Arnaldi narrowed the gap to 4-2, but in the next game, he lost his serve again. Duckworth capitalized and closed out the set 6-2, taking the lead in the match. In the fourth set, Arnaldi tried to change the pace once more. In the third game, he faces four more break points but manages to hold on. Shortly after, he breaks back, taking a 4-1 lead and completely reopening the match.
Duckworth, however, fights back and breaks back in the seventh game, tying the set. This brings us to the twelfth game, the one that could give Arnaldi the chance to extend the match: the Italian takes a 0-40 lead and earns three consecutive match points. Duckworth, however, plays flawlessly in the decisive moments and saves them all. Arnaldi even had a fourth chance, but once again the Australian responded with a winner. The set then went to a tiebreak, fought point for point. Duckworth managed to save two set points as well and, at 10-8, finally closed out the match. The Australian thus advances to the second round, while Arnaldi’s run at the 2026 U.S. Open ends right at the start.
