For the first time since 2005, David Ferrer has lost in the first round at a major. The Spaniard, seeded 21, fell to Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, on Day 1 of the U.S. Open. The loss marks Ferrer’s first opening-round loss at a major since 2005 Wimbledon.
Kukushkin improves to 12-15 lifetime in the first round of majors with his win. He will face Evgeny Donskoy in the second round.
In other matches around the grounds on the men’s side at Day 1, Benoit Paire defeated Lukas Lacko, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(5), John Isner knocked off Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and Hyeon Chung defeated Horacio Zeballos, 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, 6-3.
No.28-seeded Kevin Anderson, No.8-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No.12-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta, No.29-seeded Diego Schwartzman and No.5-seeded Marin Cilic were also winners.