Alex de Minaur’s rain-delayed US Open launch leaves no room for a gentle second step

Alex de Minaur completed his interrupted opening assignment in efficient fashion, but the No. 6 seed now has to convert that clean start into another performance against Botic van de Zandschulp less than 24 hours later.

A straightforward win with an awkward consequence Alex de Minaur began his 2026 US Open campaign on Wednesday, September 2, defeating Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. The scoreline suggests a controlled opening match, and the underlying numbers point in the same direction: de Minaur won 82 per cent of points behind his first serve, converted six of 12 break-point opportunities and won 46 per cent of Guerrieri’s service games. (usopen.org)

That efficiency matters because the Australian was not simply trying to survive a disrupted schedule. His match had already been pushed back by rain from Tuesday, September 1, and Wednesday’s interruptions added another layer of uncertainty. He still finished the job in straight sets, limiting the qualifier’s opportunities to build scoreboard pressure and avoiding the kind of extended contest that would have made Thursday’s turnaround materially more difficult. (atptour.com)

The second-round problem is preparation, not pedigree The unusual part of de Minaur’s draw is what follows. The official US Open calendar places men’s singles second-round matches across Thursday, September 3, meaning the sixth seed moves directly from a delayed first-round completion into a scheduled meeting with Botic van de Zandschulp. The match is listed for the Grandstand, with the Dutchman providing a substantially more familiar and demanding test than Guerrieri. (usopen.org)

This is not a question of whether de Minaur has enough time to recover from a routine three-set win. It is a question of how much tactical preparation can be retained when the physical and mental reset has to happen overnight. Against Guerrieri, de Minaur could rely on his established strengths: changing direction early, extending rallies through his speed and repeatedly asking the qualifier to hit one more ball. Against van de Zandschulp, those same patterns will be tested by a larger first-strike game and a player capable of taking the Australian’s pace early.

Why van de Zandschulp changes the calculation Van de Zandschulp is a more credible second-round obstacle because he can make the match uncomfortable without needing to dominate every rally. His flatter ball and willingness to redirect down the line can challenge de Minaur’s court coverage, particularly if the Australian is unable to establish a high percentage of first serves and disciplined returns early.

For de Minaur, the key metric is therefore unlikely to be raw winners. It is whether he can keep the Dutchman from controlling the first two shots of the rally. The opening win showed a useful level of return pressure, with de Minaur breaking six times. Repeating that pressure would reduce van de Zandschulp’s ability to shorten points and would allow the Australian to move the contest back towards his preferred structure: prolonged exchanges, repeated changes of direction and pressure created through consistency rather than one-shot power. (tennis.com)

A test of top-six routine under abnormal conditions De Minaur’s immediate challenge is not to dramatise the rain delay or treat the compressed schedule as an excuse. It is to reproduce the quality of his first-round execution while accepting that the preparation window is narrower than normal.

That distinction is important for a player seeded sixth. A qualifier such as Guerrieri represented a match de Minaur was expected to control; van de Zandschulp represents the first opponent capable of exposing any reduction in recovery, foot speed or concentration. The Australian has earned a clean second-round opportunity, but he has not been given a conventional one.

Sources Who won on Wednesday at the 2026 US Open? Results and highlights | Official Site of the 2026 US Open Tennis Championships - A USTA Event Rafael Jodar, Alex de Minaur among US Open matches cancelled Tuesday | ATP Tour | Tennis US Open 2026 Schedule | Official Site of the 2026 US Open Tennis Championships - A USTA Event Andrea Guerrieri vs Alex de Minaur · Round 1 · US Open | Tennis.com Who won on Wednesday at the 2026 US Open? Results and highlights Rafael Jodar, Alex de Minaur among US Open matches cancelled Tuesday 2026 US Open tournament schedule Andrea Guerrieri vs Alex de Minaur match statistics Botic van de Zandschulp v Alex de Minaur, US Open second round