Agencies
New York, August 30: Defending champion Novak Djokovic overcame an arm injury scare and long-time rival Rafael Nadal shone in 33-degree heat as the US Open showcased its $650 million upgrade here Monday at the Flushing Meadows.
World No.1 Djokovic who is chasing his third Major of the year, defeated Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion and seeded to face Djokovic in the semifinals, eased to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
Djokovic had admitted that he was ‘not 100 per cent’ after suffering a wrist injury on the eve of the Olympics where he was a first round loser. But it was the upper right arm that bothered the Serb on the night.
The 29-year-old needed treatment after just five games of the first set but eventually pulled through against Janowicz who had played just two matches all year due to a knee injury.
“It was hard to follow Phil Collins,” joked Djokovic in reference to the lengthy opening ceremony which featured the veteran English rocker under the new $150 million roof on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On his arm injury, Djokovic added: “It’s never easy to play at this level throughout the year. There are periods where you aren’t 100 per cent.” Djokovic next faces Jiri Vesely, the Czech who knocked him out of Monte Carlo this year.
Nadal’s reward for a fifth win in five meetings with Istomin is a match-up with Italian veteran Andreas Seppi. A wrist injury forced the Spaniard into an early retirement at the French Open and sidelined him from Wimbledon before a gold medal run in the doubles at the Olympics helped ease his misery.
“The most important thing is that I am here in New York. Injuries are part of the career. I had a hard time this year,” said the fourth seed.
Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, the runner-up to Andy Murray at Wimbledon, overcame German dangerman Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion and winner in Cincinnati last week, eased past Brazil’s Rogerio Silva 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 while flamboyant French 10th seed Gael Monfils took his summer hard court record to 15-2 with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 win over Gilles Muller of Luxemburg.
Monfils almost suffered a freak accident when a giant courtside clock fell towards him as he collided with the back wall, chasing down a Muller shot. But he managed to get out of harm’s way.
Easy for Kerber, not for Muguruza
Second seed Angelique Kerber, one of four women’s players who could emerge from Flushing Meadows as World No.1, made a short and sweet start at the US Open on a hot, sunny Monday.
World No.2 Kerber powered through her first set in 27 minutes before logging a 6-0, 1-0 victory when 120th-ranked Polona Hercog of Slovenia retired because of leg cramps.
“I played the first set really good, so this is what I will take from this match, that I’m playing my tennis,” said Kerber who took his record to 49-4 this season. “For me, it’s always tricky the first few rounds. So it’s always good to have the first round done.”
Next up for Kerber will be Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia, who beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-1.
However, it was not so easy for Roland Garros winner Garbine Muguruza who needed a doctor and three sets to get past Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens. The Spaniard won 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 but not before she needed courtside treatment from a doctor after dropping the first set. The consultation certainly worked as she reeled off the next seven games to lay the foundation for her win.
However, for Olympic champion Monica Puig, it was a quick exit as she lost to China’s Zheng Saisai four and two. There were however, no such hiccups for eighth seed American Madison Keys who overcame compatriot Allison Riske 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.
Fitness lets Myneni down
Qualifier Saketh Myneni gave a mighty scare to World No. 49 Jiri Veseley before limping out of the US Open due to cramps that scuttled his victory march, here Monday evening.
Myneni, ranked 143 in singles, had a match point in the eighth game of the fifth set but stiffness in the right thigh restricted his movement badly and he was forced out 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 5-7 after battling hard for three hours and 47 minutes in a marathon first round match.
Myneni’s first ever appearance in the singles draw of a Grand Slam thus ended in disappointment. He was clearly a better player on the court but for fitness issues he lost the opportunity to play with Novak Djokovic.
“I competed hard till the end and am happy with my progress at the Open. I loved every bit of support I got from my family and friends here,” Saketh said after his match.
After splitting four sets, Myneni broke the Czech in the fourth game to take a crucial 3-1 lead and then built it to 5-2. But it was then that he took a medical timeout as cramps in his right thigh started to bother him.
From a commanding position, Myneni lost grip over the match. He surrendered serve twice after that as he hardly had the strength to stand.