As temperatures reached into the 90s in NY, the six-foot 10-inch Isner needed 35 aces to defeat the 18-year-old from Maryland, who failed to serve out for the match in the final set.
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World number one Djokovic, also the 2011 victor in NY and chasing his third major of the year, defeated Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
The Flushing Meadows complex was showcasing its gleaming $600 million refit which includes a retractable roof over Ashe and a brand new Grandstand court. “That’s what I feel at the moment”, Djokovic said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a good tournament”. Didn’t make that many first serves that game.
Eighth-seeded Madison Keys meets 16-year-old Kayla Day, the youngest player in the draw.
Nadal hadn’t played at a major since winning his second-round match at the French Open on May 26.
Djokovic returned from the timeout in that first set and proceeded to pick apart Janowicz, breaking him in that sixth game after Janowicz’s return sailed wide on break point. But Isner broke there. “It was an wonderful experience and it was a little piece of history for me, so I recorded it on my phone”, said the Spanish star after beating Denis Istomin in straight sets.
“When you have pain, you try to change the movement to avoid a little bit that pain”, Nadal said.
The injury concerns, combined with the absence for the first time since 1999 of five-time victor Roger Federer, have put 2012 champion Andy Murray in the position of favourite.
“He’s a hell of a player and a class act”, Isner said.
Both said things are improving.
Tiafoe is among the young prospects tipped to end the decline in United States men’s tennis. Djokovic hasn’t been bounced in the second round of a grand slam since the 2008 Wimbledon.
French 13th seed Richard Gasquet, a semifinalist three years ago, was the day’s biggest casualty.
Earlier, Jack Sock withstood Taylor Fritz’s repeated comebacks to win the second five-set match between American men Monday at the U.S. Open.
Although he and Fritz came up empty, Tiafoe said he believed the youngest United States pros now challenging on the ATP Tour are capable of establishing themselves on the world stage. Isner beat the teenager 3-6 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-3 7-6 (3) in a match that lasted for more than three-and-a-half hours. I’m pleased that as the match progressed I was feeling better and better.
A strong return from Djokovic gave him an early break to open the fourth set.
Nadal continued his incredible first-round record at the US Open, improving to 12-0 in openers in NY.
The 137th-ranked Mertens is 20 years old and was making her Grand Slam debut.
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Day was leading 6-2, 4-2 when Brengle, ranked 50th in the world, retired from their first-round match with a right forearm injury. Day, ranked 374th, got into the tournament as the victor of the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships.
