Meanwhile, the world No. 1 will start her campaign for a record 23rd Grand Slam women’s single title in Arthur Ashe Stadium against Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova, on Day 2, while No.2 seed Kerber will play Polona Hercog.
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A year on, despite a niggling injury to her right shoulder and in danger of losing her world number one ranking, Williams claims things are easier to handle.
“I was pleased with my serve because I haven’t been hitting a lot of serves at all”, she said.
“Usually I prefer to play more coming into the final Grand Slam of the year, but there is nothing we can do about it”, Williams said Friday. “She’s just a risky first-round player so that’s interesting”. “Hopefully just every day I will keep going higher”.
After a sizzling start to the season that included grand slam wins number 11 and 12 at the Australian and French Opens, Djokovic has seen a shocking drop in form with a third-round loss at Wimbledon followed by a first-round exit at the Rio Olympics.
Wearing black sleeves on each arm – she called the accessories “definitely functional” because they “keep my muscles warm” – Williams averaged 108 miles per hour on first serves and won 17 of the first 20 points she served, 36 of 46 overall, never appearing to be the least bit bothered by anything. The duo are locked at 21, after Williams owned Wimbledon in July.
Williams’ Nike shoes in 2009 featured three hearts to represent the three U.S. Open titles she had at the time (she now has six).
Tomic said after his first-round loss Tuesday that he apologized to the fan afterward.
Makarova’s only victory between the pair came in the 2012 Australian Open during the fourth round and was also straight sets, meaning the pair have never played a three-set match with one always dominating the other. “I try to hit as many forehands as I can, go to my strength in the pressure moments”.
The 17th-seeded Tomic lost 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0) to 72nd-ranked Damir Dzumhur, making 78 unforced errors.
But for Williams to have the record all to herself, she’ll need to at least reach the semi-finals in the last major of the year, the U.S. Open. It was a tough opening matchup for Querrey – Tipsarevic is a former top-10 player whose ranking is down to 250th after a series of injuries. He can be really aggressive.
MH: You have brought so much fun and brightness to the tennis court – on and off – was that a conscious decision? Makarova is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist who just missed a seed.
“It was a great feeling of course”, said Nishikori, whose breakthrough run in 2014 was followed by an abrupt first-round exit a year ago.
Del Potro beat fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Tuesday after missing the tournament the last two years because of three left wrist surgeries.
NEW YORK-Serena Williams has been here before.
Fifth-seeded Romanian Simona Halep also advanced with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Belgian Kirsten Flipkens. An injury hampered her preparation, and she served miserably in the match.
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The late wobble, in front of a crowd that included compatriot Nadia Comeneci – the first gymnast to be awarded a ideal score of 10 – had Halep rating her own performance “less than nine”. Radwanska will play against American qualifier Jessica Pegula in the first round and could meet Timea Bacsinszky in the fourth round.
