Opponent Jiri Vesely was forced to pull out through injury ahead of the second-round match, the Czech suffering from left forearm inflammation.
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Djokovic now progresses to the last-32 to play Argentine Guido Pella or Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny on Friday.
When Jiri Vesely upset the world’s No. 1 player in Monte Carlo in April, Djokovic hadn’t lost a completed match since November.
Then in Monday’s four-set victory over Jerzy Janowicz, Djokovic received treatment on his right arm during the opening set. I was looking forward to that match.
“Obviously he hasn’t played many times on the Arthur (Ashe) Stadium”. The stars were out and did not disappoint with Murray, Raonic, Nadal, Del Potro, Wawrinka and Tsonga enjoying big wins in their opening matches.
A Wimbledon finalist just last month, and seeded No. 5 at the U.S. Open, Raonic double-faulted 15 times and was stunned in the second round at Flushing Meadows 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday by Ryan Harrison, a qualifier from the United States ranked only 120th.
The 24-year-old Harrison, who was considered a huge talent as a teenager, is now through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his career after the 6-7 (7-4) 7-5 7-5 6-1 victory.
“It’s mental maturity, a little bit of stabilization with everything around me that is allowing me to play with a sense of calm and also with excitement”, said Harrison, who turned pro almost a decade ago and reached a top ranking of 43rd in 2012.
She will now face Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist six years ago.
NEW YORK, USA – We pick Caroline Wozniacki to lead our Three to See, but of course all eyes again will turn to defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic to see if he can overcome some of his injury fears.
Ryan Harrison, of the United States, reacts after winning a game from Milos Raonic, of Canada, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, in NY.
Djokovic’s scouting report on the 6-foot-6 Vesely: “Big game, a big serve, big forehand, and moves well for his size”.
Still, he is the best player in the world so you don’t tip against him.
The 36-year-old Venus, enjoying a resurgence in a 2016 season that includes a WTA title in Taiwan, survived 63 unforced errors against the rising 22-year-old, although she was pleased that her aggressive approach also yielded 46 winners.
The 20th-seeded Isner beat Steve Darcis?- also coming off a five-set match – 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (10), 6-3 in 2 hours, 54 minutes Wednesday. Fellow Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, the French Open champ, faces 48th-ranked Anastasija Sevastova to open the session. Vesely and Andrey Kuznetsov were even at 5-5 in the first set of his third match in Winston-Salem when he stopped.
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Britain’s Kyle Edmund backed up his first round win over world number 15 Richard Gasquet with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 victory over United States wildcard Ernesto Escobedo.
