The big Czech who shocked Novak Djokovic in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters is not to be taken lightly considering he is capable of destroying the opposition on his day.
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When the subject arose at his news conference, Djokovic again avoided addressing the topic, saying the trainer’s visit “was just prevention; it’s all good”. One area, if he improves his second serve a little bit.
One could easily tell the right arm injury was bothering him even after treatment, as his serve was clocked at only 100 miles per hour – or about 25 miles per hour less than his usual average.
Djokovic’s coach, Boris Becker, gnawed on his fingernails, looking nervous as can be.
“To be honest, I take it day by day”, said Djokovic, who is seeking to win his 13th career major, one shy of Nadal and Pete Sampras’ 14 and four behind Federer’s all-time mark of 17.
There were 11 five-setters on a warm day at Flushing Meadows, including John Isner coming from two-sets-to-love down to beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe. And 26th-seeded Jack Sock’s five-set victory over 18-year-old Taylor Fritz in another all-American matchup.
Rafa Nadal was worn out from his Rio Olympics exertions after emerging from an injury absence to win doubles gold, but the Spaniard perked back up with his trip to NY for the US Open. He had played in two previous Grand Slam tournaments, losing in the first round both times.
Like Djokovic, Nadal is suffering the after-effects of injury after a serious problem with his left wrist sidelined him from midway through the French Open until the Rio Olympics.
“It’s good, as I said, just to finish the match”.
The German, who could leave NY with the world number one ranking in a fortnight’s time, next faces Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and remains on track to face two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the fourth round.
South Africa’s Kevin Anderson saw off Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4.
Myneni’s first ever appearance in the singles draw of a Grand Slam thus ended in disappointment.
The world number one came through a 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-1 triumph to reach the second round of the Grand Slam, which he has won twice.
Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champ, beat 108th-ranked Rogerio Dutra Silva on Monday and is through to the second round with a straight-set win.
The Flushing Meadows complex was showcasing its gleaming $600 million refit which includes a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe and a brand new Grandstand court.
Just last week Vesely had beaten defending champion Kevin Anderson in the ATP tournament in Winston-Salem before retiring from his quarter-final match against Andrey Kuznetsov with the same injury.
The bad news for Nadal? “I need confidence and I need to keep practicing the forehand”.
“He has a big game, big serve, big forehand, and moves well for his size”.
Istomin, ranked 107th, was not likely to give Nadal much of a test.
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“It was hard to put up a show after Phil Collins, he’s a legend”, Djokovic said afterwards, before jigging on the court and singing: “I can’t dance, I can’t talk”.
