Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the third round of a major for the 33rd successive time without hitting a ball when his scheduled opponent pulled out with an injury.
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Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a shot to Jerzy Janowicz, of Poland, during the first round of the US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in NY.
Djokovic admitted last week an injury to his left wrist had not completely healed but it was a problem with his right elbow that seemed to cause the top seed most discomfort in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It is very tough to see the players outside of the tour”.
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.
It was a good day for the seeds, with Gasquet (13th seed) and Martin Klizan (28th) the only losers.
“I think in that instance I actually probably played the best return game I played all match”, Isner said of the break back.
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Denis Istomin, of Uzbekistan, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in NY.
“The most important thing is I’m here in NY and that makes me happy”, said Spain’s 14-times grand slam victor, who could not continue through the French Open and also missed Wimbledon and the Toronto event due to his wrist injury.
Djokovic had to call the trainer five games into the match and his usually potent serve was under-strength, as he battled past the Pole in four sets. Possible fatigue may be an issue for the 23-year-old Vesely, but then again, he’s playing Djokovic who played late Monday night and ended his match past 11 at night. The second-set loss was the first set dropped by Djokovic in the first round of a major tournament since 2010. Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., fired 15 aces to Brown’s two and totalled 41 winners en route to the 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Gasquet was thrashed by Brit Kyle Edmund, suffering a 6-2 6-2 6-3 defeat.
The good news for Nadal, he said afterwards, is that the pain is gone from his wrist, which whips those violent, topspin-heavy forehands that are the key to his success – 14 of his 21 winners came off that wing.
Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion, eased past Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 7-5, 6-1. Fellow Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, the French Open champ, faces 48th-ranked Anastasija Sevastova to open the session.
Janowicz was too careless to capitalise on any weakness in his opponent’s armour but Djokovic will have to survive tougher tests if he is to win his 13th grand slam title in NY.
Vinci, who is seeded No. 7, overcame some second-set jitters to beat 46th-ranked Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany, 6-2, 6-4.
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Angelique Kerber, the second seeded Australian Open champion, made the last 32 by seeing off 34-year-old Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia 6-2, 7-6 (9/7).
