Pablo Cuevas fell to Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 7-6 (11-9), Benoit Paire suffered a 6-2 6-4 3-6 6-4 defeat to Marcos Baghdatis and Albert Ramos-Vinolas was beaten by Andrey Kuznetsov 7-5 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
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“It’s nice of course to come back but you have a lot of pressure”, said Vinci who was ranked 43 in the world this time previous year.
Milos was among the favorites to win the Slam, after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and the final of the Wimbledon, losing to Murray on both occasions. I think I didn’t play well.
Raonic, considered a potential title danger-man in NY, hit 69 winners but committed 62 unforced errors.
In other action, two-time U.S. Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki beat a top-10 opponent for the first time in almost a year, turning things around after dropping the first four games and eliminating 2004 U.S. Open champion champ Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-4. “It was a result of over-exuberance”, said 25-year-old Raonic who claimed that the pain eventually spread to his back and arms and that, as a result, he was unable to carry his bags.
“It was just catching me all over”, Raonic said.
The third seed fell 7-5, 6-4 to Anastasija Sevastova, who returned to tennis last season after a almost two-year retirement.
Sock upset Cilic in five sets in Davis Cup play in July, overcoming a two-set deficit to pull off the win.
John Isner of the United States fired 38 aces to beat Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (10/12), 6-3 and next faces Edmund. “I wouldn’t say I was happy to hear that it was cramping once I heard from the chair that he was getting cramping treatments, but you’re certainly happy that it’s not like a tear in the hamstring or something like that where he’s in jeopardy of being out for a long time”. The top-seeded Djokovic had faced a potentially tricky matchup with Jiri Vesely, who defeated him last spring in their only meeting.
“It’s part of history and I am very happy to be the first to play under the roof”, said Nadal, who was also the first to practice beneath the roof on the cavernous 22,000-capacity arena. He had been 0-6 in second-round matches.
After a medical timeout, the Briton dropped the second set before heading off on a lengthy toilet break which did little to help her opponent’s composure in the decider.
Johanna Konta has won a three-set match after collapsing to the court late in the second.
“I’m a little embarrassed”. Nadal obliged, but couldn’t get the ball far enough, then said with a smile: “Impossible for me”.
“If I make the second week, I’ll be happy”, said Kvitova, keen to dampen down expectations. Angelique Kerber made the last 32 by seeing off Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
Also on Ashe on Wednesday and also nursing a left wrist injury is fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal, who faces Andreas Seppi.
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Seventh seeds Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Barbora Strycova too got the better of unseeded American pairing of Jada Myii Hart and Ena Shibahara 6-2, 6-3 in women’s doubles, while Paes and his mixed doubles partner Martina Hingis won 6-3, 6-2 against Americans Sachia Vickery and Frances Tiafoe.
