Vesely has won five of his last seven matches on hard court. “I have great memories here and I always love coming back to NY”. Injuries are part of the career.
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“For the first set, I was feeling that he was not hitting hard”, Istomin said.
Djokovic might have been in trouble on another day at Flushing Meadows but Janowicz has advanced beyond the first round just once in four previous visits here.
It was just prevention.
“I think I played a solid match for a lot of time, then was a tough moment in the middle of the second set but I think I resisted well and very happy for the victory”, Nadal said on court. CiCi Bellis beat Dominika Cibulkova in 2014 and Sachia Vickery beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in 2013.
Jerzy Janowicz was too sloppy, erratic and out of practice to take advantage of Djokovic being hampered by a problem with his right elbow on top of his wrist injury. He flexed that right arm, the one he has used to wield a racket on the way to 12 Grand Slam titles, and appeared generally unhappy, covering his head with a white towel at changeovers. It’s good, as I said, just to finish the match.
Djokovic came into the year’s last major with a wrist injury, yet seems to have concerns over his arm at Flushing Meadows. “There are periods where you aren’t 100%”.
Djokovic is scheduled for a second round matchup against Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic, who took five sets to dispose of Saketh Mynei of India in his first round matchup.
In the women’s event, Roland Garros victor Garbine Muguruza required three sets and a visit from the doctor before she survived.
But the French Open champion needed courtside treatment from a doctor after dropping the first set. Fellow Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, the French Open champ, faces 48th-ranked Anastasija Sevastova to open the session.
Kyle Edmund beats Richard Gasquet in a straight sets victory 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Isner, who fired 35 aces, triumphed 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) after three and a half hours against the youngest player in the draw.
The Frenchman, seeded 10th, won 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7-5).
Monfils nearly suffered a freak accident when a giant courtside clock fell towards him as he collided with the back wall, chasing down a Muller shot.
This was the world No. 1’s first match at a major tournament since losing to Sam Querrey in the third round of Wimbledon, which ended the Serb’s bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam after titles at the Australian Open and French Open.
20th seed John Isner, nearly followed Gasquet out of the tournament but the American came back strong to beat 18-year-old compatriot Frances Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-3).
Last year’s beaten finalist, and conqueror of Serena Williams in the semi-finals, Roberta Vinci, had the honour of kicking off proceedings on the renovated Arthur Ashe Stadium, which had a retractable roof installed on it over the past two years.
However, the old Grandstand court, due to be demolished after the tournament, was pressed into action after Court 10 was deemed unplayable.
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Depending on how they feel across this fortnight, the injuries to Nadal and Djokovic could open the way for Murray to continue his brilliant late-season run.
