Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic opened the defense of his US Open title with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win over Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz on Monday, but the labored performance gave rise to fresh concerns about the world number one’s fitness.
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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.
Djokovic’s scouting report on the 6-foot-6 Vesely: “Big game, a big serve, big forehand, and moves well for his size”.
Djokovic next faces Jiri Vesely, the Czech who knocked him out of Monte Carlo this year.
Up 3-2 in the opening set, Djokovic called for a medical time out during the changeover as Janowicz took a seat in the stands while the world number one had his forearm massaged.
Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil earned his first Grand Slam victory of they year, downing Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik in straight sets.
“He’s a really unsafe player, so I’m very happy to be through”.
Asked about his health during an on-court interview, Djokovic deflected the question, saying, “I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about this now”.
Nadal said he is re-energised being in NY after feeling worn out two weeks ago in Cincinnati, where he lost his second match after flying in from Rio.
Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion and victor in Cincinnati last week, eased past Brazil’s Rogerio Silva 6-4, 7-5, 6-1 while flamboyant French 10th seed Gael Monfils took his summer hard court record to 15-2 with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 win over Gilles Muller of Luxemburg.
“The most important thing is that I am here in NY”. That is coming, because I feel the wrist much better, and every day feel that the wrist a little bit better.
Still, even if the weather is dry, the new $150 million retractable roof atop the tournament’s main arena will make a debut of sorts: The U.S. Tennis Association plans to shut the structure after the day session, then open it while Phil Collins performs “In the Air Tonight” during the opening-night ceremony.
Nadal, who said his injured wrist is improving daily, beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, in his firstround match on Monday.
McEnroe cited his various media commitments as being a hindrance to his coaching duties with 25-year-old Canadian at Wimbledon, despite the world No. 6 making it all the way to his first grand slam final.
Next up for Kerber will be Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia, who beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-1.
24th seed Belinda Bencic and former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova also progressed, while Madison Keys rallied from a set down to defeat compatriot Alison Riske in a match that lasted just short of two-and-a-half hours.
Djokovic may yet recuperate – he has proved his powers of recovery before – but his body will have to pass far stiffer tests if he is to lift a 13th grand slam title in two weeks’ time.
Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion, won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 and will face Italian veteran Andreas Seppi for a place in the last 32.
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John Isner came from two sets down to deny Tiafoe 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in 3 hours, 28 minutes.
