Halep, a victor of three WTA Tour events this season, including a hardcourt event in Montreal, carried her superb form into Flushing Meadows as she needed just one hour on a sun-splashed but nearly vacant Arthur Ashe Stadium court to dismiss the 56th-ranked Belgian.
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On his arm injury, Djokovic said: “It’s never easy to play at this level throughout the year”.
Djokovic was handed a walkover when Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic withdrew from their second round encounter suffering an inflammation of the left forearm.
World number one Novak Djokovic insists his arm is “all good” despite needing treatment during his first-round win over Jerzy Janowicz at the US Open. “I loved every bit of support I got from my family and friends here”, Saketh said after his match. I like playing there, especially with the roof construction.
Kei Nishikori, glad to be back on the NY hard courts where he became Asia’s first men’s Grand Slam finalist, reached the second round of the US Open Tuesday.
Kvitova, the 14th seeded Czech who recorded her best performance in NY 12 months ago when she made the last-eight, beat Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
“This is a big win for me”.
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No. 9 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga joined them in advancing, but his French countryman Richard Gasquet was the biggest casualty. “That’s what I feel at the moment”, Djokovic said.
Second seed Angelique Kerber is also through, failing to drop a game before her opponent retired hurt.
He still is working on feeling comfortable hitting down-the-line forehands, in particular, after sitting out – not just zero real matches, but barely any practice, either – from his withdrawal at the French Open in late May to the Olympics.
“It was an unfortunate time as I had my momentum going”.
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.
Kerber faces either Shelby Rogers or CiCi Bellis, both of the United States, for a place in the last 16.
Slovak 12th seed Dominika Cibulkova overcame a left-thigh injury to see off Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, winning 17 of the last 18 points.
Petra Kvitova defeated Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-3.
Edmund, ranked 84th, had 40 winners, 21 on his forehand.
South Africa’s Kevin Anderson saw off Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4. The seventh-seeded Croatian, who beat world No. 2 Andy Murray in the Cincinnati Open final last week, eased past the Brazilian world No. 108.
The 10th seed went on to win the match in straight sets 6-4 6-2 7-6.
Roberta Vinci eased into the second round beating Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2, 6-4.
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Later yesterday, Spanish fourth seed Rafael Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion, takes a 7-1 career record over Italy’s Andreas Seppi into their night time clash. And third-seeded Garbine Muguruza, who won the French Open, faces Anastasija Sevastova.
