“I shouldn’t let the moment get the best of me”, he said, “and it did for a bit”.
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Could Venus Williams win a first major in eight years? The heavy rain outside made quite a clatter on the new roof, and Murray said in his on-court interview that it was tough at first because it was hard to hear the ball.
China s Zhang Shuai knocked former champion – and her current doubles partner – Samantha Stosur out of the US Open and admitted she had surprised herself with her 6-3, 6-3 win. Rain has often been a schedule-wreaker at the U.S. Open, where the men’s final was postponed five consecutive years from 2008-12.
“I’m sure if the feedback is that the TV or the spectators aren’t enjoying the match as much”, Murray said, “then they will look into it and try and change it”.
The 36-year-old has been resurgent in the last couple of years and made the semi-finals at Wimbledon, and her form appears to be just as good in NY this year.
Serena Williams won in straight sets again and tied a major record, yet the World No. 1 was not satisfied with her performance in the US Open second round. I can fit in my clothes, I feel good.
Only Roger Federer, with 307, has won more Grand Slam matches than Williams in the Open era, which dates to 1968 – and he won’t add to that total during this tournament because he is out for the season as he rehabs his surgically repaired left knee.
The elder Williams sister continued her career resurgence at her home Grand Slam, beating Goerges 6-2 6-3 on Thursday for her 70th win at the tournament.
Among winners on the outer courts when the rain relented were 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori and French Open semifinalist Dominic Thiem.
On a midweek morning session with the roof closed and a sparse crowd sprinkled through the massive stadium, Arthur Ashe had a vacuous, sterile atmosphere.
The seventh-seeded Cilic needed just 1 hour, 40 minutes to beat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday.
“We’re lucky that we get to play under the roof because otherwise there’d be no tennis”, Murray said.
Also advancing to the third round is Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Briton Naomi Broady 7-6 (11-9) 6-3.
Juan Martin del Potro, who has undergone four wrist surgeries since lifting the US Open trophy in 2009, was scheduled to close the action on Ashe against 19th-seeded American Steve Johnson.
Andy Murray was also in action, and he made short work of unseeded Marcel Granollers.
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Earlier on day three Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep advanced to the third round with a 6-3 6-4 win over Lucie Safarova in the first full match played under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
