Seconds later Monday night, a weak serve produced a wince, then was followed by a missed forehand that gave away a set in the defending champion’s first-round match at the U.S. Open.
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The Serbian called the trainer just five games in and then moped his way through the rest of the contest en route to a 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-1 victory over the Pole.
In the women’s event, Roland Garros victor Garbine Muguruza required three sets and a visit from the doctor before she survived. After Rio, the world No. 1 disclosed that he was suffering from a left wrist injury and was going to skip all tournaments until the US Open. It’s good, as I said, just to finish the match.
Novak Djokovic dismissed fears of serious injury after winning the opening match of his title defense at the US Open. “There are days weeks, periods of the year when you are not feeling 100 percent”.
Djokovic did not address his wrist and arm injuries until prodded a second time.
His opponent, Jiri Vesely, who hit a career high ranking of 35 last season is a powerful albeit inconsistent player on the ATP Tennis circuit.
“Different surface, different circumstances, best-of-five”, said Djokovic, a 12-times grand slam champion who lost early at Wimbledon this year and also at the Rio Olympics this month. He won both Wimbledon and Olympic gold for a second time each, but did not have to play Djokovic in either event.
“There is no doubt that every tournament is missing him”. I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about it now.
A US Open finalist in five of the last six years, Djokovic next faces Czech Jiri Vesely, a five-set victor over Indian qualifier Saketh Myneni. Upon his arrival in NY, he acknowledged a recurring left wrist injury. “It’s hard to put up a show after Phil Collins”, said Djokovic in the on-court interview following his win.
Cilic is coming off his first Masters title, beating Andy Murray in the final at Cincinnati.
The wrist appeared to be just fine against Janowicz, a former top-20 player who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2013 and is now ranked 247th after his own series of injuries. He has twice made it to the second round at the French Open.
Venus and Serena Williams are among the featured matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open.
“For me personally, the Olympics is the closest thing to a grand slam”, Nadal said.
Muguruza plays Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia for a place in the last 32. The Frenchman, seeded 10th, won 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7-5).
Keys, seeded eighth, beat her fellow American 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 in two hours and 25 minutes.
Flamboyant French 10th seed Gael Monfils took his summer hardcourt record to 15-2 with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 win over Gilles Muller of Luxemburg.
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.
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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.
