Murray Dominates Rosol At US Open, Karlovic Sets Ace Record; Djokovic, Nadal Return Wednesday
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Andy Murray opened his US Open in near perfect form blasting past Lukas Rosol 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
2014 finalist Kei Nishikori needed four set to put away Benjamin Becker 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Nishikori and Murray could meet in the quarterfinals.
Former champion Juan Martin del Potro had no trouble beating countryman Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(3). It was del Potro’s first match back at the US Open since 2013.
“I am so glad to be part of this tournament once again after three years,” del Potro said. “I really appreciate the wild card who give me to have the chance to play, and that’s important for me. Always, in every match here at the US Open, the crowd make me feels special. I really like the atmospheres down there. They create another things in every court. It’s amazing for me just having the chance to play here once again.”
Two-time semifinalist Stan Wawrinka didn’t drop serve in a tough 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Fernando Verdasco. The Spaniard beat Wawrinka earlier this summer at Queen’s.
“I’m really happy,” the Swiss said. “I think it was a great match, especially for first round. You never expect to play your best game and full of confidence, but I think the level was quite high.
“Right now I know I’m ready for here, for the tournament. And now I’m going to see how I’m going to deal with the pressure, with the match, and trying to play the best I can until as far as I can.”
Speaking of serves, Ivo Karlovic set a new record for aces at the US Open smashing 61 in a 5-set 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-5 win over Yen-Hsun Lu. The tally is still short of Karlovic’s personal best of 78 at the 2009 Davis Cup but he bested Richard Krajicek’s 49 from the 1999 Open.
Also needing five sets were Dominic Thiem (John Millman), Viktor Troicki (Radu Albot), Alessandro Gianessi (Denis Kudla) and American Steve Johnson who pulled the comeback of the day, and maybe the season, in beating Evgeny Donskoy.
Johnson was down two sets serving 2-5 and 0-40 and came back to win it saving six matchpoints in the end.
Fellow American Sam Querrey fell to Janko Tipsarevic in four.
While the oldest man in the draw, Radek Stepanek lost, youngsters Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov both won their maiden US Open matches as did Jared Donaldson who stunned No. 12 seed David Goffin in four 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-0. The Belgian double faulted 17 times in defeat.
And Nick Kyrgios advanced while Bernard Tomic was bounced.
On Wednesday, second round play begins with Novak Djokovic getting a rematch with the man who beat him in Monte Carlo, Jiri Vesely. Djokovic is fighting an assortment of injuries these days, among other things!
Rafael Nadal returns to face Italian veteran Andreas Seppi and Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils are back on court.
US OPEN WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Arthur Ashe Stadium 11:00 AM Start
Petra Kvitova (CZE)[14] vs. Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR)
Not Before: 1:00 PM
Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)[9]
Novak Djokovic (SRB)[1] vs. Jiri Vesely (CZE)
Arthur Ashe Stadium 7:00 PM Start
Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs. Garbine Muguruza (ESP)[3]
Rafael Nadal (ESP)[4] vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Louis Armstrong Stadium 11:00 AM Start
Roberta Vinci (ITA)[7] vs. Christina McHale (USA)
John Isner (USA)[20] vs. Steve Darcis (BEL)
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) vs. Angelique Kerber (GER)[2]
Jack Sock (USA)[26] vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)
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