US Open Day 3 Round-up: Djokovic, Nadal, Serena through
The third day of action at Flushing Meadows saw the commencement of second round action in the singles events. After a number of upsets on Monday, the results in the top half of the draw went much more according to plan.
Easy sailing for the seeds:
Djokovic – Nadal headed for Quarterfinal showdown
After several upsets on the first day, it was business as usual for the seeds. 8th seed Rafael Nadal overcame Argentine Diego Schwartzmann 7-6(5) 6-3 7-5 to progress to the third round of the US Open. The Spaniard will have a tough match in the next round against Fabio Fognini, who has defeated him twice this year.
In the last match of the night session, top seed Novak Djokovic defeated Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to book a berth in the third round. The world number 1 will face Andreas Seppi in the next round.
In other notable results, 7th seed David Ferrer had to slug it out against Filip Krajinovic in three tough sets. Ferrer prevailed 7-5 7-5 7-6(4) in 2 hours and 23 minutes.
Defending champion Marin Cilic and Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga comfortably progressed to the third round with easy wins in their respective second round clashes.
10th seed Milos Raonic also won his second round match against Fernando Verdasco in four sets to book a third round meeting with Feliciano Lopez.
The only major upset of the day saw 17th seed Grigor Dimitrov losing to Mikhail Kukushkin in a 5 setter 6-3 7-6(2) 2-6 4-6 6-4.
American Ladies progress to the next round
In the women’s half of the draw, five Americans booked a spot in the third round. Top seed Serena Williams defeated Kiki Bertens in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-3.
The defending champion, who is gunning for a Calender Slam, was a break down at 4-5 in the opening set but Bertens couldn’t serve it out. Even after going 4-0 down in the tiebreak, the world number 1 fought back to take the opening set. With the momentum she had, Williams closed out the match in the second set to book a spot in the round of 32. Serena will face American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the third round.
Older sister Venus also secured a win in the second round, defeating American Irina Falconi 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2 in the first match of the night session at Arthur Ashe stadium. She will be up against rising star Belinda Bencic in the third round. Swiss Bencic saved three match points in her second round win over Misaki Doi.
Madison Keys and Madison Brengle were the other Americans to progress.
Meanwhile, the highest ranked Canadian player at the tournament, Eugenie Bouchard, showed glimpses of her lost form as she progressed to the third round after a 3-set win over Polona Hercog.
Upset of the day: Bryan brothers knocked out
In a major upset in the men’s doubles, defending champions Mike and Bob Bryan were knocked out by the American makeshift team of Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson. They won the match 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3. Querrey-Johnson could possibly face India’s Leander Paes and partner Fernando Verdasco in the second round. Paes-Verdasco begin their campaign on Thursday.
It was not only the top seeds who suffered. Even the second seeded pair of Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo were shown the door by unseeded pair of Dominic Inglot and Robert Lindstedt.
Farewell Mardy Fish
The American veteran finally hung up his boots after losing to 18th seed Feliciano Lopez in a tough 5-set encounter. Fish, who had announced his retirement before the start of the US Open, was on court in the first match of the day on Louis Armstrong stadium.
Both players exchanged the opening two sets, with Fish taking a two-sets-to-one lead after a dominant performance in the third set. Even in the fourth, Fish was in a commanding position but unable to capitalize on his chances.
In the end, the younger legs of Lopez outclassed the tired American in the deciding set to seal the match. Lopez won with a score line of 2-6 6-3 1-6 7-5 6-3.
Fish won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics and has won a total of 6 ATP tour titles in his career.
Good day for India
The Indian contingent had a good outing in the opening round of the doubles competition. 6th seeds Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea defeated the unseeded American pair of Austin Krajicek and Nicholas Monroe in straight sets 6-3 6-4.
Wimbledon champions Leander Paes and Martina Hingis also registered a straight sets win. The Indo-Swiss pair defeated Claire Liu and Taylor Harry Fritz 6-2 6-2 in the first round match of the mixed doubles competition.