1. Djokovic into Second Round but New Concerns Over Fitness
Novak Djokovic opened the defence of his US Open title with a laboured 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win over Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz on Monday that brought new concerns about the world number one’s fitness.
Arriving at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic had struggled with a left wrist injury and undisclosed “private matters” and on Monday added a new worry as trainers were called out early in the opening set to work on his right forearm.
Several times during the two hour, 37 minute match, Djokovic could be seen grimacing hitting his powerful forehand while his serve hovered around an unthreatening 100 mph.
2. Rafael Nadal Beats Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin
Rafael Nadal was worn out from his Rio Olympics exertions after emerging from an injury absence to win the doubles gold, but the Spaniard perked back up with his trip to New York for the US Open.
Nadal, who said his injured wrist is improving daily, beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in his first-round match on Monday’s opening day of the year’s last grand slam.
I think I played a solid match for a lot of time, then was a tough moment in the middle of the second set but I think I resisted well and very happy for the victory. He’s a really dangerous player, so I’m very happy to be through.Rafael Nadal
3. India’s Saketh Myneni Loses in First Round
India’s Saketh Myneni went down to Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely in his first ever Grand Slam of his career. The Andhra Pradesh lad gave a tough fight and was also two sets to one up at one point of the match but eventually lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 5-7.
Myneni, who won 165 points totally in the match was just seven points behind his opponent, who won 172 points.
Vesely committed six unforced errors in the first set, but thereafter he raised his game and recorded only three unforced errors in the next four sets.
The Indian served more aces and lesser double faults than his opponent but Vesely ensured that he won the big points.
The Czech will face Djokovic in his next match.
4. Kerber, Muguruza Cruise to Second Round
The second seed Angelique Kerber, one of four women’s players who could emerge from Flushing Meadows as world number one, made a short and sweet start at the US Open on a hot, sunny Monday.
The world number two powered through her first set in 27 minutes before logging a 6-0, 1-0 victory when the 120th-ranked Polona Hercog of Slovenia retired because of leg cramps.
The number three seed Garbine Muguruza lost the first set of her first round match to Belgium’s Elise Mertens, but eventually registered a 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 win and moved into the next round.
Muguruza, who won six out of her 15 break points in the match, will be concerned about her serve as she recorded seven double faults during the first round encounter.
5. Olympic Gold Medallist Monica Puig Crashes Out
Sure, Monica Puig would have loved another week between the Olympics and the US Open to “come down from the high” of becoming Puerto Rico’s first gold medalist.
Then again, that’s not how the tennis calendar works. Puig realizes that if she wants to climb back to those heights, she’ll need to figure out this sort of turnaround.
For now, she’s a 22-year-old who was seeded 32nd at the US Open and lost her first-round match in straight sets. Zheng Saisai, ranked 61, upset Puig 6-4, 6-2 on Monday.
(With inputs from Reuters and AP.)
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