Serena and Nadal off to good starts

New York, Aug. 28: Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal sent close friend David Ferrer into Grand Slam retirement on Monday when his veteran compatriot was forced to quit their first round match with injury, but former winners Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka made successful returns to New York.

Ferrer, a former world number three but now standing at a lowly 148, called it quits on a hot and humid night on Arthur Ashe Stadium despite leading 4-3 with a break in the second set after twice receiving treatment on a left leg injury. Top seed Nadal had taken the opener 6-3.

Former world number one Murray marked his first Grand Slam tournament in 14 months with a 67 (5/7), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 win over Australia’s James Duckworth. Murray goes on to face Fernando Verdasco. Former champion Wawrinka showed no sign of rustiness, defeating eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-3, 62, 7-5.

Four seeded men — No. 8 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 16 Kyle Edmund and No. 19 Roberto Bautista Agut lost their matches.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams launched her bid for a recordequalling 24th Grand Slam victory with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Poland’s Magda Linette. Venus outlasted another former champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3, 57, 6-3. Howver, defending champion Sloane Stephens held on for a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Russian Evgeniya Rodina. — AFP