Big names sans Murray march on
New York, Aug. 30: World number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal steamed into the third round on another scorching day at the US Open on Wednesday with a straight- sets win over Vasek Pospisil.
Nadal, spared the worst of the heat thanks to his late- night start on Arthur Ashe Stadium, sped past Pospisil 6- 3, 6- 4, 6- 2.
His only hiccup came in the second set, when he dropped his serve to fall 24 down.
Former champions Stan Wawrinka and Juan Martin del Potro also advanced, while 2012 winner Andy Murray, like Wawrinka back at Flushing Meadows after missing last year through injury, was bounced by Fernando Verdasco.
Wawrinka survived searing mid- day heat and a spirited Ugo Humbert to prevail 7- 6 ( 7/ 5), 4- 6, 6- 3, 7- 5 in three hours and 21 minutes.
Murray, the 2012 US Open winner, who was playing his first Grand Slam in 14 months, is still fighting to find full fitness after hip surgery in January.
He gave himself a mixed review after a 7- 5, 2- 6, 6- 4, 6- 4 loss to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, whose only win over Murray in 14 prior meetings was at the 2009 Australian Open.
Del Potro defeated American Denis Kudla 6- 3, 6- 1, 7- 6 ( 7/ 4).
Fifth- seeded South African Kevin Anderson, runner- up to Nadal last year and a runner- up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, made quick work of France’s Jeremy Chardy, 6- 2, 6- 4, 6- 4.
Anderson next faces rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov, who labored to a 6- 4, 4- 6, 5- 7, 7- 6 ( 7/ 2), 64 victory over Italian Andreas Seppi.
SERENA, VENUS IN FOR 30TH DUEL Serena and Venus Williams set up a 30th career meeting as the US Open reeled from a sexism row sparked when a player changed her shirt on court.
Six- time champion Serena eased into Friday’s third round encounter against her sister with a 62 6- 2 win over German world number 101 Carina Witthoeft on the back of 30 winners and 13 aces.
Venus, the 2000 and 2001 champion, made the third round for the 17th time with a 6- 4 7- 5 victory over Camila Giorgi of Italy.
Friday’s match will be the earliest the sisters have met at a Slam since the 1998 Australian Open in what was also their first ever clash. It will be their sixth face- off in New York.
Defending champion and third seed Sloane Stephens also made the third round with a marathon 4- 6 7- 5 6- 2 win over Ukraine qualifier Anhelina Kalinina. Victoria Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 runnerup, made the third round for the first time in three years with a 6- 1 6- 2 win against Australian 25th seed Daria Gavrilova.