NOLE NAILS IT
Djokovic rolls into 2nd round with Zverev, Tsitsipas
New York, Sept. 1: Pretournament favourite Novak Djokovic marched into round two of the US Open Monday as he launched his bid for a 18th Grand Slam with a straight- sets win.
The world number one dispatched unheralded Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia- Herzegovina 6- 1, 6- 4, 6- 1 under floodlights at an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The Serbian superstar took just 23 minutes to win the first set before laboring to a narrow victory in an hour- long second set.
With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer absent, Djokovic is looking to close the gap on them in the race for the all- time men’s singles Grand Slam record. Djokovic currently has 17, behind Nadal on 19 and Federer on 20.
Earlier, fifth seed Alexander Zverev was made to work hard as he progressed into round two of the US Open Monday following a three- hour- long tussle with 2017 finalist Kevan Anderson.
The German, seeking his first Grand Slam title, took the first set on a tie- break 7- 6 ( 7/ 2) before losing the second 7- 5 in an eerily empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Ultimately, the 23year- old proved too much for the South African veteran, winning the third set 6- 3 and the fourth 7- 5. Afterwards he shared
moment on a big screen with his tennisplaying brother Mischa Zverev who was beamed into the stadium from his sofa at home.
Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas eased into the second round of the Flushing Meadows tournament, which is being played without fans due to coronavirus, with a straightsets win over Spain’s Albert Ramos- Vinolas.
‘ TWO DOGS’
The Greek player needed just one hour and 38 minutes to dispose of the world number 41, 62, 6- 1, 6- 1.
The 22- year- old Tsitsipas, sixth on the ATP rankings, will play American wildcard Maxime Cressy after he defeated Slovakian Jozef Kovalik, ranked 123 in the world, 6- 1, 2- 6, 6- 4, 64.
Britain’s Cameron Norrie enjoyed one of the day’s most impressive wins, charging back from two sets down to sink Argentine ninth seen Diego Schwartzman 36, 4- 6, 6- 2, 6- 1, 7- 5.
“It shows that it was just two dogs out there battling with no serves really,” said the 76thranked Norrie, will face another Argentine, Federico Coria, for a place in the third round.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw on day one, 12th seed Canadian Denis Shapovalov required four sets to overcome US wildcard Sebastian Korda.