DJOKER ON A ROLL

Novak, Zverev into second round of US Open

New York, Sept. 1: Pretournament favorite 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 No.1 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-hourlong 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 23-yearold proved too much for the South African veteran, winning the third set 6-3 and the fourth 7-5.

Afterwards he shared a moment on a big screen with his tennis-playing brother Mischa Zverev who was beamed into the stadium from his sofa at home.

“I am actually quite happy with a first round like that,” said Zverev, who reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open earlier this year. —

AP Naomi Osaka of Japan wears a mask in honour of Breonna Taylor as she celebrates after defeating Misaki Doi of Japan during the first round of the US Open tennis championships in New York on Monday. —