Frustrated Ana loses, Serena wins
Ana Ivanovic is out of the US Open in the first round for the second straight year after a 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 loss to Denisa Allertova, of the Czech Republic.
Ivanovic is a former No 1 player and 2008 French Open winner who has slipped to No 31 in the rankings.
The Serb was serving for the first set at 6-5 yesterday but struggled with her serve and faltered in the tiebreaker. She finished with seven double-faults and 41 unforced errors.
The loss left Ivanovic searching for answers about how she can climb back up the rankings.
‘‘I feel like I have been putting a lot of work on the court and in the gym over the year,’’ she said. ’’It’s been very frustrating not getting anything in return, because I really feel like I invested my heart and also the work.’’
Ivanovic, who turns 29 in November, said she’s not considering retirement. She married German soccer star Bastian Schweinsteiger this summer, and he will play his last match for the national team today.
‘‘No, not at all,’’ she said. ‘‘I just need to really see why is this happening.’’
Serena Williams won her first round match, 6-3 6-3, over Ekaterina Makarova to join her sister Venus in the second round.
Williams, whose status as world No 1 is under attack from several fronts, delivered a message that she will not be surrendering the top spot without a fight, needing just 63 minutes to dispatch the 29th-ranked Russian.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, who have both beaten Williams in slam finals this season, along with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, will all be eyeing the No 1 ranking should the American’s bid for a 23rd grand slam title stall.
Williams has owned the No 1 spot since February 18, 2013, and will extend her streak to 186 consecutive weeks by the end of the US Open fortnight, tying the WTA record held by Steffi Graf.
Back on Arthur Ashe Stadium court for the first time since a shock loss to Italy’s Roberta Vinci in last year’s US Open semifinals, Williams made quick work of Makarova to follow the lead of her sister Venus.
Sixth-seeded Venus outlasted Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova 6-2 5-7 6-4.
Earlier, fifth seed Simona Halep of Romania blasted her way into the second round by demolishing Kirsten Flipkens 6-0 6-2 and underlining her credentials as a potential grand slam winner.
In the men’s draw, No 2 seed Andy Murray had a a late-night 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory over Czech Lukas Rosol, effortlessly advancing without facing a single break point.
‘‘I served very well,’’ said Murray, who set up a second round encounter against Marcel Granollers, of Spain.
‘‘It was a tough start to the match, he had a few chances early on but once I got the break up, I played well.’’
Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 champion, won his opening match in his first US Open since 2013.
Del Potro beat fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-4 6-4 7-6 (3) after missing the tournament the last two years because of three left wrist surgeries.
Del Potro is ranked just 142nd and needed a wild card to get in. But he proved with his unexpected silver medal at the Olympics that he can contend again.
‘‘The worst part of my life is totally in the past,’’ del Potro said, ‘‘and I’m living a good present and looking forward for a good future.’’
- AP and Reuters