Spain’s Rafael Nadal looks to be in sublime touch after he dismissed Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-0 7-5 6-1 on Thursday. In the last match of the New York night, Nadal wrapped up the proceedings in a little over two hours. Seppi was demolished 6-0 in the first set, with Italian failing to stop the array of shots across the court by Nadal. Seppi looked dazed and was unable to serve any sort of challenge for the Spaniard.
The match also saw the debut of the new $150 million retractable roof atop the Arthur Ashe Stadium, as rain intervened when Nadal was serving a masterclass. Once the roof was set, Nadal continued with his demolition job and send the Italian packing.
Djokovic gets a walkover
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic received a walkover after his opponent Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic withdrew from the match. Vesely opted out owing to a left forearm inflammation, which gave Djokovic access to round three. Djokovic will face Mikhail Youzhny in the third round.
Raonic stunned by World No. 120
Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic made a shock exit after he lost to American qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-7(4) 7-5 7-5 6-1. Raonic was looking uncomfortable on court and was not at his physical best. The Canadian was all cramped up in the fourth and looked in complete distress.
Cilic through to round three with utter ease
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-1 6-2 6-3 in a match that lasted for exactly 100 minutes. Cilic did not break a sweat and completely dominated the match without giving his opponent a chance to make a comeback.
Muguruza stunned by World No. 48
French Open champion Garbine Muguruza lost to Latavia’s Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets. The third seed Spaniard fell 7-5 6-4 to the World No. 48. Muguruza was unable to play her natural game and looked in all sorts of trouble in the second set when she was 5-1 down. However, she saved two match points to make a comeback, but eventually lost 6-4.
Kerber on course
Germany’s Angelique Kerber beat Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia 6-2 7-6(7) to book her place in the next round. Kerber, who has a chance to become world No. 1 if results go her way, will face 17-year-old Cici Bellis of the United States next.
Wozniacki smiles her way through to next round
Caroline Wozniacki beat ninth seed and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-4 to progress to the next round. The former world No. 1 came back from 4-0 down in the first to bag the set and match against the aggressive Kuznetsova.
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