Top seeded Novak Djokovic had no real trouble making it to the second round along with Daniil Medvedev who brushed aside his opponent in straight sets on day one at the 2019 US Open.
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Djokovic, who was playing Roberto Carballes Baena for the first time ever in his career, admitted before the match it’s always tough to go against a player like that and for a while it looked like the Serb might need some extra reserves of energy.
He was stretched to 4-4 in the first set but once the world number one found his bearing, there was no looking back for him. Djokovic broke his opponent to clinch the first set 6-4 and then went on a rampage to make it two sets to love up.
In the first set, Djokovic needed just one break of serve to finish off the match 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to round two of the competition.
In another opening round match, India’s hopes of seeing Prajnesh Gunneswaran in the second round were dashed when he lost to fifth seeded Medvedev in straight sets. Medvedev, who is one of the very few players outside the top three to have a chance of going all the way at this competition, demolished the Indian in straight sets.
The Russian won 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to continue from where he had left off in Cincinnati, where he won the title. Earlier, he was a finalist at the Washington Open and the Canadian Masters as well and was an overwhelming favourite heading into the game.
India’s other representation in the men’s singles draw is Sumit Nagal, but he has the unenviable task of facing Roger Federer in his opener.
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In one of the surprises in the women’s draw, three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber was sent packing by Kristina Mladenovic of France. Mladenovic, more known for her solid showing in the doubles circuit was a 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 winner over the 2016 US Open winner Kerber.
Since winning the 2018 Wimbledon, Kerber’s fallen off the pedestal, with a third round loss at Flushing Meadows last year followed by a fourth round defeat at the Australian Open this year. And that remained her best showing in Grand Slam tennis in 2019 with defeats in first, second and first round respectively in the next three majors.
32nd seeded Dayana Yastremska needed three sets to get past Monica Niculescu and set up a second round meeting with Rebecca Peterson of Sweden, while Lauren Davis defeated Johanna Larsson. Davis will now face Ash Barty in the second round.
Margarita Gasparyan and Fiona Ferro were the other first round winners, with the former now lined up to face Johanna Konta in her second round match.
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