Nadal Untroubled In US Open First Round

Rafael Nadal improved his perfect record in US Open first-round matches to 12-0 Monday as he began his quest for a third US Open title. Nadal defeated Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to charge into the second round.

Champion here in 2010 and ’13, Nadal advances to play Italian veteran Andreas Seppi, a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 winner over Frenchman Stephane Robert.

Nadal is chasing his third title of 2016 (Monte-Carlo, Barcelona). Since his 2013 US Open triumph, Nadal has won just one hard-court title, more than two and a half years ago in Doha, 2014.

The Spaniard has won 14 majors, tied with Pete Sampras for second all-time, behind only Roger Federer with 17.