US Open 2016: Rafael Nadal & Angelique Kerber through first round
| US Open |
|---|
| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August-11 September |
| Coverage: Live radio commentary on Radio 5 live sports extra plus live text coverage on the big matches on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Germany’s Angelique Kerber were among the leading names to make early progress on day one of the US Open in New York.
Kerber, seeded second in the women’s draw, led Polona Hercog 6-0 1-0 when the Slovenian succumbed to leg cramps.
Nadal, the men’s fourth seed and a two-time former champion, swept past Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-1 6-4 6-2.
World number one Novak Djokovic plays Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz in the first night-session match at 00:00 BST.
Nadal, who missed the French Open and Wimbledon with a wrist injury, said: “The most important thing is that I am here in New York. Injuries are part of the career. I had a hard time this year.”
There was an early shock in the men’s draw as Britain’s Kyle Edmund upset French 13th seed Richard Gasquet 6-2 6-2 6-3.
John Isner, the 20th seed, almost followed Gasquet out of the tournament but the American came back from two sets down to beat 18-year-old compatriot Frances Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-3).
“It hurts, it hurts a lot,” said Tiafoe, who served for the match in the fifth set. “Especially not getting over the line.”
Women’s third seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain avoided an upset as she fought back to beat Belgian Elise Mertens 2-6 6-0 6-3.
Olympic champion Monica Puig was beaten in her first match since winning gold in Rio, going down 6-4 6-2 to China’s Zheng Saisai.
Kerber resumes bid to be number one
Australian Open champion Kerber made it through to round two without dropping a game, as she looks to land a second major title and end Serena Williams’ 185-week run at the top of the rankings.
Kerber, 28, came within one match win of toppling the American eight days ago in Cincinnati, and Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska also have a chance to do so in New York.
“To be one day number one, I think this is a goal from everybody, especially also for me,” said Kerber.
“But I will not put too much pressure on myself because I know that when I put the pressure on, I’m not playing my tennis then.”
Monfils takes time out
Gael Monfils overcame Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller – and a close encounter with an on-court scoreboard – to progress to round two.
The Frenchman, seeded 10th, won 6-4 6-2 7-6 (7-5) to take his summer hard-court record to an impressive 15-2.
However, he almost came a cropper when he collided with a courtside clock on court 17, causing it to topple over and break.
“When you are in the moment you don’t feel really anything,” said Monfils. “Just jump. I saw a wall, but it was quite lucky.”