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Rediff.com  » Sports » US Open PHOTOS: Federer cruises, Murray swats aside Kyrgios

US Open PHOTOS: Federer cruises, Murray swats aside Kyrgios

September 02, 2015 09:21 IST
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Check out the images from Day 2 at the US Open tennis tournament in New York, on Tuesday.

Roger Federer

IMAGE: Roger Federer returns a shot. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Roger Federer glided to victory on another hot, steamy day at the US Open, the envy of a clutch of men's players made to work overtime on Tuesday at the season's final Grand Slam.

Federer, who has been in sizzling form since reaching the Wimbledon finals, dashed past 34th-ranked Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to launch his campaign for a sixth US Open crown and first Slam title since the 2012 Wimbledon.

"I got off to a good start and he was a bit shaky. I was very happy," said Federer. "My serve got better and better as the match went on. Conditions are fast, so I was trying to play fast-court tennis and it worked very well today."

The 34-year-old Swiss, looking cool in the 90-plus degree heat after his light, first-round exertions, next faces either Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus or Belgian Steve Darcis.

Composed Murray swats aside Kyrgios

IMAGE: Andy Murray (left) shakes hands with Nick Kyrgios after the match. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Third-seeded Briton Andy Murray put on a composed display to overcome the mercurial Nick Kyrgios 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights to reach the second round.

The 20-year-old Kyrgios showed off his powerful serve and groundstrokes but the 37th-ranked Australian frequently substituted efficiency for showmanship and failed to take advantage of his numerous opportunities.

Murray, the 2012 US Open champion and 2013 Wimbledon winner, played straight man to the flippant Australian, who unnecessarily tried 'tweener' shots through his legs and jumped extravagantly on routine forehands that he buried into the net.

The Australian, playing under an ATP Tour probation for crude personal comments made to Stan Wawrinka during a match in Montreal last month, should have made the contest much closer but could only convert three of 14 break point opportunities.

The Scotsman had beaten Kyrgios in straight sets in their three previous meetings, eliminating him this year from two other grand slams, in the Australian quarter-finals and third round of the French Open.

"He's unpredictable, he can play all of the shots and he's a fantastic athlete," Murray said in an on-court interview with ESPN. "It was a very tricky match and I just fought hard and managed to get through."

Halep advances after opponent retires

Simona Halep

IMAGE: Simona Halep serves during her first round match. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Women's second seed Simona Halep also had an abbreviated match as she advanced 6-2, 3-0 after New Zealand's Marina Erakovic retired with a knee injury.

The in-form Halep, who reached the finals at US Open tune-up events in Toronto and Cincinnati, barely broke a sweat on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, needing a mere 47 minutes to see off the 99th-ranked New Zealander.

Wozniacki sprints to victory

Caroline Wozniacki

IMAGE: Caroline Wozniacki returns a shot. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Also sprinting to victory was fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki, who dismissed US national college champion Jamie Loeb 6-2, 6-0.

The women's draw continued to produce upsets for a second consecutive day as Czech sixth seed and French Open finalist Lucie Safarova fell 6-4, 6-1 to Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko.

Strycova knocks out Strycova

Fourteenth seed Timea Strycova of Switzerland was also shown the door, ushered out by 42nd-ranked Czech Barbora Strycova 7-5 6-0.

They joined Monday's first-round casualties that included Serbian seventh seed Ana Ivanovic, eighth seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova and 10th-seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.

"I wasn't surprised (by the upsets), it is normal," said 23-year-old Halep. "Everyone is fighting like crazy because it's the last Grand Slam (of the year)."

Hewitt extends US Open farewell with a win

Lleyton Hewitt

IMAGE: Lleyton Hewitt celebrates after winning his first round match. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

A fist-pumping Lleyton Hewitt turned back the clock as he wore down an injured Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-0 7-6(2) 1-0 on Tuesday to extend his U.S. Open grand slam goodbye.

Playing on a small outside court in the shadow of the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium that provided the stage 14 years earlier for the brash Australian's win over Pete Sampras in the U.S. Open final, Hewitt typically appeared up for a fight.

"Obviously everyone has to call 'time' at some stage," offered a philosophical Hewitt. "I'm very comfortable with how it's all panning out at the moment."

Set to retire after next year's Australian Open, Hewitt may have lost a step and his groundstrokes are not quite as ferocious but the 34-year-old showed he has lost none of his combativeness, particularly in a ruthless first set that ended with Nedovyesov calling for the trainer to treat his shoulder.

With his wounded opponent on the ropes, Hewitt showed the Kazak no mercy and forced the second set to a tiebreak which he easily won 7-2. After the Australian grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third, Nedovyesov threw his racquet towards his chair and waved the white flag.

In many ways, it was a typical performance from the battling Australian who constructed a career around a relentless fighting spirit that became one of his calling cards.

American Young's great comeback against Simon

IMAGE: Donald Young celebrates after winning his first round match. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Three players in the bottom half of the men's draw had to go the distance in the severe heat at Flushing Meadows, including French 11th seed Gilles Simon, who looked to have iced victory after taking a 6-2, 6-4, 3-0 lead over American Donald Young.

But the Frenchman stumbled, and the 26-year-old American, once hailed as the next great US player, saw an opportunity and turned the match upside down for a 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win.

"I really had it on my racquet," said Simon. "I was not able to do anything on the tennis court. I think Donald realized it and then played what he had to play to take me down in five sets. It's a terrible result for me today."

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