The last Grand Slam of the season opened Monday in New York City where summer has refused to relinquish its hold. The temperature has ranged from the high 70’s into the 90’s over the last few days with humidity holding around 50%. With many of the outer courts at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center remaining in direct sunlight throughout the day, the conditions have been described as miserable.
During the first round of the tournament, a record 12 men and women were unable to complete matches. This is an open era record for retirements at any of the Grand Slam tournaments. While the weather wasn’t the direct cause of each retirement, it played a factor in most, especially in retirements due to cramping, highlighting the importance of endurance training and hydration.
One of the hardest retirements to watch was that of young Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, who fought hard to take 12 seed Richard Gasquet into a fifth set before crippling cramps made it impossible for him to continue playing. It would have been the win of his career.
Cramps also came for veteran American Mardy Fish in his heartbreaking second-round loss. In his last U.S. Open appearance, he played great tennis, forcing 18 seed Feliciano Lopez to play five. He began cramping, allowing Lopez to break him and serve out the match.
The biggest opening-round upset came when Frenchman Benoit Paire eliminated last year’s runner up and this year’s four seed, Kei Nishikori, in five sets 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(8-6), 6-4. The most exciting upset, however, was when American Donald Young came back from two sets and a break down to win a five set match against 11 seed Gilles Simon.
On the women’s side, six seed Lucie Safarova was upset in the first round, as were seven seed Ana Ivanovic, eight seed Karolina Pliskova, and ten seed Carla Suarez Navarro.
Elsewhere at the open, Serena Williams is seeking her seventh U.S. Open title and her first Grand Slam. A Grand Slam consists of a player winning all the Grand Slam titles in a calendar year, and is widely considered to be one of the most difficult feats in sports. While Serena has never won all the titles in a calendar year, she has completed two “Serena Slams”, meaning she has before held all titles at the same time. She made it easily through her second-round match, beating Kiki Bertens in straight sets, 7-6(7-5), 6-3.
If you’re keeping an eye on the ladies bracket, other Americans to watch include Madison Brengle, Madison Keys, and Bethanie Matek-Sands. Each of these women made it through their second-round matches and will join Serena in the third round. Venus Williams will play her second-round match Wednesday night.
For those of you keeping an eye on the men’s bracket, top-seeded American John Isner (13) will play for his ticket to the third round on Thursday. He will play as a part of the morning set which begins at 8 a.m. PST. Also taking the court Thursday morning are 28 seeded American Jack Sock and first-round upset winner Donald Young.
Coverage of the early rounds of the U.S. Open is being held on ESPN and ESPN2.
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