In great hurry

Top seeds Serena and Djokovic wrap up first round matches in double quick time

New York, September 1

World World No. 1s Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic launched their US Open title bids in ruthless style on Monday.

The opening day at Flushing Meadows produced plenty of shock and awe as Djokovic delivered a jaw-dropping performance, speeding past Joao Souza of Brazil 6-1 6-1 6-1 as if the Serb had a taxi meter running outside the National Tennis Center. Williams also played as if she had an appointment to keep as she began her final push toward a calendar year Grand Slam by pounding Vitalia Diatchenko 6-0 2-0 before the ailing Russian waved the white flag and retired injured.

Eighth seed Rafa Nadal, a two-time US Open champion, needed a bit more time to get the job done, the Spaniard taking nearly three hours to fight off a challenge from 18-year-old Croatian prospect Borna Coric 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4.

Following a Broadway-style opening ceremony complete with orchestra and choir, Williams stepped onto centre court under a spotlight to loud applause from an adoring New York crowd just seven matches from her quest to sweep this season’s Slams.

The six-time champion would exit Arthur Ashe Stadium just 30 minutes later to more applause. Williams won the first of her 21 majors at Flushing Meadows 16 years ago. Sister Venus Williams was tested by unseeded Puerto Rican Monica Puig but prevailed in three sets (6-4 6-7(7) 6-3).

Safarova loses, Halep wins

Sixth-seeded Lucie Safarova lost to 37th-ranked Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-1 in just 65 minutes. Safarova had defeated Tsurenko in straight sets in New Haven just four days earlier. Simona Halep sailed into the second round after Marina Erakovic retired in the second set. Halep was leading 6-2, 3-0. — Reuters

Results: (Men’s Round 1): N Djokovic (Serbia) bt J Souza (Brazil) 6-1 6-1 6-1, M Cilic (Croatia) bt G Pella (Argentina) 6-3 7-6(3) 7-6(3), M Raonic (Canada) bt T Smyczek (US) 6-4 7-6(8) 6-1, F Verdasco (Spain) bt T Haas (Germany) 3-6 6-1 6-7(3) 6-3 6-1, Jo Wilfried Tsonga (France) bt J Nieminen (Finland) 6-3 6-1 6-1, M Fish (US) bt M Cecchinato (Italy) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-1 6-3, G Dimitrov (Bulgaria) bt M Ebden (Australia) 6-4 6-2 6-4, G Monfils (France) 2-6 6-4 5-0 (Monfils retired), D Ferrer (Spain) bt R Albot (Moldova) 4-6 7-5 6-1 6-0; (Women’s Round 1): B Mattek-Sands (US) bt K Kozlova (Ukraine) 6-4 6-3, A Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) bt M Rybarikova (Slovakia) 6-4 7-5, O Dodin (France) bt J Jankovic (Serbia) 2-6 7-5 6-3, K Mladenovic (France) bt S Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-3 7-5, A Radwanska (Poland) bt K Siniakova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-3,M Keys (US) bt K Koukalova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-4, M Doi (Japan) bt D Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-3 6-3, B Bencic (Switzerland) bt S Karatantcheva (Bulgaria) 6-1 6-2, R Vinci (Italy) bt V King (US) 6-4 6-4, E Bouchard (Canada) bt A Riske (US) 6-4 6-3. — Reuters