Murray motors on

New York, September 2

World No. 2 Andy Murray made himself heard at the US Open, downing tenacious Spaniard Marcel Granollers in straight sets to reach the third round. With pounding rain creating a din under the new roof of the Arthur Ashe stadium, Murray battled through a tense first set to triumph 6-4 6-1 6-4. “We’re lucky that we get to play under the roof because otherwise there’d be no tennis,” said Murray, whose match went on as all action stopped on the outside courts. “It’s good for everyone.”

He looked on his way to a routine victory over 45th-ranked Granollers with a 4-1 lead in the opening set, but wasted two set points in dropping his serve in the ninth game before finally breaking Granollers in the next on his seventh set point. “Thankfully I got through that 5-4 game and then the momentum was back with me,” said Murray, who broke Granollers twice in the second set and once in a tightly contested third to seal the win.

Del Potro wins in straight sets

Wild card Juan Martin del Potro showed himself a force to be reckoned with at Flushing Meadows as the Argentine swept aside American Steve Johnson in three sets to reach the third round. Del Potro, who won the 2009 US Open in a thrilling five-setter over Roger Federer, has come through a long battle with a left wrist injury that has dropped him to 142 in the rankings. The power hitter now appears back to full strength, coming off a rousing silver medal performance at the Rio Olympics. “I’m so happy to be playing tennis again after my third surgery on the wrist and I think I did a really good job to come back,” he said. 

Wawrinka rolls on 

Twice Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka rallied from 5-2 down in the second set to clinch victory over Italian Alessandro Giannessi and reach the third round. After dominating the opening set, the third-seeded Swiss battled back to force a tiebreak and then broke the Italian in the final game of the match to finish a 6-1 7-6(4) 7-5 victory. “I was trying to be a little more aggressive,” said Wawrinka, who blasted 57 winners. 

Radwanska cuts down Broady 

Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska survived an early deficit and the big serve of Briton Naomi Broady on Thursday to advance to the third round. Radwanska, who won the Connecticut Open last week for her 19th career WTA title, saved four set points and claimed a marathon opening set tiebreak 11-9 to post a 7-6(9) 6-3 rain-delayed victory in Louis Armstrong Stadium. “I’m just so pleased I could come back in that first set,” Radwanska said. — Agencies

Serena advances

After 17 trips to Flushing Meadows and six US Open titles Serena Williams did something on Thursday she had never done before — win a match indoors. Williams swept past compatriot Vania King 6-3 6-3 to ease into the third round.

Paes-Begemann go down fighting 

Leander Paes and his German partner Andre Begemann crashed out of the men’s doubles competition with a first round 6-2 5-7 4-6 loss to Stephane Robert of France and Dudi Sela of Israel here on Friday. Paes and Begemann enjoyed a superb start, breaking their opponents in the very first game to gain the early advantage. They took the set 6-2. They grabbed the early initiative in the second set as well, forcing a break of serve in the third game. The set then went with the serve, with Paes and Begemann on the verge of taking the set with a 5-4 lead. Robert and Sela however, staged a spirited comeback to take the set 7-5 and the decider 6-4. 

Results 

Men (Round 2)

6-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Karen Khachanov (Russia) 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3, Nicolas Mahut (France) beat Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 6-4 6-4 6-2, 11-David Ferrer (Spain) beat Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-0 4-6 5-7 6-1 6-4, Daniel Evans (Britain) beat 27-Alexander Zverev (Germany) 6-4 6-4 5-7 6-2, 21-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) beat Donald Young (US) 6-4 7-6(4) 6-4, Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) beat 30-Gilles Simon (France) 3-6 6-2 6-2 6-7(1) 7-6(3)

Women (Round 3)

7-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Carina Witthoeft (Germany) 6-0 5-7 6-3, Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Monica Niculescu (Romania) 6-3 6-1, Anastasija Sevastova (Latvia) beat Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukraine) 6-4 6-1