NEW YORK: World number one Novak Djokovic admitted he feels for those US Open fans who feel his ruthless blitz through the tournament may have left them feeling short-changed.
Top-seed Djokovic took 90 minutes to brush aside Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq 6-0, 6-0, 6-2 to reach the third round while his opening clash also lasted just 45 minutes after his Irish opponent Conor Niland retired with illness, trailing 6-0, 5-1.
“One of the guys actually on the way out said: ‘Hey, listen, I paid 100 bucks. You’re staying an hour-and-a-half on the court. That’s a lot to pay for a ticket,” said Djokovic, who was a pleased man after a virtually perfect victory that took his 2011 record to 59 wins against two losses.
“I couldn’t play better. And there is not much I can say when everything seems fun and seems enjoyable when you’re playing such good tennis.” Djokovic next tackles Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko.
Favourites stay on course
Roger Federer and Serena Williams, with 29 Grand Slam titles between them, as well as top-seed Wozniacki, who is still searching for her first major, were just as untroubled as the Serb. Five-time US Open champion Federer eased past Israel’s world number 93 Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 for his 225th win at a major — just eight behind Jimmy Connors’s all-time mark of 233.
The third-seed next faces Croatian 27th-seed Marin Cilic who put out 18-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic, the youngest player in the draw, for the loss of just three games.
“Not much trouble on my serve, and from the baseline I also thought I had the upper hand,” said Federer. “When it’s like that, obviously it’s tough for the opponent, but I just think I was superior today.
“It was a good match for me in breezy conditions. It was a bit tricky early on to find the rhythm. That’s why I was happy to get the first break in the first set.”
No problems for Serena, Wozniacki
Triple women’s champion Serena disposed of Dutch qualifier Michaella Krajicek 6-0, 6-1.
Williams has lost just three games in her two matches and now tackles Belarusian fourth-seed Victoria Azarenka who defeated Argentina’s Gisela Dulko 6-4, 6-3.
World number one Wozniacki brushed aside Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus 6-2, 6-0 and next tackles Vania King of the US.
Also going through were Italian seventh-seed Francesca Schiavone, who beat Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic, and German 10th-seed Andrea Petkovic who beat China’s Zheng Jie 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2011.
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