World No.1 Daniil Medvedev has opened his US Open title defence by walloping American Stefan Kozlov 6-2 6-4 6-0 in sweltering conditions on New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Russian has had an inconsistent run-up to Flushing Meadows, but was back to top form on the court where he won his maiden Grand Slam title a year ago, sending across 10 aces and neutralising Kozlov's serve.
"Most pleased to win first of all, not easy conditions," said Medvedev, who repeatedly wrapped an ice towel around his neck to keep cool in the humid, 85-degree Fahrenheit (29.4 Celsius) conditions. "Serve was quite the key today."
The pair traded breaks early in the first set, before Medvedev got his motor running, clinching the next four games, as Kozlov won fewer than half his first-serve points.
Kozlov was no match for Medvedev's raw power in the second set. The American scraped his wrist and knee, after he dived to retrieve the ball, but ended up falling to the ground heavily in the ninth game that saw Medvedev break him to love.
He called on the trainer to tend to the injuries, but Medvedev showed no mercy, as he raced through the final set like a bullet train in just 27 minutes to set up a meeting with Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the second round.
Veteran Andy Murray powered into the second round with a comfortable 7-5 6-3 6-3 win over Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, as the former world No.1 rolled back the years at the scene of his first Grand Slam triumph a decade ago.
The 35-year-old Scot, who has battled various injuries in recent years, raced to a 5-2 lead early in the match, but dropped his level slightly, before edging a tight first set and breaking quickly in the next to put 24th seed Cerundolo under pressure.
Murray staved off a comeback attempt by Cerundolo to take the second set for a commanding lead and showed little signs of stepping off the gas pedal, as his opponent continued to make life difficult for himself with unforced errors.
A double break in the third set allowed twice Wimbledon champion Murray to surge ahead 4-1 and he sealed the win, when Cerundolo sent a return long. Murray faces Australian John Millman or American Emilio Nava in the second round.
Meanwhile, qualifier Wu Yibing has given China reason to cheer, becoming the first man from his country in 63 years to win a Grand Slam match, when he beat Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Wu, who came through three qualifying matches, beat 31st seed Basilashvili 6-3 6-4 6-0 to walk in the footsteps of Fu Chi Mei, who overcame Ron Barnes in five sets in the first round of 1959 Wimbledon.
Wu, 22, has arrived at the US Open in a rich vein of form, after winning back-to-back ATP Challenger titles, while also seeing a steep climb in the rankings, moving from 1,869 in March to a career-high 174 now.
He was the world's No.1 junior and no stranger to winning at Flushing Meadows, after clinching the 2017 boys' singles and doubles titles to become the first Chinese male to win a Grand Slam title of any kind.
But it has not been plain sailing for the Chinese prodigy, as he did not play from March 2019 to January 2022 due to injuries to his elbow - which required surgery - back, shoulder and wrist.
"I don't really like to talk about those injuries in too [much] detail, because every player has injuries," said Wu. "The mental strength that you have to go through the pain is part of the game."
Wu was almost joined in the second round by compatriot and Chinese No.1 Zhang Zhizhen, but the 25-year-old was beaten by Tim van Rijthoven, who saved seven match points in the third set to seal an improbable 3-6 6-7(4) 7-6(9) 6-1 6-4 victory.
Wu hopes they can both do well to keep China's flag flying high.
"We are both pushing Chinese men's tennis levels and we're still young," he added. "I think we're going to get to the top 100.
Reuters
