Venus Outlasts Kozlova to Begin U.S. Open Campaign

Venus Williams got off to a winning start to begin her 72nd career Grand Slam tournament, outlasting the Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to advance on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The two-time U.S. Open champion got off to a blistering start, hitting 15 winners and breaking Kozlova four times to win the opening set in 38 minutes. But Kozlova made sure this win would be anything but routine, fighting back with a strong second set. She broke three times and hit 10 winners to force the match into a deciding third set.

That is where Venus’ experience and toughness shined bright, as she saved five break points, and came through with the decisive break for 4-2, going on to win the match in two hours and 42 minutes. Venus said she was so motivated following that second set defeat, and it showed down the stretch.

“It was great to be challenged and be pushed because I had to get in those situations you know you’re going to face in the tournament so it felt good to come through,” said Venus.

Up next for the sixth-seed is Germany’s Julia Goerges, a 6-3, 6-2 winner on Tuesday over Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer.

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska cruised past American qualifier Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-1, converting on five of her nine break point chances and saving the only one she faced. The fourth-seeded Radwanska moves on to play Great Britain’s Naomi Broady, who earlier in the day defeated fellow Briton Laura Robson, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4.

American Donald Young battled into the second round with a 6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 triumph over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, setting up a second round matchup with 21st-seeded Ivo Karlovic, who outlasted Yen-Hsun Lu 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-7(7), 7-6(5), 7-5.

Fresh off of his Silver Medal at the Rio Olympics, Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro powered his way into the second round, defeating his countryman Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(3). Del Potro, who received a wild card into the main draw, said he always loves playing in front of the U.S. Open crowd.

“I’m so glad to be a part of this tournament once again. I appreciate the wild card they gave me,” said the 2009 champion. “In the tiebreak, I was able to play some smart points to close it out.”

Del Potro will next face American Steve Johnson, a 4-6, 1-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 winner over Russia’s Evgeny Donskoy in a three-plus hour match.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios powered into the second round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Great Britain’s Aljaz Bedene. Kyrgios saw a trainer at 5-4 in the opening set, but fought through a sore back to book his spot in the second round where he meets Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos, who took out Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(7).

Credit all photos to Brian Coleman

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios powered into the second round of the 2016 U.S. Open on Tuesday with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Great Britain’s Aljaz Bedene