The Stars Struggle But Survive on Day Two of the 2010 U.S. Open

September 1, 2010 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Arnaud_Clement_01
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Day Two of the 2010 U.S. Open saw lots of problems for the seeds, as many of the sport’s top stars on both the men’s and women’s sides struggled. Some managed to overcome adversity and survive to live another day, while others took an early exit from Flushing Meadows.

On the men’s side, third-seeded Novak Djokovic survived a tough five set match to defeat fellow Serbian Viktor Troicki, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Djokovic was playing a good friend and the lack of his normal "killer instinct" seemed apparent against his compatriot. However, Djokovic overcame a two sets to one deficit to advance to the second round.

Also winning in five sets was American Mardy Fish. Fish came into the 2010 Open having had a very successful summer, but nearly lost to Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic in round one. It was an extremely up and down match for Fish. After taking the first set 6-0, Fish dropped two consecutive sets 3-6, 4-6, before coming back to dominate the final two sets, winning 6-0, 6-1.

Also winning in five sets was David Nalbandian and Fernando Verdasco. One seed who did not survive was Marco Baghdatis. Baghdatis fell in five sets to Arnaud Clement on Louis Armstrong Court. Clement won 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. Winning impressively on the men’s side today was Rafael Nadal David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez who each won in straight sets.

Fourteeth-seeded Maria Sharapova overcame a slow start against Austrailian Jarmilla Groth. After Sharapova dropped the first set, she recovered to win in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic also had her hands full in her first round match against Simona Halep. Jankovic won the first set 6-4, but Halep responded by winning the second set 6-4. The third set was a back and forth affair, but finally. Jankovic prevailed, 7-5.

Eighth seeded Na Li of China was upset by Katernya Bondarenko in three sets and 17th-seeded Natalie Petrova of Russia fell to Andrea Petrovic in a third-set tie-breaker. Three other Russians had much easier times on Day Two of the Open, as Maria Kirilenko, Vera Zvonareva and Svetlana Kuznetsova all moved on to the second round by winning in straight sets.

Day Three at the Open will be a big day for Americans. Louis Armstrong Stadium will host to a full card of American players. Sam Querrey, John Isner, Melanie Oudin, Vania King and the Bryan Brothers will all play on Armstrong. Andy Roddick will also be in action when he plays in Arthur Ashe Stadium in the night session.

Closing out Day Two in a late night affair was Caroline Wozniacki taking on wild card entrant Chelsey Gullickson from the University of Georgia. The match began at 11:52 p.m., but lasted just a shade over an hour later as the number one-seeded Wozniacki defeated Gullickson, 6-1, 6-1.

Click here for a complete schedule of Day Three action at the 2010 U.S. Open.

All photos credited to Kenneth B. Goldberg

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Fernando Verdasco in first round 2010 U.S. Open action against Italian Fabio Fognini

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

American James Blake in his first round victory against Belgian  Kristof Vliegen, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Sixteenth-ranked Marcos Baghdatis was upset in the first round of the 2010 Open by Arnaud Clement of France, 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

American Mardy Fish defeated Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic in the first round of the 2010 U.S. Open, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Under the lights, 14th-ranked Russian Maria Sharapova defeated Austrian Jarmila Groth, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

 

Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Spain’s Rafael Nadal, seeded number one at the 2010 U.S. Open, en route to his 7-6(4), 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Pointset
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