U.S. Open Day One Recap: Johnson Takes Out Isner in Five Sets

September 1, 2020 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Johnson
Photo Credit: Sidney Beal III/Clique Photography

 

In a five-set battle that required three tiebreaks and nearly four hours, American Steve Johnson ousted compatriot John Isner 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(3) to advance to the U.S. Open second round.

Johnson withstood 52 aces from Isner, saved nine break points and played a dominant final set tiebreak to upset the 16th seed Isner and move on. Johnson plays Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis, who notched a 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Italy’s Federico Gaio.

Novak Djokovic improved to 24-0 in 2020 by defeating Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.

“There are not too many players, both men and women, that have had long streaks of 20-plus matches won in a row. But having had that experience a couple of times before in my career obviously helps because I am aware of it, absolutely. I can’t lie,” said Djokovic. “I’m also not overanalyzing or I’m not overthinking about it.”

Djokovic will meet Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund next.

It was a good day for American men on Monday as, in addition to Johnson, 19th seed Taylor Fritz, Jack Sock, Michael Mmoh, Mitchell Krueger, Marcos Giron, Maxime Cressy and Brandon Nakashima all moved on to the second round.

Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie picked up the biggest upset of the first day with a five-set thriller over Argentina’s Diego Schwartzmann, coming back from 4-5 down in the final set to beat the ninth-seed.

Only one seeded woman lost on Monday, with top-seed Karolina Pliskova leading the way with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina. The former finalist from the Czech Republic saved six break points and advanced in just over an hour.

She will play France’s Caroline Garcia next.

Former champion Naomi Osaka hung on to beat Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, while 31st seeded Latvian Anastasia Sevastova outlasted American teenager 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Americans Alison Riske, Jennifer Brady, Madison Brengle Shelby Rogers, Ann Li, Jessica Pegula and Cici Bellis all won their opening round matches. Bellis and Brady will face one another for a spot in the third round.

Click Here to see the full Order of Play for Day Two at the 2020 U.S. Open.

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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