Superfast Fedex delivers again

NEW YORK, September 2 

Roger Federer glided into the second round on a hot, steamy day at Flushing Meadows, while Andy Murray ushered talented young Australian Nick Kyrgios out of another Grand Slam event at the US Open on Tuesday.

Murray had beaten 37th-ranked Kyrgios in straight sets in their three previous meetings, eliminating him this year from two other Grand Slams. The third-seeded Scotsman sent Kyrgios packing in the first round, winning 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1, after playing straight man to the flippant Australian, who unnecessarily tried ‘tweener’ shots through his legs and jumped extravagantly on routine forehands that he buried into the net. “I expected a very tough match, and that’s what I got,” Murray, 28, said.

But Murray had the last laugh against the clownish Kyrgios as he blasted 18 aces and 46 winners while only committing 23 unforced errors under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Earlier, second seed Federer was the envy of a clutch of men’s players made to work overtime in the 90-degree heat by quickly dismissing his opening opponent.

Federer dashed past 34th-ranked Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-1 6-2 6-2 to launch his campaign for a sixth US Open crown and first Slam title since the 2012 Wimbledon. “I feel good now,” said Federer. “I actually wasn’t so confident yesterday and today. I just felt like maybe this could be one of those matches I just couldn’t see coming. Thankfully I took this match extremely serious,” said the 34-year-old Swiss, who had fought off five match points in beating Mayer last year in Shanghai.

Federer faces Belgian Steve Darcis, who advanced 6-7(2) 6-3 6-2 3-1 when Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus retired.

Retirements continue

Baghdatis became the fifth player to retire on Tuesday after seven quit their matches on Monday as the toll of late season injuries and the searing heat presented severe challenges. 

Among other shortened matches, Australian Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 US Open winner, advanced 6-0 7-6(2) 1-0 when Aleksandr Nedovyseov of Kazakhstan retired. Misfortune favoured the French and went the other way for the Aussies when 12th seed Richard Gasquet advanced 4-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 2-0 when Thanasi Kokkinakis retired.

Three players in the bottom half of the men’s draw had to go the distance under the sun, including French 11th seed Gilles Simon, who looked to have iced victory after taking a 6-2 6-4 3-0 lead over American Donald Young. But the Frenchman stumbled, and the 26-year-old, once hailed as the next great US player, turned the match upside down for a 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 win. — Reuters

Results (Round 1)

Men’s Singles

2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 6-1 6-2 6-2; 3-Andy Murray (Britain) bt Nick Kyrgios (Australia) 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1; 5-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-5 6-4 7-6(6); 12-Richard Gasquet (France) bt Thanasi Kokkinakis (Australia) 4-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 2-0 (Kokkinakis retired)

Women’s Singles 

5-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) bt Laura Siegemund (Germany) 6-1 6-1; 2-Simona Halep (Romania) beat Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) 6-2 3-0 (Erakovic retired); 9-Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) bt Carina Witthoeft (Germany) 6-2 6-4; 20-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) 6-1 6-2; 4-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Jamie Loeb (US) 6-2 6-0

Kyrgios puts up bizarre show in defeat

Nick Kyrgios let his play do the talking in the first round loss to Andy Murray but the effort was sometimes insulting. Kyrgios produced moments of pure brilliance that had the crowd applauding and others of such goofiness that left them utterly bewildered. It was all part of a bizarre display that saw the enigmatic Kyrgios entertain and infuriate in equal measure, nonchalantly walking up to take routine overhead smashes and stretching out in his chair for a quick nap between changeovers. “Just taking a nap, I guess. It’s good for you,” shrugged Kyrgios after the match.