Djokovic cruises to first-round U.S. Open win
NEW YORK — Highlights from Day 1 of the U.S. Open:
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic breezed past Damir Dzumhur, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1, in his opening match.
Djokovic is the overwhelming favorite to win his fourth men’s championship, and he cruised in his first-round matchup at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic pounded his chest and raised his racket in the air, keeping his celebratory routine intact even without fans in the stadium.
Djokovic is 24-0 in 2020 and has won 18 of his last 19 matches overall in Grand Slam tournaments.
• Coco Gauff is out of the U.S. Open on Day 1.
Anastasija Sevastova knocked off the 16-year-old Gauff in three sets 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
It was Gauff’s earliest exit from a Grand Slam tournament in four appearances. A year ago, Gauff made it to the third round at Flushing Meadows before losing to 2018 champion Naomi Osaka in a match that ended in tears for the teen and a hug from the winner.
Sevastova had been just 1-8 in singles in 2020 and got the breakthrough win she needed again in New York. Sevastova was a semifinalist at the U.S. Open two years ago.
Gauff had 13 double-faults.
• No. 9 seed Diego Schwartzman blew a two-set lead and was knocked out of the U.S. Open in the first round.
He led 2-0 but appeared to have problems with cramps as he lost to Cameron Norrie, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 7-5, in a match that took nearly 4 hours.
• Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova advanced in straight sets.
Pliskova surged ahead of Anhelina Kalinina, 4-1, in the opening set, lost three games in a row, then took the last eight for a 6-4, 6-0 victory. She had a 26-7 edge in winners.
Pliskova is ranked third in the world but has the top seed in New York.
• Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber is sticking around longer at Flushing Meadows than she did a year ago.
Kerber eliminated Ajla Tomljanovic, 6-4, 6-4, in a nearly empty Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Kerber won the 2016 U.S. Open but lost in the first round a year ago. She used to be ranked No. 1 and is seeded 17th in New York.
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