The Federer express steamed into New York on Tuesday and once again Ivo Minar was tied to the tracks as Roger Federer launched his United States Open title defence by dismantling the Czech in straight sets.
For the second time in as many grand slams, Minar found himself serving as early-round Federer fodder, having fallen to the mighty Swiss in the second round at Wimbledon.
Under threatening skies on the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium court, Federer wrapped up a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory in 61 minutes.
Federer set the tone by taking the first set in just 16 minutes, allowing Minar (21) just seven points in the set.
”I really had the sense I was returning very well, hardly giving him any points, holding easy on my serve,” said Federer, supremely confident after ending a seven-week post-Wimbledon layoff with a triumph in the Cincinnati Masters Series.
”I didn’t have the feeling I was in any rush at all,” he added. ”That’s a good feeling to have from the start of a tournament. That doesn’t happen very often going into slams. I’ve always been looking for my rhythm early, and today it was there straightaway.”
After capturing his third straight Wimbledon title in July, Federer (24) is trying to become the first player to defend the US Open title since Australian Patrick Rafter in 1998.
Federer stretched his winning streak to 19 matches — dating back to a semifinal loss to eventual champion Rafael Nadal at the French Open. He has also taken his win-loss record for the year to a remarkable 65-3.
”He’s the best in the world,” Minar said with a rueful shrug.
Davenport advances
World number one and second seed Lindsay Davenport held off a spirited challenge from China’s Li Na on Tuesday to reach the second round.
Davenport, a finalist in two grand slams already this year, needed four match points to secure the 6-4, 6-4 victory against her determined but vastly less experienced opponent.
”I was expecting a tough match from her,” said Davenport, who is appearing in her 50th career grand slam and her 15th US Open, compared with Li, whose second grand-slam singles appearance was her US Open debut.
”I’d heard some good things about her. I didn’t feel like I was at my sharpest in tennis, but I’m really happy to go out there, win the match and get to move on,” Davenport said.
Davenport, who won the US Open in 1998 and claimed the last of her three grand-slam titles at the 2000 Australian Open, has been knocking on the door more recently — reaching the final of the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.
A back injury sidelined her for the better part of seven weeks after Wimbledon, and even though she returned to win the title at New Haven on Saturday — regaining the world number-one ranking from Maria Sharapova in the process — Davenport admitted that staying healthy for the duration of the Open is a major goal.
”I still feel like I’m kind of trying to get back into my groove of playing well and being consistent, being on my toes,” she said. ”I’m happy I’m here. I’m grateful I’m here. Hopefully I can make the best of it.”
Davenport admitted that despite briefing herself on her unfamiliar opponent, she was surprised by some of Li’s weapons.
”She had a really good backhand,” Davenport said. ”She got it off the court quite well. I wasn’t expecting that. She moved the ball well and was pretty strong, [and she] hit the ball pretty hard.”
”Every point was tight,” said Li, who didn’t appear over-awed despite the hubbub of a night match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium against a player she describes as her model.
The 23-year-old, China’s first WTA Tour singles titlist, sounded as if the experience had fuelled her own grand-slam ambitions.
”Of course I dream,” she said. ”But you have to go step by step.”
Other matches
Third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France moved safely into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italian Roberta Vinci.
Last year’s beaten finalist, sixth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva, was also in action, while Belgian seventh seed Justine Henin-Hardenne was to begin her bid for a second grand-slam title of the year after her triumph at the French Open.
Qualifier Andrew Murray was left to fly the flag for Britain after veterans Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski bowed out in the first round.
Henman, the 12th seed, was clearly hindered by back pain in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 loss to rising Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
”It’s frustrating,” Henman said. ”Pretty much since the early part of the year it hasn’t been a problem. But when it does get irritated, you get a lot of inflammation in that area, it’s very difficult to keep that down. That was really the issue today.”
Rusedski (31) had withdrawn from last week’s tournament in New Haven, citing fatigue in order to be at his best for the final grand slam of the year.
But the precaution was to no avail as US wild card James Blake continued his comeback from a 2004 season marred by injury, illness and the death of his father with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 victory over the 28th seed.
”He couldn’t miss anything today,” Rusedski said of Blake, who came into the Open fresh from claiming the New Haven title as an unseeded player. ”Everything was working for him, especially on the big points.” — Sapa-AFP