Vinci cruises past McHale into US Open 3rd round

Novak Djokovic during his match against Jerzy Janowicz at the US Open first round.

Earlier world No.1 Novak Djokovic received a free pass into the third round after Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic withdrew from their match due to a left forearm injury.

The top-ranked Djokovic had faced a potentially tricky match-up with Jiri Vesely, who had defeated him last spring in their only meeting.

The 49th-ranked Vesely pulled out of the event a couple of hours before taking the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

On his arm injury, Djokovic added: “It’s never easy to play at this level throughout the year”. He lost in the third round at Wimbledon, then after a title in Toronto, fell in the first round at the Olympics, bothered by a left wrist injury.

Vesely’s misfortune was a welcome boost for top seed Djokovic who had required treatment on his upper right arm in his laboured first round win over Jerzy Janowicz on Monday. He repeatedly winced and shook out the arm, his serves far slower than usual. Considering he hasn’t played a match now since Monday, Djokovic should be ready to go and as fresh as he’s been in quite some time.

Vesely is only one of five players to beat Djokovic this year when he won their match during April on clay in Monte Carlo.

Asked about his fitness and why he called the physio, Djokovic said after the match: “Hopefully as the tournament progresses, I’ll reach my peak”.

The US world No. 1 appeared untroubled by the balky right shoulder that has hindered her in recent weeks, delivering a dozen aces and 27 winners overall in the 63-minute contest.

The U.S. Open remains the only major at which Kvitova has yet to reach at least the semifinals, but maybe she’s started to figure out her annual trip to the Big Apple: Just don’t practice. I’m sure it’s going to be a good tournament. I can not sit here and complain and whine about the issues that everybody has in each day in their lives, privately, professionally. Youzhny hasn’t made the fourth round of a grand slam since the 2013 US Open.

That was followed by a tearful opening-round exit to Juan Martín del Potro at the Rio Olympics, the wrist injury that resurfaced there and the surprise admission on the eve of the season-ending major that “private issues” had compromised his run at a calendar-year grand slam. “But still, Vesely deserves respect”, said Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 champion in NY and looking for a third major of the year.

In the first big upset of the tournament, Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic hit 15 double faults and lost to 120th-ranked qualifier Ryan Harrison of the United States 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-5, 6-1.

The 36-year-old Venus survived 63 unforced errors against the rising 22-year-old, although she was pleased that her aggressive approach also yielded 46 winners.

Harrison will now play Cypriot veteran Marcos Baghdatis in the third round after Baghdatis himself caused a boilover, beating French 32nd seed Benoit Paire 6-2 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Gael Monfils found his trademark athleticism a bit too strong for a courtside clock in a defeat of Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).