US Open | Rain mars India's matches; Murray, Serena advance

09/02/2016

After four days of bright sunshine, rain played spoilsport at the Flushing Meadows as the Indian campaign could not advance on the day. In the singles events, Andy Murray and Serena Williams strolled through their matches to reach the third round of the US Open.

The mixed doubles game of Rohan Bopanna and Gabriela Dabrowski has been canceled as has been the first round game of Leander Paes and Andre Begemann. Sania Mirza will also take rest for today due to heavy rains that have resulted in the cancellation of every game other than the ones at the Arther Ashe Stadium.

International:

Second seed Andy Murray won his game against Spaniard Marcel Granollers in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 at the Aurther Ashe Stadium in New York. Murray will play Paolo Lorenzi of Italy in the third round.

“We're lucky that we get to play under the roof because otherwise there'd be no tennis,” said Murray, whose match went on as all action stopped on the outside courts. “It's good for everyone,” he said, reported AFP. But Murray did have a problem with the din at the closed court and said, “It was tough, you couldn't really hear the ball at all.”

2009 US Open champion and Murray's opponent in the Olympics final, Juan Martin del Potro, also came up with a convincing 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 second-round win against American Steve Johnson. Del Potro, one of the most loved players on the circuit, is looking to continue a remarkable comeback from injury that has seen him oust Rafael Nadal and give Murray a run for his money in back-to-back matches.

“I’m trying to play as I was in 2009, but it’s not easy as I’m getting older. I took all my chances during the match, and at the end I played very well,” del Potro told ESPN.

Sixth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan, who was the Olympic bronze medalist, beat Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and secured a place in the next round.

Dan Evans defeated Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to reach the third round of the US Open. He will take on World No.3 Stan Wawrinka in the third round.

Eighth seed Dominic Thiem downed Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to take an easy victory in the second round.

In the women’s singles, both the Williams sisters saw to business as usual.

Serena Williams' opponent Vania King did not know what hit her. Serena sent down 13 aces to wrap-up a 6-3, 6-3 win against her compatriot, while Venus Williams defeated German Julia Goerges 6-2, 6-3 to win her 70th US Open match.

Fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska also entered the third round with a 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 victory over Britain's Naomi Broady.