Isner is ejected; Rublev advances
Isner, the top-seeded American in the men's singles draw, was eliminated in the first round for the second year in a row at Flushing Meadows.
Isner is ejected; Rublev advances; Cilic retires Wildcard In the first round of the US Open on Monday, Brandon Nakashima defeated fellow American John Isner 7-6(7) 7-6(6) 6-3.
The 20-year-old tamed his 6’10” compatriot’s powerful serve, while Isner’s 28 unforced errors contributed to his own demise.
Isner, the top-seeded American in the men’s singles draw, was eliminated in the first round for the second year in a row at Flushing Meadows.
Nakashima, the world number 84, knew what to anticipate in their third meeting in 2021 and executed his game plan flawlessly to win his second match against Isner in five weeks.
In order to reach the third round of a slam for the first time, Nakashima will face a qualifier, either Cem Ilkel of Turkey or Alex Molcan of Slovakia.
KARLOVIC, A FLAWLESS RUBLEV DOWNS QUALIFIER
Andrey Rublev, the world No. 7, easily dispatched veteran qualifier Ivo Karlovic, winning 6-3 7-6(3) 6-3.
The Russian came into the year’s final Grand Slam having advanced to the Cincinnati final and got off to a flying start on Grandstand, claiming the first three games of the match before cruising to the first set.
Karlovic, 42, became the oldest US Open qualifier in the Open Era in the second set, but Rublev held his nerve in the tiebreak, which he won with a forehand winner, before altering gears in the fourth set.
After racing to a 5-3 lead, the 23-year-old former Flushing Meadows quarter-finalist wrapped out the match with a stunning serve, forcing a backhand error on matchpoint from the towering Karlovic.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 800 MATCHES, CILIC RETIRES.
Marin Cilic of Croatia, the defending champion, was forced to withdraw from his first-round match against German Philipp Kohlschreiber due to an apparent injury, his first departure from the US Open in 13 attempts.
After battling with his serve, the 2014 champion dropped out of the match early in the fifth set, with Kohlschreiber leading 2-0.
Cilic’s withdrawal was his first on the tour in more than 800 matches, and it was also the first time he had failed to go past the first round at Flushing Meadows, as he joined American John Isner as one of the tournament’s higher-profile players to withdraw on Monday.
In the second round, Kohlschreiber will face either Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin or Spain’s Pablo Andujar.
OTHER OUTCOMES
Kevin Anderson of South Africa defeated Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4)
5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Bernabé Zapata (ESP) defeats Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
7-6 (7/0), 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (10/8) Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN x12) defeated Evgeny Donskoy (RUS).
John Millman (USA) vs. Henri Laaksonen (SUI) (AUS) 6-1, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7
Benoît Paire (FRA) was defeated by Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-3, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
Ugo Humbert (ITA) bt Peter Gojowczyk (GER) (FRA x23) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
6-3, 6-3, 6-3, Facundo Bagnis (ARG) defeats Taro Daniel (JPN).
7-5, 6-3, 6-3, Diego Schwartzman (ARG x11) defeats Ricardas Berankis (LTU).
Thiago Monteiro (BRA) is defeated by Daniel Evans (GBR x24) 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1.
