Sumit Nagal, India’s top-ranked men’s singles player, romped into the second round of the US Open here on Tuesday, defeating American Bradley Klahn 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

“I feel like I am playing very good tennis. I have worked a lot in the last four-five months and feel pretty good about it,” Nagal had said ahead of the match.

Ranked 124 in the ATP singles circuit, Nagal put up an impressive show and took a 2-0 lead before the American managed to win the third set. However, undaunted by that, Nagal breezed past him in the fourth set, losing only one game.

Last year, Nagal had come through the qualifiers here, but had lost to none other than Roger Federer in the first round.

Earlier, 10th seed Garbine Muguruza unleashed a seven-game surge to sweep aside Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-4.

Showing no signs of the left ankle injury that sidelined her for last week’s Western & Southern Open, Muguruza won 24 of 29 first-serve points raising her record to 17-4 this season.“I was a little bit anxious because I didn’t play in six months and I didn’t have a chance to play the US Open Series to get ready for here,” Muguruza said after the match.

Djokovic sails

Novak Djokovic got his campaign to win a fourth US Open, and 18th Grand Slam title overall, off to a flying start on Monday by beating Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the second round.

Djokovic broke Dzumhur’s serve for a seventh time to seal the win in the first night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, which, due to Covid-19, was missing the thousands of rowdy New York tennis fans that usually flock to Queens every year.

After a dominant start, Djokovic struggled in the second set and lost his temper even after closing it out.

“I thought I started very well, a set and a break (up) then things got complicated,” a masked Djokovic said in courtside interview.

“I lost my focus, he started missing less and he put some good variety in the game ... he came up with some good shots and it was anybody's game midway through the second set.”

In the end Dzumhur, who hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina, had no answer to the world No.1’s blistering serve and stout defence in a match that lasted just under two hours.

Germany's Alexander Zverev survived a tricky first-round test to beat 2017 finalist Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

The health protocols here is making things a bit tough for world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek stormed into the second round with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Albert Ramos-Vinolas and spent his entire post-match news conference discussing his relationship with the humble towel.

“It has huge importance, the towel. I use it very often. It gives me time to think, gives me time to refresh myself and think about my tactics,” he said.

Health protocols put in place at Flushing Meadows this year forbid ballkids from handing players their towels between points, as they usually would at most elite tour events.

Denis Shapovalov did not get his choice of court for his first round match and was delighted to get out of Louis Armstrong Stadium with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over American wild card Sebastian Korda.

The Canadian revealed after his opener that he had asked tournament director Stacey Allaster not to put him on the second showcourt, where his tournaments came to an end with five-set defeats at the last two US Opens.

Gauff ousted

American teen sensation Coco Gauff was eliminated from the first round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Gauff, whose run to the third round ignited last year's tournament, bowed out 3-6, 7-5, 4-6 to Anastasija Sevastova at an empty Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I could have played better today,” Gauff told reporters. “I just got on Tour a little over a year ago, so I still have a lot to learn and a long ways to go.”