NEW YORK: SerenaWilliams nearly crashed out of the rain-hit US Open on Wednesday whiletop-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic battled through shoulder pain andRoger Federer advanced despite a weak start. US eighth seed Serena Williams,seeking her 24th career Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court's all-timerecord, got a scare before ousting 17-year-old US wildcard Caty McNally 5-7,6-3, 6-1. McNally, who hadn't been born when Williams won her first Slam at the1999 US Open, threatened a struggling Williams from the start before thesix-time US Open champion won nine of the last 11 games to escape under theroof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I survivedtonight. I'm not too pleased with the way I played at all," Williams said."'Serena, you made way too many errors today. What were you thinking?' ButI'm alive. I'm happy. I'll do better next time. I promise." Djokovic,winner of four of the past five Slam titles and 16 in all, was treated for asore left shoulder throughout his 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 victory over Argentina's56th-ranked Juan Ignacio Londero.
"It wasdefinitely affecting my serve and backhand," Djokovic said of his shoulderinjury. "I was definitely tested." Federer, a 20-time Grand Slamwinner who last won the US Open in 2008, rallied to beat 99th-ranked BosnianDamir Dzumhur 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. The 38-year-old Swiss third seed, who alsodropped the first set against Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal in his opener,answered the wake-up call despite 17 first-set unforced errors. "It's justa bit frustrating more than anything, especially when the level is that low andthere are that many errors and the energy is not kind of there," Federersaid. "But can only do better, which is a great thing moving forward.
"I clearlyhave to play better from the get-go." What the year's final Grand Slamevent lacked in quantity, with 22 singles matches postponed by showers, itovercame with quality in amazing matches that challenged three of the greateststars in tennis history. One point from surrendering a break into atie-breaker, McNally won six of the final seven points, the last on a servicewinner, to capture the first set. Both players made 15 unforced errors. "Icouldn't play too much worse at that point," Williams said. "I wasmaking so many errors off my forehand. I knew I could play better."
Williams broke ona forehand winner in the sixth game of the second set and, after being deniedon four set points on McNally's serve, hit a backhand volley winner to force athird set. Williams opened the third set with a break on the way to a 4-0 edgeand cruised home from there. "She really came out and played reallywell," Williams said. "She showed no fear." Djokovic's injurycasts grave doubts on his bid to be the first US Open repeat winner sinceFederer won from 2004-2008, admitting he wondered if he would even get throughthe first set.
"This issomething I've been carrying for quite a while now," Djokovic said."It wasn't easy to play with the pain, but you have to hope you will getsome opportunities and some lucky shots. "It's not the first time I'mfacing this kind of adversity or challenge. It is what it is and I'm justgrateful to be on the court." Five-time US Open winner Federer, who lostto Djokovic in last month's epic Wimbledon final, started poorly but brokeearly in each of the last three sets and held serve to the end.
"I buckleddown and told myself I was going to hang tough and not get broken,"Federer said. "That made a big difference." Japanese seventh seed KeiNishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up, beat 108th-ranked American Bradley Klahn6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. French Open champion Ashleigh Barty, the second seed fromAustralia, eliminated 73rd-ranked American Lauren Davis 6-2, 7-6 (7/2). Czechthird seed Karolina Pliskova, seeking her first Grand Slam title, ousted202nd-ranked Georgian qualifier Mariam Bolkvadze 6-1, 6-4. Ukrainian fifth seedElina Svitolina defeated seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4and US 10th seed Madison Keys, the 2017 US Open runner-up, trounced China's ZhuLin 6-4, 6-1. - AFP