US Open 2015: Kei Nishikori and Ana Ivanovic lose in round one
US Open 2015 |
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Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 31 August-13 September |
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Coverage: Online radio commentary of Heather Watson, plus live radio and text commentary on every Andy Murray match and selected others. |
Kei Nishikori and Ana Ivanovic both made early exits on the opening day of the US Open in New York.
Japan's Nishikori, last year's runner-up and the fourth seed, lost 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to Frenchman Benoit Paire.
Serbia's Ivanovic, the seventh seed, was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-3 by Dominika Ciblukova of Slovakia.
Top seeds Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are among those in action later on day one at Flushing Meadows.
Serena seeks the spotlight
Serena Williams is aiming to create history in New York
The fact that the women's final has reportedly sold out before the men's for the first time this century highlights the interest surrounding world number one Williams in New York.
She won her fourth straight major title, dubbed a 'Serena Slam', at Wimbledon. Now she has the chance for her first calendar Grand Slam of all four majors in a year.
Her opening match against Russia's world number 86 Vitalia Diatchenko has been given prime-time billing as it opens the first night session at 00:00 BST.
The 33-year-old six-time champion will be calling on the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd to help pull her through the next seven matches.
"It's the biggest stadium for tennis players in the world, it's the biggest stage in the world - New York," she said. "It doesn't get any bigger or better than this."
Nadal faces early test
Rafael Nadal was US Open champion in 2010 and 2013
Williams is expected to face little trouble in her opening match, and men's top seed Djokovic should see off Brazil's Joao Souza in the day's third match on Ashe, but there is danger lurking for two-time champion Rafael Nadal on day one.
The Spaniard has slipped to eighth in the seedings and faces 18-year-old Croat Borna Coric in the second night match at around 02:00 BST on Tuesday.
Nadal is struggling to recapture his best form, and lost his only previous meeting with Coric last year.
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