Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev unleashed 15 aces while recording a 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1 victory over Alexandre Muller of France in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday in New York.
Zverev held a 43-27 edge in winners while beating Muller, who committed 41 errors. Zverev had 29 miscues in the intense heat.
“I thought he played some amazing tennis. Especially at the end of the second set, I thought he was the better player than me,” Zverev said of Muller.
“But I found a way and of course I am happy to be done in three sets. “To have some rest as it is very hot and tough conditions.”
Zverev will next face Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who posted a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 triumph over fellow Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, the No. 29 seed.
No. 20 Frances Tiafoe moved on when Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan retired early in the third set due to a knee injury. Tiafoe won the first two sets 6-4, 6-1 and took the first game of the third set before Shevchenko called it a day.
“Happy to get it done,” Tiafoe said. “Hate to win it that way but overall I thought I actually played pretty well today.”
Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia recovered from a two-set deficit to notch a 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. Rublev next faces No. 32 Jiri Lehecka, who also staged a frantic comeback during a 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Mitchell Krueger.
No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria knocked off Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (4). He next faces Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands. Griekspoor led 6-1, 2-0 when Argentina’s Sebastian Baez retired due to a right foot injury.
No. 13 Ben Shelton smashed 17 aces while sailing to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut. Shelton will face Tiafoe in the third round.
No. 17 Ugo Humbert of France lost the opening set before recovering for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Francisco Comesana. No. 28 Alexei Popyrin swept Spain’s Pedro Martinez Portero 6-2, 6-4, 6-0.
Also, Brandon Nakashima cruised to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Arthur Cazaux, and China’s Shang Juncheng beat Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (2).
–Field Level Media
