London Olympics gold medallist Andy Murray has battled cramps to reach the second round of the 2012 US Open, while Roger Federer, Samantha Stosur, Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka all eased through on day one.
Murray suffered cramps in the fifth game of the final set of his 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Russian Alex Bogomolov Jnr. The Briton failed to convince in the victory which took around 150 minutes.
“Struggling a little bit,” Murray said. “There were a lot of long points, especially at the beginning of the match. I have to stay better hydrated for the next matches.”
Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Federer made light work of local Donald Young, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 although after the match he insisted reigning US Open winner Novak Djokovic was the 2012 favourite.
“For me, Novak goes in as the favourite because he’s the defending champion. He’s probably won most titles on hard courts in the last couple of years. It’s where he feels most comfortable,” said world number one Federer.
Meanwhile in the women’s, reigning champ Stosur defeated Petra Martic 6-1, 6-1, while 2012 French Open winner Sharapova comfortably accounted for Hungarian Melinda Czink 6-2, 6-2.
Three-time US Open winner Clijsters got past American wildcard Victoria Duval 6-3, 6-1 in the evening session, while Azarenka and 2011 Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova both eased through in straight sets.
German 16th seed Sabine Lisicki was a shock first round exit to Romanian Sorana Cirstea, while the other seeds to bow out included Julia Gorges, Anabel Medina Garrigues. In the men’s another German 22nd seed Florian Mayer was eliminated as he was forced to retire with injury.