Tennis on Sling: Round 2 at the U.S. Open
Coverage begins at 1pm ET on ESPN, moves to ESPN2 at 7pm
(All times Eastern)
Day 2 of the 2016 U.S. Open went pretty much according to plan, as Serena Williams made quick work of Ekaterina Makarova, winning 6-3 6-3, thanks to a dozen aces; Andy Murray sent arch nemesis Lukas Rosol 6-3 6-2 6-2; Venus Williams beat Kateryna Kozlova 6-2 5-7 6-4, despite 63 unforced errors; and Nick Kyrgios threw yet another hissyfit amidst his defeat of Aljaz Bedene 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Anastasija Sevastova vs. Garbine Muguruza
7pm ET on ESPN2
Anastasija Sevastova, ranked #48 in the world, beat Anna Schmiedlova 6-3 6-3 to advance to the second round at the Open for a third time in four appearances. At 26, Sevastova is a few years past her peak, when she reached #36 after making the fourth round of the Australian Open.
Reigning French Open champ Garbine Muguruza, #3 in the world, defeated Elise Mertens 2-6 6-0 6-3, but not before complaining to one of the trainers that she was having trouble breathing – apparently she’d forgotten that there were towels and ice on hand to help with the heat, which had hit the 90’s. Muguruza and Sevastova have never met before.
Rafael Nadal vs. Andreas Seppi
Following Sevastova vs. Garbine Muguruza
World #5 Rafael Nadal is well acquainted with the Open, having won it in 2010 and 2013, but he fell to Fabio Fognini in the 3rd round last year. Nadal trounced Denis Istomin 6-1 6-4 6-2 in 2 hours and 8 minutes to advance to the second round, but conceded after the match that the wrist injury that forced him out of the French Open in May has sapped some of his forehand’s zip.
Andreas Seppi, #87, beat Stephane Robert 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-3 to advance to the second round at the Open for the fourth year in a row. His best showings here were in 2008 and 2013, when he made it to the third round. Nadal has beaten Seppi seven times in eight meetings, most recently at the Rio Olympics, his only loss coming in Rotterdam in 2008.
Here’s today’s complete Men’s and Women’s Singles lineup.
*For today’s Doubles schedule, go to U.S. Open, all stats courtesy *
Watch the 2016 U.S. Open at 11am ET Monday on ESPN, and the at 7pm on ESPN2 by subscribing to Sling Orange.