Murray Muddles as Federer Cruises on Day One at U.S. Open

By Erik Gudris

(August 27, 2012) -- Despite a two-hour rain delay interrupting play during the afternoon, it was otherwise a smooth day of tennis on day one of the U.S. Open with Andy Murray leading the top stars on the men's side in opening round action.

Murray took on Alex Bogomolov Jr. in a match that didn't see Murray play his very best including being broken in his first two service games before he secured the first set 6-2. Murray fell behind 2-4 in the second set before an error from Bogomolov allowed Murray to climb back to 4-all and eventually take the set. Murray made things easier for himself in the third set and in total hit 46 winners to wrap a unconvincing, but good enough 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

Murray next faces Ivan Dodig who easily beat Hiroki Moriya, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2.

Several Americans saw success on opening day including a pair of wildcards. After winning the first two sets, veteran James Blake lost some of his momentum against Lukas Lacko when their match was halted due to the two-hour rain delay. When they returned, Blake dropped the third set but recovered to close out a 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win in now his 12th U.S. Open appearance.

"I can't believe that it's been I think 12 years I have been playing here just about every year. You know, it still doesn't feel normal," said Blake afterwards. "It's still an incredible feeling to be here and to be doing what I dreamed of as an kid."

Rising young American Jack Sock also made good on his wildcard berth as he outhit and out served No. 22 seed Florian Mayer in the first two sets of their first round match. An ailing Mayer, after calling the trainer at the the start of the third set, eventually retired giving Sock a 6-3, 6-2, 3-2 (ret.) win.

When asked about the physicality of today's game and if he feels he's able to compete, Sock believes he's in much better shape this year thanks in part to his work with renowned trainer Gil Reyes.

"I think I'm definitely in better shape this year overall physicality than last year for sure. And I think actually my surgery had a little bit to do with it, having to take a couple months off. I was in Vegas for about a month and a half working with Gil and his team getting my body ready to play this summer and to get me ready for this tournament. So I think definitely it was good to have some time like that, kind of get a full off‑ season I guess is what I was calling it, since I didn't have one really last year."

Other winners on the day included No. 23 seed Mardy Fish, who won 7-6(3), 7-6(2), 6-3 against Go Soeda; Tim Smyczek who won a five-set battle against fellow American qualifier Bobby Reynolds; and seeds Kei Nishikori and Marcel Granollers.

Federer Cruises On Opening Night Against Young

No. 1 seed Roger Federer was expected to have his way easily with American Donald Young who had recently snapped a 17-match losing streak in their first round match on opening night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Young stayed even with Federer in the first set until at 3-all, Federer quickly broke Young's serve and then stayed in command to close it out 6-3.

Despite being broken by Young early in the second set, it was the only trouble the five-time U.S. Open champion faced all night as he broke Young right back to eventually take that set and then break Young again at love early in the third set.

Down 4-5 in the final game, Young fought off two match points against, one with a crosscourt backhand winner but it only delayed the inevitable as Federer served out a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win in just over 90 minutes.