New York: Third-seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, a grand slam winner who has taken down world number one Serena Williams, would be judged by most standards as a serious threat to grab the US Open title.
But the 22-year-old French Open champion downplayed her chances following a 2-6 6-0 6-3 win over Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens in the opening round on Monday, telling the courtside crowd it would take a miracle for her to reach the final. The French Open champion needed courtside treatment from a doctor after dropping the first set on the Louis Armstrong Court.
While it might not require divine intervention, Muguruza’s record at the year’s final grand slam indicates she will need to produce something special, having never ventured beyond the second round in three previous visits to Flushing Meadows.
Beyond her resume and ranking, the French Open champion’s opening match offered little indication that a second grand slam is there for her taking.
The Spaniard needed almost two sloppy hours to dispose of Mertens, committing seven double faults while converting just six of 15 break chances while the 137th-ranked Belgian made the most of her opportunities, breaking Muguruza four of five times.
Title-contender Angelique Kerber shrugged off sweltering temperatures to reach the second round — needing just over 30 minutes to get her pursuit of a first US Open title off to a winning start.
The second seed and Australian Open champion was leading Polona Hercog 6-0, 1-0 when the Slovenian called it quits, clearly wilting in the 33-degree heat, having won just nine points.
“It’s not the way I wanted to win, but I am playing well and feeling good,” said the German star.
Romania’s Monica Niculescu dumped out Czech 18th seed Barbora Strycova and credited Indian doubles star Sania Mirza with the victory.
Niculescu won 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1 in her opener and paid tribute to Mirza with whom she teamed up last weekend to win the doubles title at New Haven.
“I learned so much from that week, and she gave me so many tips on how to play certain girls and how to see the game,” the 28-year-old world number 35 told @wta_insider.
“She has so much power and it was so nice to play with her; she was hitting so big and I just had to go to the net and do my stuff.
“I learned so many things. I want to thank her for playing with me, and I felt fantastic. I’m hoping to play again, when I can with her, because it was great.”
