US Open gallery: men's draw, day 1
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Roger Federer’s bid for a sixth US Open is safely underway with a 6-1 6-3 7-5 victory over wildcard Devin Britton.
It looked set to be the stuff of nightmares for the American teenager when the world No.1 walked away with the first set in just 18 minutes, but Britton recovered, marking his grand slam debut by briefly going a break up in both the second and third sets before falling to the Swiss maestro, who plays Simon Greul in the second round.
“It was a good start,” said Federer, bidding to become the first man to win six straight US Open titles since Bill Tilden from 1920 to 1925. “It was a tricky match for me – I’m here as a five-time defending champion, playing a guy who’s got absolutely nothing to lose. He played really well.
“He had some very good spells,” Federer said of Britton, a former junior US Open finalist. “I had to make sure I stayed with him and came back because I was down a break in the second and third sets. It was good to still get through in three sets.”
“I was thinking, ‘I’m up a break. This is exciting,‘” admitted Britton afterwards. “That lasted about 30 seconds.
“I lost 14 straight points after that. I think the nerves came back a little bit. It was fun for that 10 or 15 seconds until he broke me at love. It was probably the best seconds of my life.”
No.8 seed Nikolay Davydenko progressed with a 6-3 6-4 7-5 win against Dieter Kindlmann to set up a second-round clash with Jan Hernych, who beat 2003 Australian Open finalist Rainer Schuettler in five sets.
Three-time quarter-finalist Tommy Haas needed four sets to subdue Alejandro Falla, as did French Open finalist Robin Soderling against Albert Montanes, Tommy Robredo to beat Donald Young, and Mikhail Youzhny to recover against Paul-Henri Mathieu.
No.5 seed Andy Roddick did not take to court until 11pm, but made light work of Bjorn Phau 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the night match.
The late start did not faze the 2003 champion. “The later, the better,” he said after his 12.45am finish. “These are the hardcore fans.”
