For 10 years on trot until 2014, Bob and Mike Bryan won at least one Grand Slam title every year. That streak was broken on Wednesday, when the men’s doubles top seeds suffered a first-round defeat against compatriots Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey. On day 3 of the US Open, Novak Djokovic eased to the third round with a straight sets victory over Austria’s Andreas Haider-Maurer. Joining Djokovic in the third round were; Rafael Nadal, who fended off a challenge from Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman; defending champion Marin Cilic, who defeated Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy; Canada’s no.10 seed Milos Raonic, who beat Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and Frenchman Jo Wilfried-Tsonga, who defeated another Spaniard Marcel Granollers. But USA’s farewell star Mardy Fish played the last match of his career against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez. Fish lost the match but he was greeted to a standing ovation. Serena Williams registered her 30th consecutive win in Grand Slam tournaments after beating Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands. Serena’s sister Venus also cruised to the third round, where they were joined by no.19 seed Madison Keys; no.25 seed Eugenie Bouchard; US wild-card Bethanie Mattek-Sands and another American Madison Brengle.
In a rare instance of first round losses, men’s doubles no.1 and no.2 seeds made first round exits on Wednesday. Men’s doubles juggernaut and the redoubtable Bob and Mike Bryan suffered a first round loss at the US Open. The top seeds fell to a 6-7, 7-5, 3-6 defeat against their younger compatriots Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson. Querrey/Johnson looked like heading for a straight set victory but the Bryans saved four match points in the second set at 4-5 and forced the decider. But the younger Americans dominated the third set to a huge disappointment of the 37-year old Bryans. The twins have won at Flushing Meadows on 5 occasions and their 2014 victory resulted in their 100th career title. For the first time since 2004, the Bryans have failed to clinch a men’s doubles Grand Slam title in a calendar year. In a rare men’s doubles result on Wednesday, no. 2 seeds Ivan Dodig (Croatia)/Marcelo Melo (Brazil) also lost 6-7, 7-5, 4-6 in the first round against Dominic Inglot(GBR)/Robert Lindstedt (Sweden).
In other second-round matches on Wednesday, top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Austria’s Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-4, 6-1, 6-2; Rafael Nadal beat Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 7-6, 6-3, 7-5; no.9 seed and reigning champion Marin Cilic defeated Russia’s qualifier Evgeny Donskoy 6-2, 6-3, 7-5; Canadian 10th seed Milos Raonic defeated Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 and Frenchman Jo Wilfried-Tsonga beat Spain’s Marcel Granollers. However, USA’s Mardy Fish lost to Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in the last match of his tennis career 2–6, 6–3, 1–6, 7–5, 6–3. Fish might have lost in his farewell match but he received an emotional ovation as he walked off.
In women’s draw, Serena Williams registered her 30th consecutive win in Grand Slam tournament after beating Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 7-6, 6-3; Serena’s sister Venus also entered the third round with a 6-3, 6-7,6-2 victory over compatriot Irina Falconi; no.19 seed Madison Keys defeated Czech Republic’ Tereza Smitkova 6-1, 6-2; no.25 seed Canadian Eugenie Bouchard defeated Slovenia’s Polona Hercog 6-3,6-7, 6-3; USA’s wild-card Bethanie Mattek-Sands beat compatriot Coco Vandeweghe 6-2, 6-1and another American Madison Brengle went into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over compatriot Anna Tatishvili.
