Tomas Berdych handed former champion Lleyton Hewitt a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 first-round defeat at the U.S. Open on Wednesday to deny the 33-year-old Australian a 100th grand slam win.
Hewitt, an ex-number one who lifted the New York trophy in 2001, has exited in opening matches at three of the four majors this season, winning a round at Wimbledon.
The Aussie won two titles in 2014 at Brisbane and Newport and was playing the Open for the 14th time. Berdych, seeded sixth, also beat Hewitt in their previous matches in 2006 and 2009.
“The second set was the turning point,” said Berdych. “I lost serve but got the break back. I started to play my game well, I was feeling pretty good. At the end I had another chance to break. I’m happy to win this way.” Berdych said the wind was the biggest problem, but he was happy with how he handled it.
Berdych won his 25th match at Flushing Meadows as he began his 12th appearance; his best result was a semi-final two years ago.
Croatian 14th seed Marin Cilic advanced as opponent Marcos Baghdatis, who came into the field on an injury withdrawal, had to quit in a first-round contest, handing over a 6-3, 3-1 win.
Spain’s Feliciano Lopez also reached the second round the easy way when Croatian Ivan Dodig, whose only grand slam win in 2014 came eight months ago in Australia, had to retire trailing 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 1-1.
