Defending champion Rafael Nadal sent close friend David Ferrer into Grand Slam retirement on Monday when his veteran compatriot was forced to quit their first round US Open match with injury, but former winners Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka made successful returns.
Ferrer, a former World No. 3 but now standing at a lowly 148, called it quits despite leading 4-3 with a break in the second set after twice receiving treatment for a left leg injury. Top seed Nadal had taken the opener 6-3.
“This is my last Grand Slam,” said Ferrer, who was runner-up to Nadal in the 2013 French Open final. “I have great memories of this tournament and I am just sorry that I couldn’t finish it tonight.”
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Nadal’s potential semifinal opponent, Argentine third seed and 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, reached the second round with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 win over US qualifier Donald Young.
Former World No. 1 Murray marked his first Grand Slam tournament in 14 months with a 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 win over Australia’s James Duckworth. The Brit will face Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, the 31st seed.
Wawrinka swept to a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory to repeat his opening round triumph over Dimitrov at Wimbledon.
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Halep bows out
Serena Williams made a triumphant return, opening her bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 6-0 first-round victory over Magda Linette.
World No. 1 Simona Halep lost 6-2, 6-4 to 44th-ranked Kaia Kanepi on Monday, the first top-seeded woman ever to lose in the first round.