The second round of the US Open began on another hot New York day and Novak Djokovic received an unexpected day off from the heat, receiving a walkover. Jiri Vesely could not go due to an injury and the top-seed moved into the third round. However, there were other compelling matches on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Wednesday.

Nadal Pushes into Third Round

Rafael Nadal advanced to the third round after a 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Andreas Seppi. In a match that featured the first closure of the new Arthur Ashe Stadium retractable roof during a match, Nadal showed some high level of play. However, it appeared that the Spaniard took some time to become accustomed to the constant buzz of the crowd in the remodeled stadium at times. 

In the first set, Nadal played steady tennis as he attacked from his forehand wing and earned the bagel set. It was difficult to find a rhythm in the second set as some rain began to fall and play was stopped to close the roof. Additionally, the chair umpire, on several occasions, implored the crowd to keep their noise level down.  Despite the interruptions, Nadal was able to fend off Seppi to hold on to the second set.

Nadal regained the control he exhibited early in the match, closing the third set and the match with little difficulty.

It was not his best serving day, but Nadal controlled the rallies as Seppi gifted 35 unforced errors in the match.

Isner Survives and Advance

American John Isner overcame some medical issues, fatigue, and a charge by Steve Darcis to advance to the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 win.

Isner received a visit from a trainer early in the match to treat his knee and blisters on his foot, but he looked to be cruising to a straight set victory. However, the Belgian had other plans as he fought off four match points in the third-set tiebreak. He would take the breaker at 12-10 to extend the match. But Isner found the one service break that he needed in the fourth set to gain a 5-3 lead. He would close the set and match out on his racket.

Isner reflected on his epic first-round match with Frances Tiafoe and how it could benefit him moving forward, after the win, “You see a lot of times in tournaments guys that do well, make the finals, sometimes win the tournaments, have a match like that where they sort of escaped and easily could have lost,” Isner said. “Certainly feel like you’re playing with house money at that point.”

Kerber Through to Third Round

 2nd-seeded Angelique Kerber defeated Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-2, 7-6 in an afternoon match.

After a dominant first set, the German was challenged in the second. Neither player had success protecting their serve in the second set as each were broken three times, but Kerber was able to build an early lead. Yet, Lucic-Baroni fought back and play advanced to a tiebreak. There, the Croat had two opportunities to take the set but Kerber rallied to win 9-7.

“It was still good for me, but I think she was playing better and she was going for it,” Kerber said. “Then she was not making too many mistakes like in the first set. For me, I was a little bit short then, so she had the chance to go for it.”

It was feast or famine for the hard hitting Lucic-Baroni who struck 37 winners but gave away 55 unforced errors in the match.

After breezing through in a first-round match that lasted just 33 minutes, Kerber advanced in a match that took three times longer to complete.

Muguruza Eliminated

French Open champion Garbine Muguruza saw her grand slam season come to an end at the hands of Anastasija Sevastova 7-5, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The loss ended an inconsistent summer by the Spaniard following her Roland Garros title. She will now look to regroup for the remainder of the season and the season-ending WTA Finals.

The three-seed made a late comeback after digging a 1-5 deficit in the second set and she had a chance to even it on her racket, but she could not hold serve at 4-5.

38 unforced errors were too much for Muguruza to overcome as she could only offset them with 16 winners. She also won just 47 percent of her first serves. Sevastova broke serve 7 times in the match. The Latvian put the experience into perspective afterward, “I was shaking a little bit in the end but it's amazing. “A night match on Ashe - what's going to be bigger?”