AFP, NEW YORK: Five-time champion Roger Federer and 2012 winner Andy Murray reached the US Open second round Tuesday as the crushing heat took the number of first-round retirements to a record 10. Second-seeded Federer had little trouble in seeing off Argentina’s world number 34 Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in just 77 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 34-year-old Swiss, bidding to become the oldest champion in New York in 45 years, fired 12 aces, 29 winners and broke serve six times. “I feel good now. I actually wasn’t so confident yesterday. I just felt like maybe it could be one of those matches I just couldn’t see coming,” said Federer.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion goes on to face Belgium’s Steve Darcis, who was handed a place in the next stage when Cypriot veteran Marcos Baghdatis retired injured with a groin strain. It was the 10th retirement in the men’s event in the first round; there have also been two pullouts in the women’s draw.