Former world No.1 Andy Murray has denied James Duckworth the biggest win of his career with a hard-earned four-set US Open win over the plucky Australian.
Murray battled back from a set down to defeat Duckworth 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 6-3 in a sapping first-round encounter played in brutal New York heat.
Strong start: Australia’s Ash Barty progressed safely into the second round.
Surviving his first grand slam event in 14 months, Murray next faces Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco as he continues his comeback from hip surgery.
On a day when world No.1 Simona Halep became the first top-seeded woman to lose in the first round, Australia's top-ranked woman Ashleigh Barty made a confident start to her US Open campaign with a crushing first-round win over Tunisian qualifier Ons Jabeur.
The 18th seed spent just 65 minutes on court in the stifling hot conditions, seeing off Jabeur 6-1 6-3 to book a date with either veteran Czech Lucie Safarova or Croatian Petra Martic.
Victory could set up a third-round showdown with dual grand slam champion and former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza.
Another Australian, wildcard Jason Kubler, continued his stunning return from the tennis wilderness with a watershed first-round US Open win over Spanish star Roberta Bautista-Agut.
In a memorable main-draw debut for the former teenage prodigy, Kubler defied the conditions to sweep past the 19th seed 6-3 6-3 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes.
Ranked 945th in the world this time last year, Kubler's career appeared over after six knee surgeries and medical advice to only ever play on clay courts.
But after cracking the top 100 for the first time last month, the Queenslander is now also savouring his maiden victory at a major.
Kubler missed eight years of grand slam action before being granted an Australian Open wildcard in January and then successfully qualifying at Wimbledon.
Vanquished: James Duckworth was eliminated by Andy Murray.
The 25-year-old's reward for his milestone moment is a second-round clash with either German Mischa Zverev or American Taylor Fritz.
The upset of the day struck French Open champion Halep, who fell to world No. 44 Kaia Kanepi 6-2 6-4 in the tournament's first match in the newly renovated Louis Armstrong Stadium.
AAP
Source: Read Full Article